BYU Rollins Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!!!

Jenny Beth Stenquist is a recent graduate in Marketing with an emphasis in Market Research & Data Analytics. She is currently participating in the Founders Launchpad as part of the Miller New Venture Challenge!

Jenny Beth, with her husband Ryan, started ReCloset which is a software developer that maintains a localized community marketplace app for second-hand clothing. This peer-to-peer marketplace is unlike other platforms--like Facebook Marketplace--because it is tailored to customer needs, standardizing and simplifying the listing process for sellers and streamlining the search effort for buyers. ReCloset eliminated the traditional and antiquated commission model by charging pennies for a listing and made the need for expensive shipping obsolete by localizing searches and providing easy meet-up, drop-off, and pick-up locations.

Jenny Beth explained that they got their inspiration for their business because she had TOO many clothes that she didn't wear and wanted to sell them. She noticed that there weren't any platforms that were actually worth her time or effort, so she created her own!

"I believe that entrepreneurship gives me the greatest capacity to do good. It is the best way that I know how to leave the world better than I found it."

"The Rollins Center has encouraged me to pursue my potential, chase after success, and learn unendingly. IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA, participate in the competitions, put in the work to place, and win funding for it! You'll only regret it if you never try."

Take Jenny Beth's advice and stop by the Rollins Center to learn more about mentoring opportunities, competitions, and more that can help jumpstart your idea!

In a blog post called 18 Habits of Highly Productive People, there are suggestions given that can help us stay productive:
- Focus on most important tasks first.
- Cultivate deep work.
- Keep a distraction list to stay focused.
- Break tasks into smaller pieces.
- Take breaks.
- Make fewer decisions.

"Most of the time, the most efficient people you meet have managed to find ways to overcome procrastination and other challenges."
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What are some ways that you stay productive during spring and summer terms?!

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!

Alex Thompson is a recent graduate in Entrepreneurial Management and is currently participating in the Founders Launchpad as part of the Miller New Venture Challenge!

Alex Thompson, with his co-founder Derek Shields, came up with a way to bring clean water and peace of mind to pool and spa owners everywhere called Amano.

Alex explained that they got their inspiration for their business by surveying over 100 pool owners and then watched a video about how to clean a swimming pool. Their idea budded from there!

"Entrepreneurship is fun! In my opinion it’s a lot more work then a regular 8-5 job and sometimes it can be quite exhausting. But I love the process of learning that comes with innovation."

"Jeff Brown and Corbin Church have helped us refine our business pitches for competitions and the Rollins Center has provided us with FANTASTIC opportunities to get early stage funding without having to give out equity. I’ve always been impressed with the Rollins Center! They do a great job of inspiring students."

Visit our office or the Rollins Center website to learn more about the Founders Launchpad and how the Rollins Center can help your business take off!

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!

Alex Thompson is a recent graduate in Entrepreneurial Management and is currently participating in the Founders Launchpad as part of the Miller New Venture Challenge!

Alex Thompson, with his co-founder Derek Shields, came up with a way to bring clean water and peace of mind to pool and spa owners everywhere called Amano.

Alex explained that they got their inspiration for their business by surveying over 100 pool owners and then watched a video about how to clean a swimming pool. Their idea budded from there!

"Entrepreneurship is fun! In my opinion it’s a lot more work then a regular 8-5 job and sometimes it can be quite exhausting. But I love the process of learning that comes with innovation."

"Jeff Brown and Corbin Church have helped us refine our business pitches for competitions and the Rollins Center has provided us with FANTASTIC opportunities to get early stage funding without having to give out equity. I’ve always been impressed with the Rollins Center! They do a great job of inspiring students."

Visit our office or the Rollins Center website to learn more about the Miller New Venture Challenge and how the Rollins Center can help your business take off!

Congrats Class of 2021!

Good luck on all your future endeavours!

Need a study break? Listen to one of our podcasts featuring a recent BYU grad and outdoor adventure company!

