He might have lost a business competition, but Grand Valley State University student Bradley Cross said he is actually happy that someone else won.

Cross submitted his idea, My D.D. Taxi Service, to a panel at 5×5 Night last month. It is a monthly competition that pits potential entrepreneurs against each other for a $5,000 prize.

“I honestly am grateful that I lost,” Cross said. “I got the experience and I got the ability to step back and go back to the drawing board.”

His proposed business was originally going to cost students a couple of dollars per ride, but once he experienced 5×5 Night, Cross decided to re-tool the idea and make it into a nonprofit that offers free rides for inebriated students on weekend nights.

“The reason that this whole drunk driving thing is very personal to me is because my dad is a seven-time DUI [driving while intoxicated] offender,” he said. “I understand how bad drinking and driving can affect people that have nothing even to do with the whole act.”

Cross said he wants to educate the GVSU community and make it safer, and that is why he decided the service should be completely free.

To be able to open it, he will rely on donations and advertisements.

Cross is a junior at GVSU, but he has two years left while he studies public administration.

He plans to enter 5×5 Night again for the April competition. It happens on the last Tuesday each month at 5:30 p.m.

“I’ve already been brainstorming more and more, and coming up with more ideas about how I can bring that to Grand Valley students.”

To learn more about the competition, visit http://5×5night.com.

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