North Andover Business Owner Launching Innovative College App

The next Mark Zuckerberg might be in our own back yard. Well, if Zuckerberg was Greek and could make a mean gyro.

Frank Stamos, co-owner of Jimmy's Famous Pizza in North Andover, is launching Student Nation, a new social mobile venture aimed at helping Boston area college students get the most out of their communities.

"We are a mobile company that offers a free social app that brings college students together through real word engagement and entertainment while offering discounts and incentives from local businesses and national companies," Stamos said.

One thing that frustrates many college students when they're finished unpacking at their dorms or apartments is the confusion over where to go in town for the best food, music, arts, etc. And colleges provide a huge consumer base from out of town within the community.

The idea of Student Nation is to utilize that consumer base and connect students with businesses and each other.

Student Nation is set to launch in January at Boston College, just in time for college students returning from winter break.

"We're launching at B.C. to start and then we'll approach other schools as we keep going," Stamos, a Boston College alum, said. "It won't be limited to Boston, but that's where we're starting."

An idea like this could potentially snowball across Massachusetts, which is home to dozens of colleges and universities.

The company will feature, among other things:

• A free app for college students filled with entertainment, deals at local businesses and social engagement.
• Custom local business profiles complete with photos, maps and mobile reservation capability.
• Real-time data for local businesses on the effectiveness of their Student Nation presence.
• Social media expansion help for local businesses.