In this episode of The Student Entrepreneur we feature Nathan Allen, a recent graduate in the BYU marketing program, a former BYU athlete, and owner of Big Rock Adventure. Unlike many of our guests, Nathan didn't start his company, but instead tells the story of how he bought and grew his outdoor adventure company. Overcoming poor economic times, a dishonest original founder, and the challenges associated with a weather dependent company Nathan proves that you just don't have to start a business to be a tough, capable entrepreneur.

Listen NOW at the link in our bio!

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT! Sarah Ferrell is a senior in the finance program AND has started her own business!

Pressed Floral is a flower preservation company that specializes in pressing, preserving, and framing sentimental floral arrangements, mostly wedding bouquets.

"I have always had a mind for business and I knew I wanted to start something of my own someday . . . I remember so clearly the evening that I had the idea. I instantly went full throttle in learning how to be a professional at the art and later that summer launched Pressed Floral. It has been quite the journey and I am inspired every day to keep on moving forward."

"I believe that everyone has the potential to succeed in entrepreneurship. I love it because it allows me to be creative and work for my own dream. Being an entrepreneur has pushed me to my limits, has taught me and has helped me grow more than anything else."

"I have met with mentors through the Rollin Center and have received endless support from the center. They truly want to do anything they can to help my business grow."

Sign up to meet with a student mentor today at the link in our bio to help your business idea grow!

You don't want to miss the WE end of the year banquet tomorrow, April 8th at 7 PM-8:30 PM via Zoom.

Join the end of year virtual banquet to celebrate the girls of WE and learn from the amazing Jeanette Bennett, Owner of Utah Valley Magazine, Utah Valley Bride, etc.

Come share how WE has impacted your BYU experience with other attendees and take photos at our red carpet upon picking up your FREE meal! Dress will be business professional/fancy attire.

You must RSVP to receive FREE ZUPAS from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at The Rollins Center, 470 TNRB.

RSVP at the link in our bio!

IN 2 DAYS on Friday, April 2nd at 3pm the BYU Miller New Venture Challenge Final Event will be broadcast live (link will be sent to you soon).

This event will showcase the top 8 student startups that have formed this year on campus and is the culminating event of the Miller Competition Series. Your attendance will also help us determine the $2,000 Audience Choice Award and get you entered to win a hammock in the door prize giveaway! You must RSVP to be entered into the drawing for the hammock.

RSVP now at the link in our bio!

NEW PODCST EPISODE OUT NOW!
On today's episode of The Student Entrepreneur we feature Elizabeth Jeffrey, a junior in the entrepreneurship program, mother of six, and social entrepreneur. After years away from school, she decided to return and pursue some of her entrepreneurial dreams. Armed with the skills and tenacity only a mother can have, Elizabeth tells us the story of her company and how she balances school, family, and work to lead a fulfilling life.
You don't want to miss it! Listen at the link in our bio!

RSVP NOW for Startup Hub on March 25th from 6-7PM!

Startup Hub is a campus-wide networking event for those interested in entrepreneurship and innovation. If you have an idea you are working on but need additional team members or maybe you'd like to join an existing team... this event is for you! We will have breakout rooms and structured networking to help you maximize your time at the event.

RSVP now at the link in the bio!

RSVP for the WE Event next Tuesday, March 23rd!

There is a large interest among WE members in lifestyle businesses. For this event, WE wants to focus on learning how to start, market, and scale a lifestyle business. WE is bringing in Erin and Kimball Palmer, whose passion for travel and investing in youth led to the creation of Travel for Youth.

Come to the event for a chance to win an Email Marketing 101 Course and a Passion Planner valued at $100!

RSVP at the link in the bio!

We Are Refreshing the Rollins Center Brand! We'd love your help!

Please take the 1 min survey linked in our bio to give us your opinion!

Are you a BYU student running a business or do you know one? The Rollins Center and BYU Entrepreneurship Club - eClub are hosting the Student Entrepreneur of the Year awards and recognition program to spotlight these students. Apply or nominate someone before Mar 31 to win Apple AirPods Pro! bit.ly/byu-seoy

RSVP and join BYU's eClub event starting this Thursday night at 7:00PM via zoom!

