BYPPO on the Rise
Victoria Liu was a University of Florida student sitting at a Gators football game one evening in 2018, feeling as hungry as a baby hippo. For many, that feeling would inspire the idea to get up and make a trip to the concession stand. For Liu, that feeling inspired the idea behind what would become her startup company — BYPPO.
Throughout that night, Liu began piecing together the concept for an app that helps fans order food and skip long concession stand lines. With three months away from graduation, Liu decided to turn down her already secured accounting job in Miami to pursue her ideas.
BYPPO came to fruition months later in March 2019, following Liu’s completion of her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting. She launched BYPPO as an online food ordering app that aimed to make life more convenient.
Then, COVID-19 came along and shut down all sporting events. What would have created an issue for some, Liu saw as an opportunity to support her local community.
Turning Challenges into Success
BYPPO pivoted to provide Greater Gainesville restaurant owners with a way to showcase their menus online and keep profits up. Customers could order food for pickup or delivery from a curated list on the app.
“I really like how [the business] has evolved now. Supporting local restaurants has been an extremely rewarding and learning experience,” Liu said. “What makes us unique is we only work with solely local businesses. We do not put McDonalds or Dunkin Donuts on our platform.”
On the BYPPO platform, restaurant owners can adjust their menus, update inventory and communicate with their customers.
Supporting Local, On and Off Campus
The evolution of the app continued once COVID-related restrictions were lifted, and the world opened back up.
The app has two modes of operation, BYPPO Local and BYPPO Campus. The local option continues to aid Greater Gainesville restaurants, while the on-campus option seeks to support college students.
Students deliver food to other students on campus. This helps students feel safer, knowing it is a fellow Gator delivering their meals on campus grounds. In another effort to support students, rewards programs are available for those who consider themselves a foodie.
“We make flexible, fun programs, and we make it interactive and a way for people to directly contribute to the food scene in town. This helps restaurants improve their menus to make things better for everyone,” Liu said.
Elevating Idea to Innovation
Before the startup got to the success it sees today, Liu established a relationship with UF Innovate Accelerate | The Hub. She became a resident at the business incubator, which provides all kinds of support, resources and space for entrepreneurs.
“They were there in a useful and very much mentorship resource kind of way,” Liu said. “They provided office space, and there I met with Jennifer Harrel. She has been an integral part of my company’s development. She knew a lot of people in her network that helped my business.”
Liu said the “biggest value” the Hub provided was continued business mentorship. It goes above and beyond to mentor entrepreneurs and provide access to resources essential to start up and operate a business.
Liu and her team of 10 are still in the early stages, but Liu has big hopes for the future.
“We have a very tight-knit, very efficient, productive team right now. As for what is next, we have expanded to some areas outside of Gainesville, but we want to continue improving our platform to make the best food experience possible,” Liu said.
By Shavantay Minnis.