From Classmates to Co-Founders: How We Turned Group Projects into a Startup

Three graduates in navy blue caps and gowns hold diplomas and smile outdoors; another person walks in the background. — Kyle Ayisi, Jovoney Morton and Jeremy Twumasi Ampofo celebrate earning their UC Davis MSBA degrees, the partnership that began in group projects and grew into their venture, Pivot Group.

If you told us when we started the UC Davis Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program that we’d end up co-founding a company together, we probably would’ve laughed.

We were just trying to survive analytics homework and endless group projects, not start a business. But sometimes the best ideas sneak up on you somewhere between late night study sessions and group project chaos.

That’s how Pivot Group was born. At first, we were simply three classmates who worked really well together. Over time, we noticed how naturally our strengths balanced out. Jeremy Twumasi Ampofo is the visionary—an entrepreneur at heart who brings creative direction and big-picture thinking. Kyle Ayisi is the technical brain with a background in neuroscience and machine learning who helps us ground every idea in science and strategy. And Jovoney Morton is the marketer and storyteller, focused on turning data into meaningful narratives and ensuring we never lose sight of the human element behind what we build.

Eventually, we started wondering: What if we could take this collaboration beyond the classroom? That’s when we decided to create Pivot Group: our version of an innovation lab. It’s the umbrella that lets us explore ideas that live at the intersection of technology, data and media.

The Spark That Started It All

Our first idea wasn’t even the one we’re working on now. It came from a Big Data class project called Pawsitive Vibes—basically Tinder for shelter pets. It was fun, heartfelt and ambitious, but as we dug deeper, we realized we wanted to build something closer to home while still keeping empathy and human-centered design at the core.

After a few brainstorm sessions, we landed on Habituals: an AI-powered habit-tracking app designed to make self-improvement feel good, not forced. Our goal is to help people build routines that fit their lives, not someone else’s version of productivity.

Habituals lets users track habits across Mind, Body and Soul, get personalized coaching and even see how their “archetype” evolves each week. It’s habit-building with a touch of gamification. We want to build something that feels encouraging, not exhausting.

Lessons We’ve Learned Along the Way

Starting a business while finishing grad school is like trying to build a plane while flying it. You learn fast and often the hard way.

Lesson 1: The right team makes all the difference. Good ideas matter, but chemistry and trust matter more.
Lesson 2: Don’t over-test yourself into a corner. Data is powerful, but analysis paralysis is real. It’s better to launch something small and learn fast than to wait for perfect.
Lesson 3: Stay lean and scrappy. Use the tools you have. Validate ideas early. And when it’s time to scale, look for grants, incubators or pitch competitions before dipping into your savings.

The UC Davis MSBA program shaped how we think about building products. Every practicum, case study and group project reinforced one truth: when you root decisions in real data, and real people, you build things that actually work. That’s been our north star ever since.

What We’re Building Now

Today, Pivot Group is focused on Habituals. We recently launched our beta version, and it’s already helping users find their rhythm.

Our goal is simple: To prove that self-improvement doesn’t have to feel like punishment. You can build habits, track progress and feel proud of the small wins along the way.

Over the next year, we plan to expand Habituals into a full app experience. Complete with habit challenges, private social circles and AI-powered coaching that helps people grow at their own pace.

If you’d like to join the beta and help shape the next phase of the app, you can sign up at habitualsbeta.carrd.co.

Looking Back and Ahead

If we’ve learned anything through this experience, it’s that entrepreneurship doesn’t have to start with a million-dollar idea or a big investor pitch. It can start in a classroom surrounded by people who challenge you, inspire you and make you believe that maybe, just maybe, you can build something together.

So if you’re sitting in a group project wondering if your team could do more, maybe you can. Start small. Test something. See where it leads.