Meet Ethan Weaver, a first-year West Virginia University student juggling dual degrees in applied artificial intelligence and data analytics and in finance, plans for his second business and involvement in more student organizations than you can count on one hand.
At 19, the Grafton, West Virginia, native is venturing into something new, as part of the inaugural class of the Applied AI and Data Analytics Program at the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics. He’s a member of a cohort of students learning to develop, deploy and manage the AI technologies companies rely on to stay competitive.
Growing up just 30 minutes from Morgantown, he always knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur.
He proved that drive early on. Over the summer of 2023, he worked as a lifeguard at the nearby lake and a grocery order fulfiller at Walmart, then as a marina attendant while also serving coffee as a barista before climbing to assistant manager at the Whistle Stop Café.
Alongside these jobs, he had an urge to build something of his own. Starting small, he resold sneakers and clothing on the side. Then came his first licensed business, Weaver Auto and Marine Detailing, something that could help him save for college and tap into what he soon would be studying: a mobile car and boat detailing service that brought in more than $10,000 in four months, all while still working at the café.
“It was a strategic combination of three things,” Weaver said. “I needed to pay for my education, I identified a gap in the market for mobile marine and car detailing, and I leveraged my previous networks in my community to secure those initial clients.”
But it was his father, who works at the MITRE Corporation supporting U.S. government agencies, guided him to envision the automation side of business for his future.
“My dad is a lead systems engineer, so I grew up in a technical environment. I have always enjoyed building computers, but I started experimenting with AI models early on,” Weaver said. “Seeing the potential there, combined with my family background, made this path feel natural.”
When WVU rolled out the new Applied AI and Data Analytics Program, Weaver found his footing. He switched to the new major and added finance, a combination he sees as an ideal foundation of skills to succeed in a rapidly changing, tech-driven business environment.
“I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur,” Weaver said. “My goal is to launch a scalable AI automation firm. Pairing finance with applied AI provides the ideal foundation. It allows me to understand both the technical architecture of the products and the economic strategy required to grow.”