How Anastacia Yefimenko Built Elcove with Zero Savings -

Starting a business as a student doesn’t require deep pockets—just ask Anastacia Yefimenko. From crafting bracelets in elementary school to launching Elcove, her eco-friendly cleaning products company at Babson College, she’s mastered the art of building brands on a budget.

Master the DIY Mindset

Remember when you learned to ride a bike? Starting a business is similar—it takes practice, determination, and a willingness to fall before you soar. Yefimenko embraced this mindset when she needed a professional website for Elcove. Despite struggling with coding, she dove into YouTube tutorials and online resources until she conquered Shopify’s platform. The result? A professional website that cost practically nothing but time and persistence.

Transform Free Tools into Gold

Want to know a secret? Those sleek product photos and eye-catching designs you see from major brands? You can create similar magic without expensive software. Yefimenko designed her entire brand identity using Canva Pro—a mere $120 investment that transformed her dorm room ideas into professional packaging designs. By studying successful brands and gathering feedback from potential customers, she created a visual identity that stands toe-to-toe with established competitors.

Build Your Dream Team (Without Hiring Anyone)

Imagine having a board of advisors without paying a dime. That’s exactly what Yefimenko did by building genuine connections with industry veterans. She reached out to entrepreneurs who’d walked her path, turning potential mentors into passionate supporters of her success. These relationships provided priceless insights that helped her avoid costly mistakes and find new opportunities.

Hunt for Hidden Treasure

Here’s where it gets exciting: Yefimenko secured $50,000 in equity-free funding through pitch competitions, grants, and crowdfunding. The key? She crafted a compelling 60-second story that made her business relatable and memorable. By leading with her personal struggle with allergies and asthma, she created an emotional connection that helped her stand out in competitions.

Smart Moves for Smart Entrepreneurs

Perfect one skill at a time instead of spreading yourself too thin
Study your competition’s packaging and branding in stores
Connect with potential mentors by showing genuine interest in their journey
Test your ideas with real customers before investing heavily

The entrepreneurial path might seem daunting, but remember—every successful business started somewhere. With creativity, determination, and smart resource management, you can turn your dorm room dreams into market reality. As Yefimenko proves, sometimes the best business lessons come from working with limited resources.

Ready to start your entrepreneurial journey? Remember, your next big idea might just be solving a problem you face every day.