Ava Beery feels at home in the business world

"The idea of making money without selling your time just sounds great to me."

Ava Beery’s first year in Entrepreneurship ended with a bit of excitement.

Just a few weeks before the first end-of-year Pitch Night even, the business idea she had been working on fell through. She had a few weeks to come up with something completely new and get it ready to pitch.

Beery landed on Buddy, an app that matches people with others nearby who want to participate in the same activities as they do. It earned her third place in Pitch Night, and it was the first of several moments that showed her what it really takes to build a business.

“I got to see the reality of what it means to start your own business,” Beery said. “You see how much time, research and funding has to go into these things.”

Now Beery actually does have her own business. Avalanche Media is a social media marketing startup, and Beery said she already has her first client.

Beery started her business after working as an intern and then as a part-time employee for Content Journey, another marketing startup business located inside the AXIS small business incubator on the Danforth Campus. She divided time between the Entrepreneurship Program and on-the-job learning with Content Journey founder Lindsey Miller.

“I now feel confident in my ability to learn something that I need to learn for a high-growth startup,” Beery said.

Entrepreneurship feels like a calling to Beery. She took to the program quickly and became Oklahoma DECA Vice President of Finance & Hospitality during her second year.

“For me, this was a no-brainer,” she said. “There were a lot of opportunities to become involved through DECA. And that gave me insight into the professional world and improved my public speaking skills.

In the fall, she plans to attend Babson College, a business-focused school that is considered among the best in the country for entrepreneurship. She calls it the “natural next step.”
Beery knows that her future will involve launching businesses. Her goal is to make the most out of every opportunity.

“I know it sounds funny, but the most fulfilling part about it is when you make money,” she said. “The first day I worked a job, I was doing drop-shipping. And at the end of the day, knowing how much money I had made felt great. You can definitely learn how to work smarter, not harder. The idea of making money without selling your time just sounds great to me.”