A Phillipsburg High School graduate at TCNJ has developed NeoBook, a digital marketplace for students.
In one semester, Neophytos Zambas spent $900 on textbooks for four classes.
"It blows my mind that we have to pay so much on top of tuition for books that are required," said the College of New Jersey senior.
That's where NeoBook comes in.
Zambas, a 2014 graduate of Phillipsburg High School, and partners developed the application that allows students to arrange sales of used textbooks and other items with their peers on campus. Users are verified as students, and the app allows them to search for items like a specific textbook and arrange the transaction.
The app launched in May and has 400 to 500 users on campuses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania including TCNJ, Rutgers, Montclair and Lehigh. The team is making a marketing push as the fall semester begins. It is available through the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Zambas, of Lopatcong Township, said he came up with the concept early in his sophomore year but at first envisioned a low-tech marketplace: He originally planned on setting up a tent on campus where he would pay for books, resell them and keep a percentage.
Early mock-ups set up the design for NeoBook, an app that connects college students to resell their textbooks. (Courtesy photo) As it evolved into a digital platform, he partnered with fellow TCNJ students Agathoclis Serghiou and Spencer Viviano to develop it. NeoBook won second place in the college's 2017 business plan competition, netting it $14,000. It was about 18 months from concept to launch.
The process of assembling legal, development and marketing teams and soliciting investors was a learning experience beyond his business classes, said Zambas, himself a marketing major who eschews the idea of working in a traditional office. His career goal is to continue with NeoBook and other digital ventures.
P'burg grad launches new social network
"Whatever you like to do ... if you work hard enough at it, you can make a business out of it," he said.
Zambas's classes start Tuesday at TCNJ. Using his own app, he said he has found one textbook to buy and is selling two.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.