If junior Christian Barnett can be found anywhere, it is on the bottom floor of Horton-Hardgrave Hall, consulting for aspiring entrepreneurs at the Startup Studio.

An initiative of the Lowder Center for Family Business and Entrepreneurship, the Startup Studio helps small businesses and micro-entrepreneurs overcome growth challenges.

The Startup Studio offers services including branding, web design and media production to help businesses stand out and connect with their target audience. The services are provided at no cost due to grant funding provided by Innovate Alabama.

Barnett, who is studying finance with a minor in entrepreneurship and family business, is particularly passionate about finding innovative ways to promote the growth of businesses.

As creative lead at the Startup Studio, Barnett meets with clients and helps create unique strategies based on the needs of their businesses.

“It's really interesting seeing all the different people and business owners you meet and being able to learn about their business, learn about their needs and be able to address those needs,” Barnett said.

One of Barnett’s favorite projects to work on was Autonoma, a company whose cutting-edge software is used for the simulation of autonomous systems such as self-driving cars.

Barnett helped produce promotional videos showcasing Autonoma’s background and mission, incorporating interviews and existing media. The Startup Studio also refined Autonoma’s branding to better reflect the business’s identity and vision.

“Feeling their passion and being able to work with them and help move them closer to their goals was really fun,” Barnett said.

Anyone interested in growing their business can apply to the Startup Studio at StartupStudioAU.com. The team assesses the needs of each business before contacting applicants about next steps, Barnett explains.

Barnett joined the Startup Studio as its first employee in May 2024, recruited by Joshua Sahib, founder of the Startup Studio and director of the Lowder Center for Family Business and Entrepreneurship.

His recruitment followed an outstanding performance at the Business Builders Bash, an annual event where participants pitch ideas, form teams and work to launch a business in a single weekend.

Barnett showcased exceptional skill in developing his own business idea, Student Tasks, a platform for student labor and gig opportunities. The business allows community members to hire students for a wide variety of services.

“Right now, there's not really a place where you can do that, and so we see a niche—a need in the market—and we're trying to address that,” Barnett said.

Barnett and his team won the competition, acquiring funding to help start Student Tasks.

Within the Harbert College of Business, Barnett is a member of Entrepreneurs at Auburn, a student organization dedicated to those interested in creating or growing a business. The club, which meets weekly, offers workshops and networking opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs

“Everyone's got something they're trying to make progress on and coming together, getting advice and feedback from each other, really helps us advance,” Barnett said.

After graduating next spring, Barnett intends to work in business consulting, a passion sparked by his experience at the Startup Studio.

“Working at the Startup Studio has shown me the intrigue of consulting for different businesses, learning about their industry, getting to know the people and coming up with different solutions,” Barnett said. “I find that to be very engaging. There's never a dull day.”

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