Schulze Innovation Scholarship Awardees Spring 2021 Alexis Burstad My name is Ali Burstad and I am from Elk River, MN. When I was in middle school, I began my small business, Ali B’s Baking. I began with baking cupcakes for family and friends. During my sophomore year, my business really took off! That year I took my first DECA class and used the business skills I learned to grow my venture. I specialize in making cake pops for events like graduation parties, baby showers, holidays, birthdays and more. However, after the pandemic hit, I pivoted my business strategy to reach families at home. I started offering six-packs of cupcakes with a variety of flavors and bouquets of a dozen cake pops with contactless delivery and pickup. I am beyond excited and thankful to spend my next four years at the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship as a Schulze Innovation Scholar.
Nate Charles My name is Nate Charles and I am from Robbinsdale, MN. I began my entrepreneurial journey during high school. I entered the Business Professionals of America (BPA) entrepreneurship competition, where I created a full business plan for an imaginary business. I had just returned from college tours in Chicago and heard about a student business that sold cold brew coffee on a bike. I created a bike business for my BPA project, and this was the beginning of Minne-soda Beverage Bikes. I wanted to use Minnesota’s amazing outdoors with its beautiful lakes and parks as my market. I chose to sell beverages to those who exercise or just want something cold during Minnesota’s warm weather. This particular business plan got me to the state competition where I pitched the imaginary business. After the competition, I decided my business plan was actually viable and created Minne-soda Beverage Bikes. Throughout this journey, I have learned how important it is to create a strong network of mentors, advisors, and vendors. My family and friends have all pitched in to help grow my business. I would not have been able to achieve my dream without these people.
Schulze Innovation Scholarship Awardees Spring 2021 John Costello My name is John Costello and I am from Delano, MN. During my junior year of high school, I started an e-commerce store. Quickly after starting, I found a niche selling VHS players, internet routers, and office phones. The e-commerce business became successful and motivated me to launch West Metro Solutions. West Metro Solutions sells used office cubicles and offers a cubicle removal, installation, and delivery service. Additionally, I develop complimentary office layouts using computer-aided design software. In one year, I have had the opportunity to serve sixteen businesses in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The revenue from my business has allowed me to provide summer jobs for five of my friends and create income for a local subcontracting crew. Recently, I designed and built a sportswear product called the Sonopack, a device that allows a portable speaker to be comfortably and securely held to a person during athletic activities. I plan to file a provisional patent, build a marketing campaign, and create a supply chain to begin selling the Sonopack by the beginning of next year. I am very grateful to be a Schulze Innovation Scholar and I look forward to expanding my entrepreneurial education.
Isabell Geiger I’m Isabell Geiger from Fairmont, MN. I run my own bakery business called Little Greenhouse Bakery. I mainly do freelance ordering including, cakes, pies, and other treats. However, I also participate in my local farmer’s market during the summer. I do my best to give back to my community by donating portions of my profits to local organizations and other efforts. In December 2020, I designed and sold holiday treat boxes to over fifty people in my community. I was so happy with such an overwhelming response and donated all the profits of this project to Heaven’s Table food shelf in Fairmont! In the future, I would love to own a sustainable bakery that donates a portion of profits to social issues in the surrounding area. I’m excited to be a part of this program and can’t wait to get started in the fall!
Schulze Innovation Scholarship Awardees Spring 2021 Emma Keenan My name is Emma Keenan and I’m from Austin, MN. During my junior year of high school, I was able to participate in the Mower County Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) program. As part of this class, we were expected to complete several projects either as a class, an individual, or with a partner. One of those projects was to start our own business. I decided to turn the family hobby of bee keeping into a business, Keen Bee Honey. Along with my classmate Katie, I worked to market and sell locally produced honey, honeycomb, and beeswax candles. We also worked with a local business to place our logo on t-shirts and sweatshirts which we also sold. This experience and learning about many other local businesses fueled my interest and excitement for pursuing a degree in business, especially in entrepreneurship. I am very excited for all the people, opportunities and challenges that I will experience as a student at the University of St. Thomas and a Schulze Innovation Scholarship recipient.
