This article was written by a student of ENGL 2310: Introduction to Journalism, which is taught by Mike Pulley.
Nine months ago, Clemson juniors and agribusiness majors Knox Duncan and John Hayes entered a business contest for extra credit in their agriculture class. Their startup idea was Antlered Angler, a website and app that allows owners of large plots of land to rent out their property to hunters and fishermen.
Duncan and Hayes’ creative use of technology to reach an untapped segment of the outdoor market won the contest’s top prize. The prize included a $2,000 investment into Antlered Angler and an opportunity to meet with professional investors, all made possible by the contest sponsor, Clemson’s Arthur M. Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership.
“It is incredible to think that an extra credit idea turned into a company I could possibly run after school,” said Duncan.
Like Airbnb, Antlered Angler makes money by charging property owners a yearly fee to list their property. All the money the property owners make from the site goes directly to them. The property owners also choose how much to charge customers for the rentals.
Some local outdoorsmen are excited about Antlered Angler. Ethan Foster, a local Clemson junior and PRTM major, is an avid hunter but struggles to find land to hunt on.
“It is hard to hunt when public land is so overused and none of your friends have private property,” said Foster. “I would definitely use the service and I can’t wait until it is up and running.”
Even some less outdoorsy individuals think Antlered Angler is destined for success. Caroline McCall, a junior chemistry major, said she had no interest in hunting or fishing whatsoever but still thought the business was “a great and innovative idea that introduces technology to the outdoors.”
Over the past nine months, Duncan and Hayes turned Duncan’s one-bedroom apartment into Antlered Angler HQ. They spent countless hours putting together the website, making advertisements and getting opinions from their trusted friends and family. While the two young entrepreneurs have worked hard to get where they are, they also know there is still much more to do. With some level of success, they find themselves wondering if they should work on their business full time.
“It is definitely something I would love to do, and I can’t wait to see where it goes,” said Duncan. “I am just grateful I received the opportunity to further my business experience with this amazing competition.”