Every Thursday night from March 18th to April 8th you can hear from experienced entrepreneurs! They will give advice for developing critical skills for strategy and ex*****on!

RSVP at the link in the bio!

Come to the SandBox Info Session TONIGHT at 7:00PM!
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The program is for students who want to become founders, product managers, software engineers or UX designers.
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Some perks of being in the SandBox Program:

• Launch a tech product and pitch to VCs at Demo Day
• High placement rates into the best tech jobs
• Be on a team with coders, designers and product managers
• Dedicated office for your team
• Hands-on learning: no textbooks, midterms or finals
• Counts for credits in your major!
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Come to an Info session tonight. March 11th, 7-8PM on Zoom to learn more about the program!
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Register for the Info session at
https://forms.gle/eTdH8B4GazmtfPC96

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!
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Emmett is a junior in the Global Supply Chain Management major and a student director here at the Rollins Center! He helps manage the Miller Competition Series, Founders Launchpad, Startup Hub, and more! "I love the opportunities to ideate and make a difference in the future projects the center is developing. It has helped me learn to jump on every opportunity I see and be prepared to pivot when things go wrong or don't work out."
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Emmett is currently running a startup accelerator with his friend called Shark Ventures. They have taken on 6 different business ideas and are in different stages of validating all of them so if you have an idea and want help developing it, Emmett is the guy to talk to!
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"I love entrepreneurship because it gives me an outlet for creativity, leadership, and working together with other people. Business ideas make my eyes light up and get me excited for the new possibilities that a startup has to offer!"
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Emmett has been able to use every Rollins Center resource under the sun, from legal mentorship to competitions. "If you want some business insight or to just hear about all of my projects, feel free to come into the center and chat with me!"

Don't miss the SUBMISSION DEADLINE for the New Venture Challenge next week!!
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Your team can win up to $15,000 by entering the Miller New Venture Challenge!
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The 8 finalist teams will awarded $15,000 each and be entered into the Founders Launchpad summer accelerator where they will have access to free office space, a lead mentor, and exclusive trainings and dinners with entrepreneurial leaders!
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Don't miss out! Learn more at the link in our bio!

📱 The submission deadline for the App Competition is tonight at 4:00PM! 📱
The link is in the bio!

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!
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Brenna is a junior in the Entrepreneurship program! Four years ago she and four of her peers began a startup named Yedding LLC in a BYU entrepreneurship class.
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Yedding is an online marketplace for real estate owners to advertise their properties, and for the public to rent said properties for corporate events, weddings, and so on. In two months, they were able to develop a team of five, create a pitch video, establish a business model, receive customer validation, outsource for five-year revenue projections and build a website. Her team went on to win second place at BYU's New Venture Challenge competition. After serving her mission in Russia, she came back motivated to get the startup up and running again.
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Yedding LLC was started in an entrepreneurship class hosted by the Rollins Center! The Rollins Center has also helped Brenna obtain mentorship as well as find a team of four developers to refine her business website.
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Schedule a time to meet with a student advisor today, and get connected with mentors and peers of different skill sets to accelerate your business idea!

THE STARTUP CAREER FAIR IS THIS THURSDAY!
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Don’t miss out on the opportunity to land your dream job or internship by networking and connecting with some of Utah’s thriving startups!
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Some noteworthy companies that will be present include...
Nuvi
Zenovate
Neighbor
XOlogic
Madson
and many more!
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Register on handshake or at the link in our bio! Sign up for individual or group sessions NOW before spots fill up!

TONIGHT! Join the series of eCommerce workshops that will be happening every Thursday at 7 PM for the next five weeks!
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Ben Ogusthorpe will be teaching students how to start and run a successful eCommerce business!
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RSVP at the link in our bio for the Zoom Link! You won’t want to miss this unique opportunity!

