Top row: Christopher Floyd, Zeph France, Michelle Gershkovich, Georgiana Rose Gnibus, Aaron Heienickle.
Bottom row: Eric Krause, Sam O’Neill and Kobe Messick, Jack Murray, Noah Strodtman, William and Reagan Van Eaton
Jan. 25, 2022
This year’s Entrepreneur Quest (EQ) finalists might be pursuing wildly different ideas — and represent eight different colleges and schools — but the one thing they have in common is an innovative spirit.
EQ, a signature program of the Griggs Innovators Nexus in the MU Student Center, provides funding opportunities and immerses students in the business world through workshops, networking, mentoring and hands-on experiences with the commercialization process. This year, 10 finalists are competing for $30,000 worth of prizes, which will be awarded on March 22.
Meet the teams
Many of this year’s EQ participants are focused on developing companies around innovative products. Take Eric Krause, a third-year medical student from St. Louis. He applied to EQ to learn how to run a business and to help fund a device for prescription pill bottles that breaks down unused and expired medications for safe disposal.
Two teams are developing mobile apps. Michelle Gershkovich, a textile and apparel management major from Chicago, is creating an app to help online shoppers find the right clothing size for their unique body type, and Kansas Citian Zeph France, a business management major, is pursuing one that would allow residence hall occupants to communicate with each other on a secure platform.
Students on the other EQ teams may be like-minded, but their ventures definitely reflect the diversity of Mizzou’s student body. Chris Floyd, a general studies major and Army veteran from Cleburne, Texas, hopes to launch a blockchain-based computer program that manages medical data. Other teams are focused on selling educational card games, clothing made from upcycled materials, trackable bracelets that store braces and retainers, 3D-printed orthotic insoles and a storage service for students.
Success begets success
Greg Bier, executive director of entrepreneurship programs, said EQ is a launch pad for student businesses — both on campus and around the world.
Drew Patel, the 2020 EQ winner, recently raised $3.5 million for his latest venture, Risk Harbor, a risk management marketplace for cryptocurrencies. Runner-up Printerior, a company founded by Trent Esser and Hayden Seidel that uses 3D printers and recycled plastic to create sustainable products, was accepted into the St. Louis-based Arch Grants program in October and received $50,000 in funding.
Calving Technologies founder Libby Martin, who won EQ in 2019, continues to make strides. In addition to raising more than $100,000 in funds, Martin landed a spot in the NextFab Hardware Accelerator, where she refined sensory hardware designed to reduce calving mortality rates.
“It’s camaraderie plus the wide array of networking and funding opportunities given to me by Mizzou that have really shaped me and my business,” Martin said at a Sept. 14 event celebrating a gift to establish the Griggs Innovators Nexus. “Thank you for being the reason countless students past and present have learned, grown and succeeded.”
Read more about the competition
Students, get involved
For the first time, three workshops from EQ’s two-month education program are open to all Mizzou students.They will be led by Scott Christianson, associate teaching professor in the Trulaske College of Business, from 4 to 5:15 p.m. in the MU Student Center, Room 2206, A, B & C.
Feb. 2: Understanding your customer’s story
Feb. 9: Ideation, user journey maps, building prototypes and testing ideas
Feb. 16: Building low-fidelity products, testing products, collecting data and improving the user experience.
