Jacob Marsh: From Student to Tech Entrepreneur

Jacob Marsh was not your average engineering student. While his peers were cracking equations, he was creating an actual tech brand in his dorm room. Jacob attended the University of Southampton to study Civil Engineering, but in 2012, something changed. The Raspberry Pi, a learning-to-program mini computer, had just been released. He saw one major problem—it had no case. Just a naked circuit board. So Jacob leaped. He created a simple 3D-printed case and sold it as ModMyPi. The prototype was a hobby project. But when he listed it online, he got over 300  pre-orders within two days. That‘s when the light bulb went off in his head—he was sitting on a goldmine.

Jacob Marsh Turned a Prototype Into £1.3 Million

At first, Jacob had no business experience. But with the help of a university business hub called SETsquared, he moved from 3D-printing cases to mass-producing them via injection molding. It started in his uni bedroom and turned into a full-fledged company. ModMyPi achieved a £867,000 turnover in one year. The next year, it was already climbing towards £1.3 million.

Soon enough, the brand was not only selling cases but was a destination website for Raspberry Pi hardware and accessories. Jacob even had a full-time team and started shipping international orders. All this, while still working on completing his degree.

His hustle proved that student entrepreneurs do not have to wait until graduation to build a real business.

Lessons Every Beginner Should Know

Jacob Marsh wasn’t a business school type of man, but he had three main things:
– He spotted an opportunity in the market.
– He started small and built up.
– He looked for support and sped up.

SETsquared gave him resources and mentoring that made a big difference. But the fuel was lit when Jacob took a leap of faith and started with zero business experience whatsoever. That‘s the real power move.