| Tell us about your company: |
| ECPC Travel is an online marketplace that connects travelers to vetted eco-conscious, people-centered stays and experiences worldwide. By leveraging generative AI, we efficiently onboard, qualify, and screen independent providers worldwide, building a comprehensive dataset of qualified professionals while ensuring both environmental sustainability and social responsibility at a speed that was never before possible. |
| What inspired you to start your business? |
| After studying the impacts that tourism has on local communities and the environment, I knew that there had to be better options out there. My two-year master’s capstone project confirmed that these options exist and showed me a clear path to turn a toxic industry into a vehicle for positive change. I founded ECPC Travel to make vacations that uplift people, protect nature, and preserve local culture accessible to everyone because traveling responsibly should be easy peasy! |
| What are your proudest achievements so far? |
| My proudest achievement so far is building a strong, cohesive, and mission-driven team. We are tiny but mighty, coming together from different backgrounds to create a more local-friendly, environmentally conscious travel industry. Our newest addition, CTO Shaun Pack, has revolutionized our backend processes to create a smoother provider and customer experience. Without my team, I would not have been able to fulfill the 53 trip requests we received in the first month of 2025, connect to a diverse and accomplished network of advisors, or develop our rapidly evolving tech stack that makes finding a responsible trip simpler than ever. |
| What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs: |
| Network as much as you can! You never know who will resonate with your story, your business, or your mission. Cold emails or spontaneous conversations can turn into powerful advocates. |
| Please share a memory or thought about your alma mater: |
| I will forever be grateful to have experienced life on the ocean side of Del Playa. Life was simple, but so full of surprises. To say that I loved waking up to an ocean view, pre-class surf sessions, spontaneously jumping in the water to snorkel with leopard sharks, and scanning the horizon for gray whales during their migration would be the understatement of the century. To top it all off, the culture in IV is second to none. I felt so engrained in a community of bright young people figuring out adult life one step at a time. Everyone was so willing to let you borrow a surfboard, invite you into their tiny apartment to share a meal, or meet up for Caje to create a communal set of flash cards for the next exam. |
Alumni Emporium 