Davidson Posse Scholar Builds Startup, Eyes Future in Consulting
When Isaiah Dinar arrived at Davidson College, he quickly noticed a problem. Students often struggled to find affordable transportation off campus. Ride-sharing services were difficult to find in the area and prohibitively expensive for many students, especially during busy travel periods.
Rather than accepting the problem, Isaiah and two friends decided to create a solution. Together, they launched ZIP Campus, a ridesharing platform designed specifically for Davidson students. The service connects student drivers and riders, allows users to negotiate fares directly and keeps costs lower by avoiding the fees charged by traditional ridesharing companies.
The startup quickly gained traction across campus. Last November, ZIP Campus facilitated more than $1,000 in rides, and Isaiah and his co-founders were awarded $15,000 to continue developing the platform and expanding its impact.
Building ZIP Campus confirmed something Isaiah had already begun to discover about himself: he enjoys solving problems that make people’s everyday lives better. That instinct has shaped both his academic interests and his career aspirations.
A self-designed economics and international relations major, Isaiah hopes to build a career in consulting, helping organizations tackle complex challenges on a larger scale.
None of this would have been possible without Posse.
After applying to consulting internships with Bain & Company, Isaiah was invited to participate in the firm’s selective pre-internship program, where he developed new professional skills while building relationships with Bain consultants.
“I’m so thankful to Posse and to Bain for the advice,” says Isaiah. “The networking and practical training provided at the pre-internship program left me much better prepared to apply for the Associate Consultant Internship.”
The supportive culture at Bain reminded Isaiah of his experience as a Posse Scholar. Current Bain employees treated participants to dinner, shared practical advice and emphasized the importance of building community—qualities Isaiah recognized from his own experience with Posse.
This summer, Isaiah will work to develop new operational systems and increase organizational efficiency at a Tampa-based AI startup that develops virtual training for public servants. He has experience building applications using AI tools and plans to share those techniques with his new employer while continuing to pursue innovative solutions to complex problems.
Reflecting on his path to the present, Isaiah says, “None of this would have been possible without Posse.”
