“The Harbert College of Business is a community of people who not only want to see you do great things, but are actually physically willing to help get you there.”

The Harbert College of Business isn’t just a college to Evan Walker.

“It’s something different, something more than classrooms and books,” said the senior in marketing, who will serve as the college’s graduation marshal at the Aug. 3 commencement. “The Harbert College of Business is a community of people who not only want to see you do great things, but are actually physically willing to help get you there.”

Take the college’s blossoming entrepreneurship program, for example. Through the Tiger Cage Student Business Pitch program, Walker created his own business, learned how to develop that business, and continues to cultivate its growth.

His product? A digital platform – once Savor and reimagined as GettaBite – for promoting restaurant deals, specials, happy hours, etc. “Walk into most restaurants and one of the first things they tell you is the specials of the day, deals of the week, offer of the month,” Walker said. “Then you look at their chalkboard and menu to find daily deals and specials, what day is what deal, what time happy hour starts, and so on.

“GettaBite is a tool for restaurants to generate new business at a moment’s notice, connect with customers, and ultimately learn more about their business and customers.”

The deal-of-the-day app vaulted Walker into the final round of the 2018 Tiger Cage Student Business Pitch Competition. But beginning a business and balancing academics hasn’t been easy, and lessons learned through the process can be applied to future endeavors.

“It was like having two full-time jobs at certain points,” he said. “When it comes to early startups, nobody tells you when to wake up. No one tells you what work you need to get done, how to do it, or when to do it. You don’t get paid early on, if ever. Learning how to create structure in the midst of chaos through self-discipline is something that no textbook can teach you. Also, you have to constantly be learning on your own, driving your business, and so on.”

“Principles I learned from the Harbert College, the network it has given me, and the tools it has handed me will take me anywhere.”

Moving forward, Walker hopes to further develop GettaBite and explore new technology businesses through startups.

“GettaBite is a truly unique tool that I believe will change the restaurant industry,” he said. “My focus is to see that vision through. Beyond that is an open world of opportunities thanks to the tools that I’ve been handed.”

Tools learned at Auburn.

“Principles I learned from the Harbert College, the network it has given me, and the tools it has handed me will take me anywhere,” Walker added.