2023 St. Thomas Business Plan & Fowler GSIC Program (Expanded)

THE FOWLER GLOBAL SOCIAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE (FOWLER GSIC)

The Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge (Fowler GSIC) is a multi-round social venture competition that invites students to engage with one or more of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals by developing a sustainable social venture With a network of over 2,500 students from 17 countries over the world, the Challenge has distributed more than $670,000 to seed the most promising ventures global ventures Now a collaboration between the University of San Diego and St. Thomas, the final round of the Challenge is hosted on an alternating basis by both universities

AWARDS

Five finalist teams will pitch for the following prizes:

First Place - $6,000

Second Place - $3,000

Third Place - $1,500

Fourth Place - $1,000

Fifth Place - $500

The two leading teams will advance as the Global Finalists to represent St Thomas at the June Finals event Global Finalists have the chance to compete for a selection of top prizes ranging from $10,000 to $25,000.

SCHEDULE

ST. THOMAS BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION

Open to both traditional businesses and social ventures, the St. Thomas Business Plan Competition provides seed funding to students and recent alumni with plans to start a new company or with a business that has been incorporated for less than 12 months The competition awards prizes totaling $38,000 to participants in two divisions – undergraduate and graduate/recent alumni. For Tommiepreneurs looking to take their venture to the next level, the annual competition is a robust training ground to secure funding and mentoring to move their idea or business forward.

AWARDS

Winners in each division will receive the following cash prizes:

First Place - $10,000

Second Place - $5,000

Third Place - $2,500

Fourth Place - $1,000

Fifth Place - $500

Schulze Auditorium (SCH 120)

Schulze Auditorium (SCH 120)

SCH 127 & SCH 120

2:25 PM Judge Deliberations & Reception SCH 127 & SCH 120

Schulze Auditorium (SCH 120)

Schulze Hall Atrium

PITCH ORDER & ROOM ASSIGNMENTS

UNDERGRADUATE DIVISION JUDGES

Angel Investor

Eyo Ekpo is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas with majors in entrepreneurship and finance In addition to serving as a senior financial analyst within numerous Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the Twin Cities, Eyo’s professional experiences have been developed over time as a consultant in the executive compensation and marketing industries (primarily CPGs) Eyo is a serial entrepreneur and has founded or co-founded several businesses. His major interests include private equity and venture capital, real estate, blockchain and digital assets, social media marketing, retail and entertainment

EYOEKPO'13

SHARIMOHABIR‘96

VP, Healthcare, RGP

Shari Mohabir ‘96 is VP of Healthcare at RGP. She has spent the majority of her career living and working globally in the professional services and consulting industry developing new business, managing client engagements and building an extensive network of diverse stakeholder relationships She also has experience working in media, health care, consumer product and higher education. She is currently starting MohKsha, a consumer product organization

Shari is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas with a Bachelor's degree in international studies and Spanish She holds a master’s degree in public affairs from the Humphrey School at the University of Minnesota. Shari is a current member of Women's Health Leadership Trust and on the Diversity & Inclusion Council for Financial Executives International

UNDERGRADUATE DIVISION JUDGES

Global Product Manager, Medtronic

Katie Phelan leads commercialization of Medtronic's Patient Monitors portfolio as a Senior Global Product Manager for the Cardiac Rhythm Management business She focuses her time on launching the patient monitor portfolio in the US, Australia, Western Europe, Japan, and Canada. Prior to Medtronic, Katie spent three years as a Management Consultant for Accenture, specializing in business model optimization for health insurance companies Katie is energized by the constant progress the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship is making and is passionate about guiding Minnesota entrepreneurs She earned bachelor’s degrees in both Entrepreneurship and Financial Management from the University of St Thomas.

KATIEPHELAN‘16

NICKTIETZ‘00

Founder and CEO, ILT Studios

Nick Tietz has spent the last 15+ years working as a serial entrepreneur, innovator, technologist, user experience designer, business and technology consultant Nick has designed more than 100 apps, crafted the strategy to help redefine the public education experience at Minneapolis Public Schools, and led multiple innovation efforts at Life Time Fitness to improve the employee experience and define the health club of the future as the Director of Innovation Most recently Nick was the Co-Founder of Vitals Aware Services and launched a new technology service to help people with visible and invisible disabilities communicate with First Responders (Law Enforcement, Fire and EMT).

