Start Up Alley: Campus Pursuit
We spoke with Scott Wisotsky and Shachar Avraham founders of Campus Pursuit.Campus Pursuit was developed in 2013 by two students from Binghamton University. Scott Wisotsky and Shachar Avraham developed a better way of advertising on college campuses at a low cost. In 2014, the company expanded their business from local brand to national brands. Campus Pursuit, the interactive scavenger hunt app sweeping college campuses across the country, won the 2016 TAMID Tank competition hosted by TAMID at Queens College, New York. Kevin Harrington, original Shark on ABC’s Emmy winning TV show, “Shark Tank,” along with two other investor panelists pledged an investment in the growth of Campus Pursuit.
Campus Pursuit engages college students with brands through daily, campus-wide scavenger hunts. Students follow clues on the Campus Pursuit iOS and Android app to find hidden prizes – thus, increasing awareness of each brand. A team of student brand ambassadors at each campus manages the scavenger hunts and spreads the word about the app.
Campus Pursuit was selected as one of the three startups, from many throughout New York State that had applied, to pitch at the event. Campus Pursuit was the only company to receive a deal from the investor panel.
“I’ve launched hundreds of products over the last 30 years,” said Harrington. “When I saw the Campus Pursuit opportunity during TAMID Tank, I knew, instantly, that this would be a great way for marketers to get valuable information in the lucrative college marketplace.”
Campus Pursuit has partnered with brands including PopCorners, AMP Energy, Moon Cheese Snacks, Neuro Drinks, NFL Sunday Ticket, Chipotle, Kettle Brand Chips, Harry’s, and many more. Each scavenger hunt provides these companies with data about users, providing an understanding of the students who find the prizes.