Join the WE and eClub events this week to meet a former Shark Tank participant and hear and learn from some of the leading entrepreneurs of Utah!

FREE FOOD and a hammock GIVEAWAY will be provided!

RSVP at the links in our bio!

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!

Caleb Greaves was the winner of this past year's Big Idea Pitch. Caleb is Senior at BYU majoring in Economics and minoring in Arabic!

His idea is named Dosys. Dosys is a pill bottle that works like a PEZ dispenser with a timer and a lock. It seeks to protect people from unwanted opioid addiction.

"When I was 10, a friend from my ward came over for a Wednesday night sleepover... when he came over, he was pretty upset. He’d just found out his dad was going to jail. He’d had an accident at work, was prescribed opioids for his pain, became addicted, and then he made some mistakes connected to that. Frankly, this idea of adding safeguards to how we take extremely addictive medicines should have been implemented 20 years ago. It was irresponsible not to. But here we are, and people’s lives are being torn apart because of a doctor’s note. So we’re changing that."

"The Rollins Center has been amazing! I took an entrepreneurship class for fun a couple years ago and it was truly love at first class. Every time I wanted to learn or experience something – pitching, team formation, validation, management techniques – the Rollins center has had a resource for me."

Learn more about how to get involved with the Rollins Center at the links in our bio!

Have you heard our latest podcast episode featuring the founder of Nani Swimwear?
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In this episode of The Student Entrepreneur we feature Marissa Barlow, a junior in the BYU Strategy Program, an Entrepreneur, and cofounder of the swimsuit company, Nani Swimwear. At age 15, while struggling to find a fun yet appropriate swimsuit for a family vacation, Marissa decided to start a company that provided quality, modest, and fashion-forward swimsuits.
The Mission of Nani Swimwear is to empower women everywhere to love their bodies, seek adventure and live a "nani" life. Find out how Marissa went from knowing nothing about the swimsuit industry to being the founder of her own successful brand.
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You can start listening NOW at the link in our bio!

Podcast Episode Replay!

This podcast episode features Pablo Diaz, a BYU Alumni, and his successful company Missionary Packages Plus! We learn how Pablo started his successful company in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and how he is working to expand his business worldwide. We also learn how Pablo's company funded his move to the U.S. as he started his college education at BYU. Go give it a listen!

You can start streaming now at the link in our bio!

Student Spotlight! Featuring Madison Baker!

Madison Baker was the second-place winner of the 2020 Big Idea Pitch Competition! Her business idea is named Better Balance; a product designed to help the diabetic community maintain adequate blood sugar levels by utilizing the natural health benefits of vinegar.

"I’m an Illustration major, minoring in entrepreneurship. I’m a junior, and my dad actually came up with the idea as a way to reduce his own problems with high blood sugar after coming across some research about the scientific effects of vinegar and a local high end vinegar shop. He and I agree that more diabetics should know about how vinegar can help them, and making it into a tasty drink is a great way to make that a reality."

"I joined the Big Idea Pitch for a grade, not expecting to get as far as I did, but it’s given me so much more motivation to pursue entrepreneurship. The Rollins Center has so many great workshops and mentors that have really helped me get the information I need to move forward with my ideas."

Your idea could be the next Big Idea! Visit the Rollins Center to get connected with mentors and jump-start your business idea.

NEW Podcast Episode Release!

In this episode of The Student Entrepreneur we feature Abby Warner and Taimi Kennerley, cofounders of one of BYU’s most successful, innovative, and impressive startups: The Girls Company. Abby, Taimi and their third cofounder, Zoia Ali, started their company with a mission to help women alleviate the pain of period cramps. They developed and validated their product, a portable heating band, in an introductory entrepreneurship class at BYU.

Since then, they’ve gone on to win several business competitions and have been able to grow their business with the various cash prizes they’ve accumulated. In this episode “The Girls” teach us the secrets behind winning business competitions, validating your business idea, and finding amazing cofounders.

You won’t want to miss out on hearing this amazing episode!