Nick is very passionate about helping others become the best version of themselves. Currently Nick is Founder and CEO of ILT Studios and their second startup called ILT Academy Together they are focused on supporting underestimated innovators and entrepreneurs to building companies in underserved geographies that change’s people’s lives, so profoundly they can’t imagine living any other way

GRADUATE/RECENT ALUMNI DIVISION JUDGES

Founder and CEO, Giften Market

Martha McCarthy Krueger is a serial entrepreneur. After co-founding an ecommerce business in college, she teamed up with a classmate to launch a social media agency, The Social Lights, using a startup office in Schulze Hall during its launch. The agency turned into one of the market leaders guiding social media for some of the world’s largest brands

MARTHAKRUEGER‘11

After an eight-year run of success, she went out on her own again, back to ecommerce, launching Giften Market in 2019, a company that takes the stress out of gift buying for busy professionals by sourcing unique and thoughtful products from emerging and underrepresented entrepreneurs Today Giften Market partners with 150+ small businesses to provide customers with hand-crafted and USA-made gifts for people with exceptional taste.

CEO and Co-Founder, The Stable

As a successful entrepreneur, marketer and business strategist, Nik Larsen’s career has been built on a collection of diverse experiences and skills Nik builds businesses From scratch, he has founded and led several companies across a wide breadth of industries including hospitality, real estate development, alternative investments (e.g., hedge funds), and commerce Currently, he is acting President and Co-Founder of The Stable and Managing Director of Commerce at Accenture

NIKLARSON

GRADUATE/RECENT ALUMNI DIVISION JUDGES

Executive Vice President & Head of Diverse Segments-Wealth & Investment Management, Wells Fargo

Clarence Nunn joined Wells Fargo in 2021 as head of Diverse Segments for the Wealth & Investment Management (WIM) division His responsibilities include setting strategy and growing partnerships for clients and prospects that are owned and/or managed by diverse individuals or that are serving diverse individuals or groups He also leads WMI’s efforts to expand its diverse client set and the services WIM provides to existing and new clients.

CLARENCENUNN

Clarence has more than 30 years of financial and industrial experience. Before joining Wells Fargo, he was the Southeast head of Middle Market Banking and Specialized Industries within JP morgan Chase’s Commercial Bank. Prior to JP Morgan Chase, he was the president & CEO of GE Capital-Franchise Finance

MARCUSOWENS‘16

Principal Consultant, Nawe, Inc

Marcus Owens is a social entrepreneur, systems shifter, and community developer Owens believes that expanding economic and educational opportunities and improving health and well-being for all are keys to building a healthier and just community. Owens has spent a decade driving change in the Community Development sector building infrastructure and enhancing impactful institutions in Minnesota by substantially developing infrastructure and sustainability

As the Executive Director of the African American Leadership Forum (AALF) - Twin Cities, Owens focused on improving the economic health of underserved communities in the Twin Cities by creating opportunities through public and private partnerships Before joining AALF, Owens was the President and CEO of Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) Under his direction, NEON launched a social enterprise business, created a co-working center, and developed a nationally known model for entrepreneur development. Owens also spent nearly a decade driving change and championing new initiatives in finance, diversity and inclusion, and human resources for Target Corporation Before his time at Target, he worked for TCF National Bank and owned and operated a mortgage company

KENYAMCKNIGHTAHAD

Founder & CEO, Black Women’s Wealth Alliance (BWWA)

Kenya Ahad is CEO and Founder of BWWA, a social enterprise that focuses on improving the economic stability and prosperity of historical black women career and entrepreneurial professionals. Under her leadership, BWWA has served more than 4,000 black women across Minnesota to date, investing over $740,000 in small capacity grants.

