Student Built Tampa App Scaled to 15,000 Downloads
The 9Yaps platform links local businesses to USF students through digital coupons.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Nicholas Eisengrein launched the 9Yaps mobile application for USF students in early 2025 after starting the venture as a newsletter in late 2024. The platform now hosts over 100 business partners in the Tampa area and generates up to 10 million monthly social media views.
Why it matters
The platform provides a blueprint for leveraging campus-specific social media visibility to drive foot traffic for local businesses. By digitizing student-focused discounts, the venture successfully converted early engagement into a commercial network of over 100 partners.
The 9Yaps application has surpassed 15,000 downloads and supports more than 100 business partners in the Tampa Bay area. The founder secured a $5,000 Hafer THRIVE Pre-Seed Award to support the business's growth.
The players
Nicholas Eisengrein
An entrepreneur and USF graduate who developed 9Yaps to connect students with local merchants.
Hafer THRIVE
A startup incubator and pre-seed program that provides funding and support to emerging ventures.
The details
The application operates by allowing users to browse and claim deals that are redeemed in person at participating merchant checkouts. Business growth is largely driven by viral social media content, with individual videos reaching up to 3 million views, which boosts the visibility of campus-adjacent retailers.
Timeline
Late 2024: Business idea launched as a newsletter.
Early 2025: Transitioned from newsletter to mobile application.
2026: Nicholas Eisengrein graduated from USF.
Market Landscape
The business reflects the broader trend of hyper-local digital discount platforms seeking to replace traditional campus coupon books. It follows a strategy of scaling engagement through localized social media content rather than broad-market advertising.
Local retailers should evaluate the potential of campus-specific mobile platforms as a cost-effective alternative to mass-market advertising for student outreach. Managers should monitor how high-volume social media engagement translates into actual in-store coupon redemption rates.
The takeaway
The platform proves that hyper-local content can drive significant foot traffic for businesses operating near major universities. Operators should track the conversion rate of their social media impressions into in-store redemptions when considering similar partnership opportunities.
Further reading
Explore more local business developments in the Tampa Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Oracle.
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