Jaival Vikal is the 20-year-old CEO and founder at Futboltastic Store and VOLT Performance, a full-time University of Alabama at Birmingham entrepreneurship major, athlete and trainer.
What is your background?
I am currently residing in Birmingham for my university education. I am an international student from India and a UAB junior. I am the first international student in UAB's entrepreneurship major, and I combined it with a computer science major. I play soccer and manage two businesses in India. I am a physical trainer at the UAB recreation center, media producer for UAB dining services, president of UAB's Entrepreneurship and Bike clubs and safety officer of the UAB club soccer team.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
When I planned my first solo trip inside the U.S. and flew domestically for the first time as an international student. I went to Oralndo and Miami. I spent the whole time networking with entrepreneurs and found several entrepreneurship opportunities. It's amazing to be from India and to be growing and learning so much right here in Alabama in an award-winning entrepreneurship program.
What is Birmingham doing right to foster innovation?
Birmingham's growth is in its early phases and it’s growing and developing faster than some of its peer cities. We are blessed to have UAB here, which draws talent from all over the world. The 2022 World Games was a big success and really stoked the entrepreneurial energy in our ecosystem. The Birmingham entrepreneurial ecosystem is going to be one of the strongest in the country over the coming decade.
