Socent Spotlight: SunBundle

This is part of a Business+Impact series on U-M students and alumni who have created social enterprises and continue the work of entrepreneurship outside of school. For this edition, we are shining the light on The SunBundle, which is empowering youth through up-cycled athletic gear, driven by collegiate athletes.

SunBundle’s founder Yasmine Mansi (BBA ’25) witnessed inequity in sports firsthand while competing internationally in Egypt. At nationals, she saw athletes racing barefoot while she, a Division I athlete at the University of Michigan, competed in high-quality, team-issued gear. Recognizing the surplus resources available to athletes at this level, Yasmine created The SunBundle to not only donate excess athletic gear but also transform these donations into care packages that empower and educate athletes to reach their full potential.

What does SunBundle do, and how was it founded?

The SunBundle is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to redistributing gently used athletic gear and apparel from high schools, colleges, and community members to underresourced youth. By repurposing surplus equipment, we simultaneously reduce waste within athletic programs and expand access to sport for young athletes who need it most. 

I founded SunBundle after witnessing two starkly different realities. As a student-athlete at the University of Michigan, I saw both myself and my teammates rotate through high-quality, perfectly usable gear each season. Then in 2023, while competing internationally in top-tier, team-issued apparel, I met athletes racing barefoot. That contrast—abundance on one side, scarcity on the other—was impossible to ignore.

SunBundle was born from the desire to close that gap. The numbers highlight why this mission matters so deeply: today families spend an average of $1,016 per child annually just to participate in sports, 46% more than in 2019, creating financial barriers for many households. 58% of parents report that equipment costs are a financial stressor, and 18% have gone into debt to afford their child’s sports involvement. Athletic departments regularly cycle through perfectly usable gear, yet countless young athletes lack access to basic essentials like shoes, apparel, and equipment. SunBundle exists at the intersection of those realities, transforming excess into opportunity and ensuring that quality gear reaches the young athletes who need it most.

What need do you hope to fulfill with this business? Who is your client? The under-resourced student or the college athlete? How do volunteers fit into it?

Our mission works within a two-way market: increase access and restore dignity through sport. Our primary beneficiary is the under-resourced student who lacks proper gear. But our “client” model is broader. College and high school athletic programs benefit by responsibly offloading excess inventory. Student-athletes gain leadership experience through service. Volunteers power the entire ecosystem: from sorting inventory to hosting shoe-cleaning events to organizing campus drives. SunBundle is intentionally multi-sided. We serve underserved youth, but we engage athletes as leaders and changemakers.

That is a unique model with multiple stakeholders. What kind of for-profit/nonprofit model have you chosen to utilize? How do you fund it?

SunBundle operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our model blends community engagement with sustainable redistribution.

We are primarily funded through individual donations, auctions, community fundraising initiatives and grants. Because we rely heavily on donated goods, our operating costs remain relatively low, allowing us to maximize impact per dollar raised. Long term, we are exploring earned-revenue partnerships that align with our mission while keeping access free for the youth we serve.

What courses or UM entrepreneurship programs have helped you the most in building out your business?

The Ross Impact Studio was an incredible entrepreneurship program that helped with growing The SunBundle. It truly helped validate and iterate the different processes within our model. In addition, the Impact Studio introduced me to many connections that have been integral to the organization’s scale. More than anything, being surrounded by peers building companies of their own pushed me to treat SunBundle not as a side project, but as a venture worthy of rigor and ambition.

What is your biggest discovery since founding your business or what is a pivotal milestone you’ve reached?

Our biggest milestone so far has been raising six figures within our first four months of fundraising. With this milestone, we recognized that this wasn’t just an idea people liked: it was a mission people were willing to invest in. That moment was incredibly validating, not only because of the funding itself, but because it affirmed that people believe in this work and see the urgency behind it. Raising that level of support also pushed us into a new phase of leadership. It required us to learn how to responsibly manage and allocate a six-figure budget, think strategically about growth, and operate with a higher level of accountability. Most importantly, it gave us the confidence (and the validation) to commit to SunBundle full-time, knowing the community stood behind us.

“Make the thing exist first, and figure out how to make it better later.”
— Yasmine Mansi

 

A big discovery I’ve recognized is the true power of networking. Nearly every major opportunity, donor, school partnership, and collaboration stemmed from a conversation, an introduction, or someone willing to open a door. It reinforced that relationships drive impact. Building genuine connections, sharing the story authentically, and following up with intention has been just as important as the operational work behind the scenes.

What’s your most important piece of advice for student entrepreneurs?

Make the thing exist first, and figure out how to make it better later. You don’t need a perfect logo, a polished pitch deck, or every answer mapped out to start. What matters most is being close to the problem and having the courage to act. If you can see the gap, you’re close enough to start building the bridge.

Start small, get it into the real world, and test it quickly. Talk to as many people as you can (especially those who will give honest, unbiased feedback) and listen more than you pitch. Then iterate, adjust, and improve as you go. Momentum beats perfection every time.

Where are you looking to expand next?

We’re focused on expanding our chapter model across more universities and high schools, strengthening corporate partnerships, and deepening our impact in Michigan before scaling nationally. We are currently building out our strategic plan and SOPs to create a more seamless, efficient approach to scaling. Our next target schools are Penn State, Ohio State, and Maryland —  carefully chosen to reflect scalable programs within the Big Ten. Long-term, I envision SunBundle becoming a national bridge between athletic abundance and athletic need, fully embedded into how schools approach sustainability, service, and access to sport.

What connections are you looking to make in the near future?

• Community collaborators: Working with local communities in Michigan is a huge part of our mission. We are looking for individuals and organizations interested in partnering on events, school initiatives, and other programs that increase impact and visibility.
• Fundraising support: We are always looking for event sponsors, individual funders, and grant opportunities to help expand access to sports for under-resourced youth. This support helps us expand access to sports for under-resourced youth, turning athletic abundance into opportunity.

If you are interested in connecting with The SunBundle, contact them here.