Warren Wilson College Junior Launches Student Skill-Exchange Platform uSWAP

A Warren Wilson College junior recognized a campus need and turned it into a business, picking up regional accolades along the way. Roselin “Rose” Nhira, a double major in data science and business, is the founder of uSWAP, a peer-to-peer platform that lets students trade skills and services using a points-based system instead of money. Students can offer help in areas such as tutoring, coding, design, languages, music, cooking, photography and writing, and use the points they earn to request help from others.

“My time at Warren Wilson has been such a huge part of shaping uSWAP and my own growth as an entrepreneur,” Nhira said. “Being in a community that values collaboration and hands-on learning really pushed me to think differently about how we, as students, can support each other. Between my work on the IT crew and my classes, I have seen firsthand where the gaps are in what students need versus what they can actually access.”

The platform, which verifies users through their college email addresses, will launch Friday,
Aug. 28, for use by Warren Wilson students. Nhira plans to extend the app beyond Warren
Wilson after refining it with feedback from users.

Nhira, who is from Zimbabwe, said the idea grew out of what she was seeing on campus. She
works as a data technician on Warren Wilson’s IT/Data Crew and is an active member of the
college’s Engage Community, which fosters inclusivity and cultural appreciation through events
and student-led initiatives. She is also a passionate content creator who explores the
intersection of data, storytelling and social impact.

uSWAP has earned recognition at three competitions this year: third place at the Appalachian
Colleges Association Pitch Competition, a Hatch Innovation Award through Warren Wilson’s
Entrepreneur-in-Residence program, and the Judges’; Award at the Sullivan Foundation
Showcase, which carries potential for future investment. Nhira was also provided funding from
the Endeavor Foundation.

“Warren Wilson has given me the space and the encouragement to turn a random idea into
something real,” Nhira said. “From great mentorship to opportunities like pitch competitions, I
have gained so much confidence in building something that can actually make an impact.”

Nhira has credited mentorship from Wendy Seligmann, Professor of Practice in Business; Brock
Busby from Hatch Innovation Hub, the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Warren Wilson College; and support from the broader Warren Wilson community as key factors in bringing uSWAP from
concept to launch.

For more information about uSWAP, visit uswapapp.com.