A resident of North Minneapolis for 35 years, McKnight started her career as a public and charter school educator Since 2007, she has served in key leadership roles across the economic development sector in metro Minnesota, including on community development boards, commissions, and related initiatives She also has extensive experience as a direct business service provider, facilitating lending and technical support to more than 400 micro businesses, leading business legal & marketing clinics, as well as a youth entrepreneurship programs

Well-known in the region and community, McKnight was a 2009 candidate for the 5th Ward Minneapolis City Council seat and the first African American in Minnesota to serve as a Met Council appointee to the Transportation Advisory Board On that Advisory Board, she operated as a regional equity leader focused on transportation policy, finance, planning, research, and community engagement from local to national levels

Co-Founder, Rêve Consulting

Brad von Bank is the Co-Founder of Rêve Consulting, a strategy and service design firm and Rêve Academy, a non-profit that provides pathways to digital careers for low-income, BIPOC students It has served over 10,000 students in the last decade including the creation of a social innovation event for high school students called Rêve Revival

He was the Founding Partner of Roomera, a virtual reality platform focused on accelerating innovation Brad has worked with some of the world’s most respected companies and higher education institutions on building innovation, strategy and design capabilities

BRADVONBANK

Prior to starting Rêve with his wife, Brad was an executive at Target and GE leading various innovation efforts focused on launching new products and services in the marketplace

Brad is a 1995 graduate of the University of St Thomas, with a degree in International Business – Marketing and German He currently serves on the Alumni Board as well as the Advisory Board for the Dougherty Family College

FOWLER GSIC JUDGES

KATIEKALKMAN

Executive Director, Impact Hub Minneapolis

Katie Kalkman is a social entrepreneur and currently the Executive Director at Impact Hub She is passionate about leveraging naturalborn talents to design and reach new goals. She has helped hundreds of people build businesses or take on entrepreneurial risks inside organizations She brings over a decade of experience in delivering business outcomes through business development, client relationship management, consultative selling, marketing and strategic planning

Katie started her passion for social entrepreneurship as a student at the College of St Benedict She co-founded a successful social business as part of the Entrepreneurial Scholars Program and hasn't stopped since then. Since 2005, she has been a part of six startups including Collegeville Carpets, GH Comfortable Homes, LLC, Northern Toboggan and Company, Folk School Warroad and Impact Hub MSP She has worked with entrepreneurs in China, Hong Kong, Silicon Valley and the Twin Cities She is dedicated to helping social entrepreneurs succeed because she knows the risks and rewards of thinking big.

CEO & Founder, Jajja Wellness

Henry is the Founder and CEO of Jajja Wellness A Ugandan immigrant, Henry, lost his parents at the age of 3 to illness and war He later moved to the U.S. after earning a scholarship at the University of St. Thomas where he studied Business Management

Jajja Wellness tonics originated in Henry’s grandmother’s kitchen. His grandmother was an African herbal medicine guru and nurse who made healthy tonics out of African superfoods While in college, Henry sent small amounts of money back to Uganda to help his grandmother’s juice business When she passed away, Henry decided to continue her legacy, starting a company named after his grandma or, “Jajja ”

HENRYKISITU'12

Jajja believes in providing healthy and delicious products, developed with high quality ingredients, and are committed to using environmentally and socially sustainable processes in the production of their products. Today, Jajja Wellness has expanded its line of tonics that offer immune boosting and anti-inflammatory qualities, supporting peoples' whole health, just as Henry’s grandmother did in her time.

FOWLER GSIC JUDGES

NOLANSINGROY

-Founder, Forever Ware

lan Singroy is a software engineer and co-founder of Forever Ware, women-led and black-owned social enterprise that is dedicated to igating the use of single-use plastics in the food and beverage tor. After witnessing the devastating impact of single-use plastic on beaches of his homeland in Guyana, South America, where his ents grew up, Nolan and his co-founders took action on the global blem.

a South Minneapolis resident for 23 years, Nolan has a passion for ping the community and has previous experience working in food tems for the co-ops His educational background and expertise as a -stack software engineer were instrumental in co-founding Forever re.

rrently operating across the United States, Forever Ware has made nificant strides in mitigating single-use waste from the environment. In 2022, Forever Ware successfully eliminated 11,000+ tracked singleuse items from the waste stream, establishing itself as a force in the market and contributing significantly to the fight against plastic pollution

Nate Charles ’24 (Entrepreneurship)

Leah Schuerkamp ’25 (Entrepreneurship)

4U is a mental health resource for teens with parents going through a divorce.

