What are you most excited—and maybe most nervous—about as you start college?
I'm most excited about meeting new people, experiencing campus life and cheering on the Rebels at football games.
College is a chance to build lifelong friendships while continuing to grow personally and professionally. At the same time, there's always a little nervousness that comes with starting something new, but I'm looking forward to embracing the challenge.
I'm most excited about meeting new people, experiencing campus life and cheering on the Rebels at football games.
College is a chance to build lifelong friendships while continuing to grow personally and professionally. At the same time, there's always a little nervousness that comes with starting something new, but I'm looking forward to embracing the challenge.
Most high school students aren't founding AI companies. What problem did you see that made you decide to build XShift AI?
I grew up working shift-based jobs and experienced firsthand how frustrating employee scheduling could be. Managers spent countless hours creating schedules, and employees often struggled with last-minute changes and communication.
I saw an opportunity to completely rethink the process. Instead of making scheduling slightly better, I wanted to reinvent how the game is played. With XShift AI, scheduling happens completely on autopilot, saving businesses time while making life easier for employees.
I grew up working shift-based jobs and experienced firsthand how frustrating employee scheduling could be. Managers spent countless hours creating schedules, and employees often struggled with last-minute changes and communication.
I saw an opportunity to completely rethink the process. Instead of making scheduling slightly better, I wanted to reinvent how the game is played. With XShift AI, scheduling happens completely on autopilot, saving businesses time while making life easier for employees.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while building a company before even graduating high school?
The biggest challenge was the learning process. From September through December, I spent 12 to 14 hours a day building the company. There were plenty of moments when I had to stop, retrace my steps and figure out why something wasn't working before finding the right solution. It took discipline, patience and persistence, but every obstacle taught me something valuable.
The biggest challenge was the learning process. From September through December, I spent 12 to 14 hours a day building the company. There were plenty of moments when I had to stop, retrace my steps and figure out why something wasn't working before finding the right solution. It took discipline, patience and persistence, but every obstacle taught me something valuable.
What's been your favorite part of building your company?
Without question, it's seeing the impact the product has on people's lives. Knowing that we've made scheduling easier for businesses and employees—and hearing how much time we're saving them—is incredibly rewarding. That's what motivates me every day.
Without question, it's seeing the impact the product has on people's lives. Knowing that we've made scheduling easier for businesses and employees—and hearing how much time we're saving them—is incredibly rewarding. That's what motivates me every day.
You could have chosen many different paths after high school. Why was Ole Miss the right place for the next stage of your entrepreneurial journey?
I fell in love with both the campus and the town of Oxford. The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship stood out because of its commitment to supporting student founders, and I immediately felt that Ole Miss was a place where entrepreneurship is encouraged.
The campus community is incredibly supportive, and that culture of collaboration and Southern hospitality made it feel like the perfect place to continue building my company.
I fell in love with both the campus and the town of Oxford. The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship stood out because of its commitment to supporting student founders, and I immediately felt that Ole Miss was a place where entrepreneurship is encouraged.
The campus community is incredibly supportive, and that culture of collaboration and Southern hospitality made it feel like the perfect place to continue building my company.
When you arrive in Oxford this fall, what are you most excited to learn?
Running a company teaches you a lot, but there are experiences you only get in college. I'm excited to build relationships with people from different backgrounds, expand my network and learn from professors, mentors and other student entrepreneurs.
I'm also looking forward to the personal growth that comes from living on my own and taking on new responsibilities.
Running a company teaches you a lot, but there are experiences you only get in college. I'm excited to build relationships with people from different backgrounds, expand my network and learn from professors, mentors and other student entrepreneurs.
I'm also looking forward to the personal growth that comes from living on my own and taking on new responsibilities.
What advice would you give another student who has a big idea but isn't sure where to start?
Start with a real problem—one that's painful enough that people genuinely want it solved. The best businesses aren't built around ideas; they're built around solving meaningful problems.
Once you've identified the problem, stay curious, keep learning and don't be afraid to start before you have everything figured out.
Start with a real problem—one that's painful enough that people genuinely want it solved. The best businesses aren't built around ideas; they're built around solving meaningful problems.
Once you've identified the problem, stay curious, keep learning and don't be afraid to start before you have everything figured out.
Five years from now, what would success look like for Noah Marbach?
Success (for me) means making a meaningful difference in people's lives by helping shift-based workplaces save time and operate more efficiently.
I also hope to mentor other students who want to pursue entrepreneurship, just as others have helped me. And one day, I'd love to give back financially to Ole Miss as a way of saying thank you and helping support the next generation of student innovators.
Success (for me) means making a meaningful difference in people's lives by helping shift-based workplaces save time and operate more efficiently.
I also hope to mentor other students who want to pursue entrepreneurship, just as others have helped me. And one day, I'd love to give back financially to Ole Miss as a way of saying thank you and helping support the next generation of student innovators.