Rooted, a newly launched networking platform, aims to reshape how Howard University students connect, communicate and stay informed.
Two seniors, Noah Adeyeye and Jayson Johnson, developed the Rooted app to combat what is known by some as the “Howard runaround,” where students spend time chasing down scattered or inconsistent information.
The app features a calendar, news feed, upcoming events, Bison one card portal and more. Users can follow business and organizations and check dining and sports schedules. Built-in AI allows students to ask Howard-related questions directly in the app.
At Howard, Adeyeye said, there is a lot of inconsistent information and the app is created to help students, especially first-years, stay up to date on events, university updates, alerts, student elections and more.
Itunuoluwa Akarakiri, a senior computer engineering major from Nigeria, has been a user since late fall of 2024. Being friends with Adeyeye she was able to get a glimpse into how the app was built.
“Because of how passionately I saw him working on the app, I really wanted to support and use it because I know he put a lot of hard work into it,” Akarakiri said.
Adeyeye, an electrical engineering major from Baltimore and Johnson, a mechanical engineering major from Silver Spring, Maryland, are Karsh STEM Scholars of the sixth cohort. The program supports high-achieving STEM students, with a focus on increasing underrepresented minorities who pursue Ph.D. or M.D. degrees.
Adeyeye said the idea first came to them their freshman year, while studying in Founders Library after a holiday disrupted the typical dining and library schedules and he was not made aware of this.
That moment highlighted what he calls the “college runaround.” From last-minute dining changes to unclear event details and conflicting updates about campus services, small miscommunications can leave students feeling left out or unprepared.
Rooted, Adeyeye said, was designed to eliminate those gaps by keeping everything in one place.
“Built for students by students. Students control the platform and all information is in one spot. Dining, sports, etc. [students have] easy access on the phone,” Johnson said.
For Akarakiri, the app has been a useful tool for staying connected to campus life.
“I like the explore and news pages because of the information about Howard and what’s happening right now. It’s so easy for me to not be aware. It brings a lot of awareness to what’s happening,” she said.
She especially appreciates the ability to access information quickly and would like to see the club feature expanded.
“It’s so easy to get distracted or blown away by the school work or other things. I don’t actively check the news or have the time to check all the different websites. We can find everything a click away on an app; it sounds great. I think it keeps us in the loop and stays connected to our campus,” Akarakiri said.
However, she also noted a timely update issue that the app can improve upon.
“There is a lack of constant updates. Some of the features are here, there’s an option for them but they aren’t fully working yet,” she added.
Despite the challenges, she remains optimistic about the app’s future and the vision behind it.
“Rooted is a great app and I believe that there is more growth. I saw my friend Noah work on this app and I know that he has big dreams for it so I encourage everyone to use it,” Akarakiri said. “That would encourage him and his partner to do more and see the progress of where the app has come so far.”
They received support from Howard’s staff, the School of Business and students who wanted the all-in-one platform through partnerships and feedback.
Their vision solidified after the duo won the fifth annual HU Empower Business Pitch competition in March of 2024 and were awarded $20,000 in funding towards their business, Tree Technologies.
Tree Technologies is their company that is committed to transforming the campus experience for college students and its faculty. The app, Rooted, is their flagship product.
There was no standard app or use of information to get around. Students either have to check social media, websites, or over hear it to be in-the-know. There were no centralized and simplified communication apps or websites.
“It has never been done before,” Johnson said. “We have introduced something completely new and we were excited to take on the challenge.”
The support they received strengthened their commitment to refine the app for campus needs. Once those needs are met, their vision is to bring the platform to other universities who face similar issues.
The “college runaround” is not unique to Howard, Adeyeye said. “We’ve talked to students from Spelman College and other institutions and they have the same miscommunication issue. We are fixing the issues here before taking the app to other universities.”
Looking ahead, Adeyeye and Johnson hope to strengthen Rooted by forming partnerships with other organizations along with the School of Communications and the Office of University Communications.
Collaborating with these organizations will help the platform expand its reach. These collaborations, they explained, would help Rooted become a hub for events that students can rely on.
Copy edited by Damenica Ellis
