Computer Science major Daniel Troyano receives top scores at BizPitch competition in Savannah

November 13, 2024

Senior computer science major Daniel Troyano has always enjoyed creating things, which is one of the reasons he appreciates his field of study so much. 

“Computer science allows me to have the ability to make things in a critical thinking type of way,” he said. “You can build things, and that is something I really enjoy.” 

So when he decided to develop his own business, it’s no surprise that it was a company that would enhance the experience of small businesses through digital automation. 

“My team and I noticed that a lot of the tools that are in the space for automation are really complicated and lifeless, and almost scary to use,” Troyano said. “So we thought if they’re so hard to use and really expensive, and more tailored for bigger businesses that have the resources, maybe there is a market that’s not being targeted, like small businesses that maybe don’t have the resources.” 

And that’s how Stepwise was born. The digital automation platform is designed to help anyone, regardless of technical ability, to automate any task they do on a computer. 

“This would be something you’re doing repeatedly, a tedious or annoying task to do on the computer,” Troyano said. “You can use Stepwise to basically do it one time through and then from there, you trigger it to happen automatically, thus regaining your time and mental bandwidth for more important things.” 

In October, Troyano took his business idea to the next level by pitching its concept at SCORE Savannah BizPitch, a Shark Tank-style entrepreneurial competition where he presented a business plan and model to a panel of judges. Out of eight finalists, Troyano won one of the top prizes, which includes $3,000 to help further develop his business plan.

“It really inspired us to go all in now,” he said. “It was a positive reinforcement for me and my team to push hard and go on to the next phase.” 

Troyano has worked on this project for more than a year with the help of Georgia Southern University’s Business Innovation Group (BIG) in downtown Statesboro, where he found mentors and business partners who have helped him grow Stepwise. 

Business Innovation Group client and local business owner Adam Tsang partnered with Troyano and became an inspiration for growing the business. 

“I had an internship where I was working right next to Adam and I would always see him working so passionately, and he inspired me a good bit,” Troyano said. “A lot of people have thought of owning their own business, and I decided I wanted to do work on my own product rather than someone else’s. It’s going to be hard work either way, so it just feels better if it’s going toward your own mission.” 

Tsang has supported Troyano and even serves on his team as the CEO of marketing for Stepwise.

“One of the greatest joys that I have found in my work is investing time and effort into the next generation of entrepreneurs,” said Tsang. “It is even more exciting when that work bears fruit. Daniel is the perfect example of what happens when you mix determination, a strong work ethic and calculated risk-taking. I could not be more proud of what he and the team have been able to accomplish.” 

In addition, Troyano was able to network and receive mentorship from the team at BIG, including Catherine Blake, manager of BIG’s Hinesville Business Incubator. 

“Daniel Troyano has the DNA of an entrepreneur,” said Blake. “He has an impressive work ethic, drive and focus, which enables him to achieve academic excellence as an honor student in computer science at Georgia Southern University while growing his early-stage company, Stepwise. It has been a pleasure to coach him in preparation for BizPitch. He was in it to win it!” 

After launching the product, Stepwise has garnered 300 users in just five months without advertising. Troyano and his team believe that with proper marketing and additional funding from the BizPitch competition, their product will continue to grow. Their goal is to launch a premium, paid version of the platform in 2025. 

Troyano has also received support from his professors and credits his program of study in the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing at Georgia Southern in this venture. 

“I wouldn’t have been able to develop this whole application without getting the foundations of programming here, and I’m very grateful for that,” he said. I’ve taken a lot of classes that have helped me and I have been able to use that knowledge in this business.” 

Troyano is especially grateful for the coaching from the BIG. 

“The Business Innovation Group is awesome,” he said. “I have a lot of mentors over there, and the other entrepreneurs who give advice and criticism, and I really appreciate that a lot. It’s a really great thing that I wouldn’t be here without.”

Troyano, a first-generation college student and U.S. citizen, will graduate in 2025.