Turning Ideas into Action: Fostering Growth Through PGN

Being the CEO and founder of two startup companies isn’t easy. It’s a role that demands constant decision-making, long hours, and the ability to navigate complex, high-stakes situations. But for one student entrepreneur, Sahil Lalani, the journey has been made possible and meaningful thanks to the support and collaboration found within his PGN chapter at the University of Texas - Dallas.

The collaborative nature of PGN offered something few communities can: a safe and supportive space to grow ideas with honest feedback. Through conversations with members, Sahil was able to explore new perspectives and refine strategies for his startup - The JIM App, a fitness application tailored to college students.

The JIM App: Fitness, Motivation, and Rewards

Designed to help students stay consistent with their gym habits, The JIM App encourages users to check into the gym, track their consistency, and earn real rewards. Think free energy drinks, protein shakes, and college merchandise—earned simply by staying disciplined with workouts. It’s a new approach to an age-old challenge: keeping motivation alive.

As Sahil puts it, human motivation is tricky. In fact, the app’s journey included over ten different pivots before settling on its current structure. But through all the revisions, the goal remained the same: to make fitness a lasting habit for students nationwide.

With support from the PGN Entrepreneurship Grant, the team is putting that vision into action. The grant is being used to fund software engineering support as the founder, who is currently learning the basics of coding, continues to drive the project forward. Major partnerships are already in the works—with talks underway involving well-known brands like Alani and Prime.