Marit Larson My name is Marit Larson and I'm from Wayzata, MN. I have created many small businesses throughout my life varying from bracelet fads in elementary school to baked goods in middle school and finally my current business, Masks by Marit. I launched Masks by Marit in June 2020. I saw the growing issue of people within my community getting sick from COVID-19, struggling financially, and not liking the mask they were wearing in public. I found a way to incorporate things I love to do such as collaborating with others and marketing on social media to build my business. I have found great success with Masks by Marit and have sold over 500 customized face masks to people in my community and donated over $500 to a local charity, Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners. I cannot wait to further my entrepreneurial journey through the Schulze Innovation Scholarship and call myself a Tommie!
Schulze Innovation Scholarship Awardees Spring 2021 Georges Macheta My name is Georges Macheta and I am from Damascus, Syria. My entrepreneurial journey started long before I realized it. I had never heard the words business or entrepreneurship before 12th grade, and yet I started my first business in the first grade when I sold handmade paper origami to my classmates. Over the years I continued to express my entrepreneurial spirit in helping people. In my senior year I co-founded Project Icarus, a social media project to empower young Syrians. Throughout the journey of building our presence, we had to create a website, so I completed an 100hour web development course. This experience led me to an internship. Instead of an internship in web development as I expected, I was surprised that I was leading a team of older, experienced web developers. It was hard at first, but then I discovered the secret to leading a team: being a team member and collaborating to create new ideas and products rather than forcing them. Although Project Icarus paused because of COVID-19, the lessons I learned along the way as a team leader-member were priceless.
Nia Porter My name is Nia Kumi Porter, but you can call me Neenee. I’m from the small island-nation of Jamaica in the Caribbean. From a very young age I have always been drawn to entrepreneurship. Luckily, I have had opportunities to get my feet wet when it comes to entrepreneurship. When I was 16, I started Destination Red, a period subscription box for young girls. I started it because having to deal with your menstrual cycle was something I always viewed as inconvenient and this brought a bit of convenience and comfort to every girl’s monthly cycle. My hope is to eventually generate enough income to make a positive impact on period poverty worldwide. While I am lucky enough to be able to afford the basic things I would need for my menstrual cycle, not every girl in the world is. I believe being a Tommie will bring me one step closer to accomplishing my goals.
Schulze Innovation Scholarship Awardees Spring 2021 Natalie Shapira My name is Natalie Shapira and I’m from Vadnais Heights, MN. In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, my parents pushed me to find a job. I did not want a regular job like most high school students, so I decided to put my creativity to the test. After seeing the lack of affordable representation for the expression of pop culture, I began making mini cardboard cutouts for myself and my family. As my confidence grew, I began to gift them to my close friends. The positive response persuaded me to take this hobby and create a business. In June of 2020, I had started my business, NatalieCutouts, on Etsy where I make custom and premade mini cardboard cutouts of almost anything one could ask for. Through the success of my business, I have been able to ship to every state in the United States and would love to take it further and become an international business. I can’t wait to see what opportunities this scholarship will provide me and I am so honored to call myself a Schulze Innovation Scholar.
Leah Schuerkamp My name is Leah Schuerkamp and I'm from Prior Lake, MN. I have always had a passion for helping others and business. My entrepreneurial journey began when I formed my own club at my high school called volunteer club. From there I developed my passion through various volunteering projects, as well as starting my first business selling thrifted clothing. I was finally able to combine both my passions when I created Social Ease. I founded Social Ease based on the value of helping small business owners and giving them more time for what they love. Social Ease provides social media marketing, virtual assistance, and our newest service, product photography. We have helped 8+ small businesses grow through our services. I recently hired my first employee and am hoping to continue to expand. Starting Social Ease has been a great experience, and I’m excited to see what we will achieve in the future. I’m so grateful for this opportunity, and excited to see what lies ahead at St. Thomas!