by Wonder Wachara
Earlier last year, several students from Colorado Mesa University gained recognition for their top performance at Go Code Colorado; an open data competition aimed at giving Colorado businesses a competitive advantage through better access to information. Joshua Abshear was one of the student developers that represented CMU at this competition.
The team’s performance at the competition set high expectations for their future efforts and Abshear’s latest idea. In his first independent business venture, the 20-year-old senior created SUDO Computer. A start-up company that offers website development, mobile applications, tech support and custom computer systems to small business owners and anyone else looking to expand their services through the Internet.
“I wanted to take the services I was already providing to my friends and family and make them available to the rest of the Grand Valley,” Abshear said when asked what prompted him to start his company. “I started to realize how many business people there are that have all these great ideas but don’t have the tech know-how to make their ideas a reality. […] Essentially, by helping provide the technological and data support that they need I want to help other small businesses get their feet off the ground.”
At the young age of seven Abshear received his first coding book and began learning. With the help of his father, who was also a computer programmer, he learned three different computer languages and was building websites by the time he was 15. After graduating high school, he decided to pursue his bachelor’s degree in computer science at CMU with a minor in economics.
While his ambition and professional acumen give him the makings of an entrepreneur, Abshear credits his latest accomplishment to the encouragement and support of his family, friends and professors.
“[My father] would push me a lot in doing my best,” Abshear said. “Even in areas where things were easy for me. Just his over sweeping encouragement to try and be the best that I could be really shaped me.”
When discussing how his experience at CMU contributed to his success, he noted several of his instructors in the computer science program who helped him hone his abilities and sharpen his skills. Most notably, professor Karl Castleton, Dr. Ram Basnet and Dr. Warren D. MacEvoy Jr. were very influential in his success as a student.
“They’ve all been very supportive of using the skills that you learn here to be able to help the community,” Abshear said. “I originally got into Go Code because of Karl Castleton and made a lot of connections through them that helped me get a job and, ultimately, to start my company […] I would highly recommend their classes to other students looking to do the same.”
Additionally, to offering locals a variety of services, SUDO Computer also provides students a chance to gain some experience in sales and marketing.
“We offer a unique referral program where you receive a five to 10 percent commission on an overall sale if you refer a friend to our business and they purchase one or more of our services,” Abshear said. “[…] Whenever you work with us to recruit client, you’re meeting other entrepreneurs and people in technology services which gives you good exposure professionally.”
Students also get a 20 percent discount on website development for those looking to start or expand their own ventures.
While the company is still young, Abshear hopes to grow it and eventually expand into the rest of the Grand Valley.
“That was one of the reasons why I started SUDO computer,” Abshear said. “Short term, I want it to be a sustainable company so I can make an income, but in the future, I can see it merging with other companies, or, if I decide to go in a different direction, I can sell it to another student. There are a lot of talented students at Mesa who would be capable of providing these services in the Grand Valley. They just don’t have a formal structure to perform them through.”
Although his company and services have only been publicly available since early January, he already has clients working with him for their technological needs. For underclassmen looking for direction and inspiration, program seniors like Abshear and many others that are making their own path in the maverick way are of inestimable value as tutors, mentors and an example.
“My advice to freshmen is balance your academic and social life appropriately. Try to make as many connections as you can as soon as you can, and start planning now for what you’re going to do after college,” Abshear said.
For more information, you can find out more about SUDO computer at http://sudocomputer.com.
