DC’s new hangout app

As the workday winds down in metropolitan magnets for young professionals—such as Washington, D.C., discussions about the best spots to connect for happy hour ramp up. Between comparing the best deals, differing hourly starts, and top recommendations, finding a place gets complicated quickly. Cole Model, ’23—fueled by his entrepreneurial spirit and insights gained from the Robins School of Business—was inspired to make the search for these social experiences more seamless. His app, BuzzPass—DC Happy Hours, allows real-time tracking of happy hour deals in Washington, D.C., with plans to expand into more major cities across the U.S.

During his senior year, Model noticed during a visit to D.C. that existing platforms were outdated or inaccessible. Interested in filling this market gap, he turned to his trusted friends—his roommate, Brett Schoppert, ’23, and Model’s brother, Max, a Yale alum—to help create BuzzPass. Justin Sullivan, ’23, later joined the team.

Through strategic partnerships and building relationships with bar managers and owners, Model’s team raised an impressive $400,000 in funding.

“The most rewarding part for me is seeing people believing in me,” Model said. BuzzPass trended on Apple App Store’s top 200 for Food & Beverage and onboarded over 35 partner bars within its first week.

BuzzPass honed Model’s entrepreneurial skills and trend forecasting, abilities that emerged during his time as the founder and president of Richmond’s Spike Ball Club. The club sport quickly became one of the most popular organizations on campus under his leadership.

Among the UR professors Model found most influential, Bill Bergman stood out, encouraging Model to bring his ideas to fruition. Current students from the Robins School have further fueled its development during internships supported by the Richmond Guarantee. “BuzzPass’s internship program had been critical to the growth of the business,” he said. “We plan on continuing to give UR students opportunities for years to come.”

To aspiring entrepreneurs, Model’s advice is clear: the first big step is getting an idea out of your head. “I did not have a playbook;” he said. “I surrounded myself with motivated and intelligent people, and I [set] my goals in motion.”