{"id":64473,"date":"2026-01-07T15:39:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T20:39:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/?p=64473"},"modified":"2026-01-07T15:44:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T20:44:07","slug":"expand-bed-conway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/expand-bed-conway\/","title":{"rendered":"Undergrad Entrepreneur Wants Fellow Students to Sleep in Comfort"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Dyson School\u2019s Will Conway \u201927 founded Expand-A-Bed, whose toppers make dorm (and home!) mattresses wider and softer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Melissa Newcomb<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

When Will Conway \u201927 matriculated at Virginia\u2019s University of Richmond, he made an adjustment familiar to many first-year students: he left behind his home\u2019s roomy bed for the narrower (and less comfy) one in his dorm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seeking more space and cushioning, he rented a mattress topper and extender\u2014and was shocked to see that it cost around $300 a semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI thought that I could make it less expensive,\u201d says Conway, who transferred to Cornell as a junior and is majoring in applied economics and management in the Dyson School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Will<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wanted to build upon it and turn it into a product that, instead of a rental, I could sell directly to consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conway is the founder of Expand-A-Bed<\/a>, an online business that sells mattress toppers that add eight inches of width to twin XL beds (a common dorm size), making them 46 inches wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
The topper adds layers of support on the outside edges of a twin XL mattress.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sold on its website and on Amazon<\/a>, the toppers\u2014made of a cooling gel memory foam with a removable, waterproof cover\u2014cost $250. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re shipped in reusable, vacuum-sealed bags that allow for easy transport and storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The toppers are shipped in reusable, vacuum-sealed bags that allow for easy transport and storage.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once unpacked, the topper puffs up to its final shape in less than an hour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s installed in just a few minutes, by threading straps on either side through the bed frame, clipping them shut, and tightening them. (The mattress can then be covered with full XL sized sheets, which will be slightly roomy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Will
Presenting at a product competition\u2014where he took second place\u2014in Virginia in summer 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Conway has a pending patent on the design of the toppers, which are manufactured in China. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to launching, he spent two years participating in business incubators, conducting more than 100 interviews with potential customers, and designing the product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to launching, Conway spent two years participating in business incubators, conducting more than 100 interviews with potential customers, and designing the product.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While the majority of sales are to fellow students, he says, a significant number of buyers use the topper in home guest rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was easy to set up, and the increase in width is noticeable and appreciated,\u201d says an online review from a student at the University of New Hampshire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Expand-A-Bed in situ.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\n

\u201cThe combination of support and comfort from the foam layers is fantastic. I also appreciate how compact it is for storage when the semester ends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since launching in August 2025, Conway says, the business has made around $100,000 in revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, for every mattress sold, Expand-A-Bed donates a blanket to charity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

While Conway has hired independent contractors to help with the company, he has otherwise run it solo while studying full time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now in the midst of raising a second round of investment funds, he\u2019s looking to take on a full-time staffer and to add a twin-sized version of his product that’s geared toward the home market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSleeping on a tiny, rock-hard bed was awful,\u201d Conway recalls. \u201cI knew I wasn\u2019t the only person with this problem, so it was time to dig in and get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(All photos provided.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Published January 7, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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