Obama Honors CofC Alum as “Global Entrepreneur”

It’s not every day you get invited to the White House to be honored for your accomplishments. And it’s not every day you get to network with representatives from 70 corporations and cast members from ABC’s Shark Tank, including Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, and Daymond John. But College of Charleston alumnus Griffin Peddicord ’14 isn’t just any business graduate. He’s been deemed one of 30 Emerging Global Entrepreneurs and his trip to Washington, D.C. is only the tip of the iceberg. Since graduating last year, Peddicord has been on a roll.

Griffin Peddicord ’14 gets ready for his appearance at the White House.

In mid-May, Peddicord traveled to Washington, D.C. to be recognized by President Barack Obama as part of the Global Entrepreneur Summit. “I was honored to be selected (as a Global Entrepreneur), along with the likes of rocket scientists, industry executives and thought leaders,” said Peddicord afterward.

He was singled out for having created Voyzik, a music sharing app that will enable listeners around the world to be linked simultaneously. “The Voyzik platform will allow people to unite as they always have, around music,” explained Peddicord. “It’s the focus of my group of friends that technology should be used to unite people through music, as opposed to the current isolated music experience. And Voyzik is a product born from a desire to connect people on an emotional level.”

During the final months of his college career, Peddicord also cofounded Dukana, a social shopping platform. Along with fellow CofC graduates Jacob Tyree ’14 and Michael Feliciano ’14, Peddicord developed Dukana because “we wanted something that allowed college students and the general population alike to buy and sell items without the danger and anonymity of Craigslist.”

Regarding his trip to the White House, Peddicord said, “The moment I lined up to get through security, I started meeting incredible founders. This exposure allowed me to discuss my vision and gather feedback from people who have also undertaken large-scale initiatives. I spent time casually chatting with some of the smartest people I’ve ever encountered. One individual who left a lasting impression was Rohan Oza, former chief marketing officer for Coca-Cola and the brains behind Vitamin Water. He is brilliant, witty, candid and has a genuine interest in health issues.”

Peddicord, who is also an accomplished yoga instructor and 2010 International Yoga Asana Champion, plans to launch Voyzik on September 21, 2015, which is World Peace Day.

In the meantime, he has also been invited to join President Obama in Nairobi, Kenya, in late July for the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit. Business leaders, mentors and high-level government officials from all over the world are expected to attend this gathering.

To learn more about Peddicord and his ventures, follow his Ohana Syndicate on Twitter.