According to Fortune, 22-year-old Elijah Khasabo is simultaneously running a startup projected to make over $1 million in revenue this year while completing his senior year at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His platform Vidovo enables users to create, share, and monetize short-form content, growing from a bedroom project during community college into a serious business. Khasabo admits he’s considered dropping out multiple times, even waiting until just 14 hours before his first class to move back to campus this semester. His entrepreneurial journey began as a teenager with a Discord server that grew to 30,000 members in under three months, followed by e-commerce experiments before the viral success of a purchased user-generated video with 15 million views sparked the Vidovo concept.
The college startup dilemma
Here’s the thing – we’re constantly hearing about college dropouts who made it big. Zuckerberg, Gates, Jobs. But Khasabo is taking a different path, and honestly, it’s refreshing. He’s basically saying you don’t have to choose between education and entrepreneurship. The guy is managing product development, customer outreach, and learning how to run a company while still attending classes and maintaining a campus social life.
What’s really interesting is his perspective on why college matters even when you’re already successful. He sees it as a massive networking opportunity that could pay dividends years down the line. “You never know where a student I met yesterday will be in three years,” he told Fortune. That’s a pretty mature outlook for someone whose business is already hitting seven figures.
The timing advantage
Khasabo acknowledges that timing played a huge role in his decision. If Vidovo had taken off earlier, he might not have pursued the degree at all. But starting college and the business around the same time created this unique situation where both could grow together. He’s treating college as a complement to his entrepreneurial ambitions rather than a distraction.
And get this – after spending the summer in New York, he realized there’s a “real advantage” to understanding how the business world works, then returning to school with that knowledge. It’s like he’s getting the best of both worlds: real-world business experience combined with the structured environment of higher education.
The bigger Gen Z trend
Khasabo isn’t alone in this entrepreneurial drive. According to the article, 50% of Gen Zers have expressed a desire to start their own business. We’re seeing a generation that’s increasingly skeptical of traditional corporate paths and more willing to bet on themselves.
But here’s what makes Khasabo’s story stand out: he’s balancing that entrepreneurial spirit with the practical benefits of education. He’s honoring a promise to his mother to get a degree while building something meaningful. In an era where student debt is crushing and the job market is uncertain, his approach feels both ambitious and surprisingly grounded.
So is college worth it when you’re already running a successful business? For Khasabo, the answer seems to be yes – but only if you approach it strategically. He’s not just collecting credits; he’s collecting connections, experiences, and perspectives that could shape his company’s future in ways he can’t even predict yet.
