There are a lot of ways to misread what Webspansion is. I want to clear those up directly, because if someone applies for a project with the wrong expectations, that's bad for both of us.
What Webspansion is
Webspansion is a student-run project that builds free starter websites for small businesses, nonprofits, student organizations, community groups, and immigrant-owned businesses. The work is founder-directed and custom-built, not templates, not drag-and-drop builders, not copy-paste AI output. Every project is reviewed and shaped by Ashmit before it goes live.
I started it in my first year at UT Austin. As of now, I've built websites for 19 organizations. The goal is to reach 100. It's a real project, not a concept or a class assignment.
What Webspansion is not
Not an agency. I'm not running a professional web design agency. I'm a student who knows how to code and wants to use that skill to help organizations that can't afford market-rate web design. There's no corporate structure, no full-time team, no account management process.
Not a nonprofit. Webspansion is not a registered 501(c)(3) or any other legal nonprofit entity. Contributions are not tax-deductible. I haven't incorporated it as a business either. It's a project, a real one, but not a formal legal entity.
Not a template service. I don't hand people a Wix or Squarespace template, or a copy-paste AI output. The websites are written in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, with AI tools used to help draft, debug, and polish. Everything is reviewed before it goes live and built to be fast, clean, and specific to each client. That said, they're starter sites, not complex web applications.
Not guaranteed. I can't guarantee acceptance into the program, a specific timeline, SEO rankings, leads, sales, or long-term maintenance. What I can say honestly is that if I take a project, I take it seriously and deliver something real.
Who it's for
Webspansion is for organizations that genuinely need a better web presence and don't have the budget for professional web help. It's particularly focused on businesses and organizations in underserved communities, immigrant-owned businesses, nonprofits doing real work on thin budgets, student organizations, local service businesses that run on word of mouth.
It's not for large organizations that have a marketing budget, for projects that need enterprise features, or for businesses looking for a long-term digital marketing partner.
Why this matters
Being honest about what Webspansion is, and isn't, is how I keep it from becoming something I can't follow through on. The work I do is real. The limits are real. Both things are important to say clearly.
Common questions about what Webspansion is and isn't
Is Webspansion an agency or a registered business?+
No. Webspansion is a student-run project, not a professional web design agency. It is not incorporated as a business, and there is no corporate structure, full-time team, or account management process. It is a real project run by Ashmit, a UT Austin student who codes websites for organizations that can't afford market-rate web design.
Is Webspansion a nonprofit, and are donations tax-deductible?+
No. Webspansion is not a registered 501(c)(3) or any other legal nonprofit entity. Because it isn't a registered nonprofit, contributions are not tax-deductible. It's a real project, but not a formal legal entity.
Does Webspansion use templates or AI website generators?+
No. The sites aren't Wix or Squarespace templates, drag-and-drop builds, or copy-paste AI output. They're custom-built in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, with AI tools used only to help draft, debug, and polish. Every site is reviewed by Ashmit before it goes live. They are starter sites, though, not complex web applications.
Does Webspansion guarantee acceptance, SEO rankings, or leads?+
No. Ashmit can't guarantee acceptance into the program, a specific timeline, SEO rankings, leads, sales, or long-term maintenance. What he can say honestly is that if he takes a project, he takes it seriously and delivers something real.
Who is Webspansion for, and who is it not for?+
It's for small businesses, nonprofits, student organizations, community groups, and immigrant-owned businesses that genuinely need a better web presence and don't have the budget for professional web help. It's not for large organizations with a marketing budget, projects that need enterprise features, or businesses looking for a long-term digital marketing partner.
If this sounds like a fit for your organization, start here to find the right path, or apply directly. If you want to know more about why I'm doing this, read why I build free websites.