MEET THE ENTREPRENEURS

Allergy Aware

Brady Barr, Finance graduate ’22

People’s Choice Winner

$2,000

Third Place Winner

$2,000

“This is Freddy,” said Brady Barr to the crowd, gesturing toward a 12-year-old cartoon boy on screen. Freddy’s got a host of dietary issues, including food allergies to milk, tree nuts and eggs, which cause a bunch of problems when he tries to guess what might be safe to eat on menus at restaurants.

“I think everyone here knows someone with food allergies,” Barr said, which is why he created Allergy Aware to make dining out easier for people with food allergies.

The company partners with restaurants to develop personalized allergy menus that create a safer environment for both the customers and staff, ensuring that everyone can enjoy their dining experience with confidence. Customers can scan QR codes at the tables to pull up apps that show them exactly what foods are safe to order at restaurants. Barr worked with Pub 500 in Mankato when developing the idea.

HyperFocus

Dominic Bothe, Business Management

The first thing Dominic Bothe did when he took the stage is asked the crowd to raise their hands if they themselves had ADHD or if they had a friend or family member who had been affected by it. The majority of the audience raised their hands.

That’s when Bothe laid down some pretty startling statistics, including that 33% of those with ADHD would drop out of high school or delay graduation, and that they’re more likely to be involved in car accidents.

That’s why Bothe was inspired to develop HyperFocus, a mobile application designed to help students with ADHD improve their academic performance in traditional classroom settings. Using a combination of techniques such as sensory stimulation, symptom identification and management, HyperFocus helps students recognize their learning styles, manage their time effectively and improve their attention and focus in the classroom.

Regardless of diagnosis of ADHD, he said, “I truly believe that every student deserves a fair shot at academic success.”

Infinity 3D Concrete

Bryce Stalboerger, Construction Management

Faster construction. Customization. Sustainability. Improved safety. Cost effectiveness. Improved quality. It’s hard to argue with those benefits when it comes to the construction industry, and that’s what Bryce Stalboerger pitched with his Infinity 3D Concrete idea to the judges. In short, he said, Infinity 3D Concrete is an innovative company that will utilize revolutionary technology to change the construction industry, and the world, through the limitless possibilities of 3D printing with concrete that can be used for everything from custom planters, to storm sewer piping, to underwater coral habitat.

“In conclusion, 3D concrete printing is a game-changing technology,” he said. “Let’s print a better tomorrow for future generations with Infinity 3D concrete.”

2 Seasons Snow Removal & Lawn Care

Harrison Braudis, Finance

Yes, people can pick up the phone and call a landscaper or a snow-removal service, just like they can call and order a pizza or a taxi. But if there’s an option to Door Dash or to Uber, wouldn’t you rather do that, Harrison Braudis asked the audience?

That’s the premise behind 2 Seasons Snow Removal & Lawn Care, a Door Dash-inspired company delivering snow removal and lawn mowing services at the convenience of the customer through an app by pairing them with local companies for a one-time job. 2 Seasons is a third-party company providing snow removal and lawncare companies with the opportunity to create extra revenue by performing jobs for people who are not subscribed to their service.

“2 Seasons looks to become what Uber is but for the landscaping and snowremoval market,” Braudis said.

Fin’s Finest Labs

Zachary Finholdt, Accounting

First Place Winner

$5,000

Ag/Food/Beverage Winner

$3,000

Zachary Finholdt had goats growing up and showed them at the fair. One in particular, Lil’ Sebastian, had an abnormal growth, and you can’t be too careful when things can spread to other animals. So there had to be isolation and tests, which meant waiting and paper results that were difficult to track, Finholdt said.

That’s where his idea for Fin’s Finest Labs came from. The company specializes in diagnosing diseases in animals big and small, while offering solutions to treat the diseases. Instead of receiving paper results, a database will keep track of the animals’ history of testing and treatment.

“FF Labs focuses on providing a customized local, reliable resource to all animal owners,” he said.

Finholdt said Fin’s Finest labs would be located in the Midwest and would integrate technology through the use of apps and online services. He’d partner with diagnostic labs, vet clinics and others.

Louie Labs

Ben Zuelke, Integrated Engineering - Electrical

Dan Armstrong, Integrated Engineering - Electrical

Franz Sherman, Integrated Engineering - Electrical

Heidi Roeschli, Integrated Engineering - Electrical Yeng

Mechanical

Second Place Winner

$3,000

High Tech Division Winner

$3,000

Did you know of the 73.5 million children in the U.S. that 2.2 million are visually impaired? That’s the question Louie Labs posed to the audience before presenting their STEM kits for consideration.

Heidi Roeschli said they wanted to make the world better by offering more accessible subscription boxes containing STEM-based projects and activities tailored to individuals with visual impairments. In addition, they plan to develop low-cost tools and aids for visually impaired professionals.

“Our kits make accessibility the priority,” Franz Sherman said. “Remember to unleash your inner innovator,” Yeng Moua added.

Big Ideas 2023 winner

Zachary Finholdt was all smiles holding his giant check for $5,000 for First Place and another for $3,000 for Ag/Food/Beverage Winner at the Big Ideas Competition. But what’s happening on the outside with Finholdt doesn’t always match the inside.

“I was surprised,” he said.

Similarly, the calm, cool and collected presentation for Fin’s Finest Labs masked other feelings as well.

“I was real nervous,” said the man of few words.

As for what he plans to do with his prize money, Finholdt said he may purchase a microscope or save the money and take time to plan.

Thanks to our generous donors behind the 2023 Big Ideas Challenge.

Primary Sponsor

Craig ’72 & Pat Lloyd, Founders of Lloyd Companies