A University of South Florida graduate built a mobile app that links students with discount deals from shops around campus. Nicholas Eisengrein created 9Yaps after he spotted a problem. Stores close to campus struggled to reach student buyers while he worked as a food delivery driver.
“A lot of them [businesses] said, ‘I’m right across the street, like 500 feet, and I’m not engaging with students,'” Eisengrein told Fox 13 News.
The service started as a newsletter in late 2024. Two months passed. Eisengrein transformed it into a complete mobile application.
More than 8,000 buyers have downloaded the free app to grab deals across nine different categories. Users find discount coupons, BOGO promotions, and birthday bonuses from participating stores. They redeem offers on their phones and show them to workers. Many deals can be used daily.
Around 100 shops pay a monthly fee to list offers on the service, and roughly 80% are mom-and-pop operations, according to Eisengrein.
Barberitos joined as an early partner. The restaurant sits five minutes east of campus. It offers app users incentives like a free side of queso to bring traffic through its doors.
“So, the 9Yaps partnership started with Nick coming in. What makes me feel really good and comfortable about him is that he wants the platform to grow just as much as we wanted to grow. We feel connected,” said Barberitos Creative Director Cole Loren.
Eisengrein meets with shop owners face-to-face to build partnerships. Nearly every deal on the app started with an in-person visit.
“I like to prioritize our community rather than building the company, so I can go all the way out to Orlando or other states, but I really love talking with those local businesses and students,” Eisengrein said.
Loren described the partnership as a shared growth opportunity. “It feels like you are holding hands with someone, and you’re kind of both growing. You’re in the same garden with each other. You’re growing the same plants, and if everything is growing, then you are both succeeding,” Loren said.