B-CAREWOODPELLET

Beamlak Petros ‘26 (Entrepreneurship)

A project addressing the energy and health constraints faced by women in Ethiopia as well as the ongoing practice of using firewood collected directly from forests to fuel household activities

Payton Maas ’24 (Entrepreneurship)

BUSINESSSOCIALSOCIETY

Katie McDonald ’24 (Entrepreneurship)

A networking space for young professionals aiming to address the need for a location for young professionals to find a community by providing a space for socialization, centered around the objectives of professional development and networking.

CHEMCO

REFERO

Gabriel Riegert ‘24 (Leadership and Management)

A material reclaiming facility, with a leading-edge processing potential

Cole Heppner ‘24 (Entrepreneurship)

A social media app to help four-year universities increase student retention and engagement by minimizing student anxiety and stimulating face-to-face conversations to lead to meaningful relationships, unlike college engagement platforms

MEET THE 2023 COHORT

Justa Heinen Kay ’24 (MBA)

CHUMISA

KEEPIT

LITLAB

TRADEOUT

UTOPIACRE

Rhynn Paulsen ’25 (Biology and Political science)

Chumisa empowers residents of Khayelitsha, South Africa to earn supplemental income by composting their food scraps using worms, also known as vermicomposting The finished product, “black gold,” will be purchased by Chumisa for distribution to urban farms or kept by residents to use in their own garden

Christopher Reiss ’20 (General Business)

Keepit’s padlocks place access control solutions in the hands of consumers to automate the renting and buying of inventory from businesses.

Lindsay Truax ’24 (Healthcare MBA)

LITLab improves the access, quality, and convenience of medical training and innovation through mobile facilities and services

Gafar Amuda ’20 (Computer Science)

TradeOut is an online platform that aims to reduce the risk of fraud or scams for online marketplace purchases. You can negotiate with a contract, document the purchase terms between the seller and buyer, and define the exchange location, all in one place

Erik Anderson ’22 (Entrepreneurship)

Utopia is a commercial real estate acquisition company specializing in saleleaseback transactions with private practice medical tenants

ATHENACAPITAL

Chloe

’23 (Entrepreneurship)

Athena Capital, a venture capital fund based in the Twin Cities, invests in preseed, female-founded businesses with a focus on for-profit social enterprises It aims to alleviate the struggles female founders face when finding financial and intellectual capital while promoting female visibility and representation in the entrepreneurial field

KALOKELLC

Kaloke was formed with an idea to promote environmental integrity and social equity, whilst creating unforgettable experiences to its customers who visit East Africa (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda) Kaloke operates an eco-lodge on the banks of the River Nile, Jinja Uganda which is operated on 100% renewable energy. Additionally, Kaloke is mobilizing young people to plant trees and protect and preserve the biodiversity along the River Nile

Ginkel

Simon Latim ‘21 (MBA)

2023 MENTORS & ONLINE REVIEWERS

Kyle Andrews Kyle Andrews

Charlie Beck Charlie Beck

Christina Brandt Christina Brandt

Brad Brown Brad Brown

Christina Dorr Drake Christina Dorr Drake

Braden Ericson Braden Ericson

Paul Fore Paul Fore

Mike Happe Mike Happe

John Hutchinson John Hutchinson

Kevin Jansen Kevin Jansen

Tory Merhar Tory Merhar

Nicole Deters Nicole Deters

AnnMarie Johnson AnnMarie Johnson

Shinwon Noh Shinwon Noh

Barry Johnson Barry Johnson

Jeffrey Reisinger

Frank Klisanich

Frank Klisanich

Beth Kraetsch Beth Kraetsch

Josh Kraft Josh Kraft

Mike Lewis Mike Lewis

Sue Marshall Sue Marshall

Dave Meyer Meyer

Matt Michalski Michalski

Chris Chris Muske Muske

Bruce Nordin Bruce Nordin

Diane Paterson Diane Paterson

Kwame Osafo-Addo Kwame Osafo-Addo

Jay Ebben Jay Ebben

Ashley Rogosheske

Jake Schraufnagel

Daniel Shea

David Turnham

Timothy Yocum

Chad Zejdlik

Clare Healy

Tom Fletcher

Femi Odebiyi

Torrey Lau

Alec Johnson

Casey Frid