July 26, 2024
Two up-and-coming student entrepreneurs from the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business at the University of Missouri were recently awarded the Darby Fellowship for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to help support their entrepreneurial efforts and enterprising spirits.
The Darby Fellowship for Entrepreneurship and Innovation program – which is open to all students enrolled at the Trulaske College of Business – is the result of a gift from Scott (B.S. ’06) and Stephanie (B.S. ’06) Darby to support student entrepreneurs. Awardees receive a $1,000 scholarship as well as mentoring, networking opportunities and professional development funding.
Meet the newest Darby fellows:
Lucas Crow
Columbia, Missouri
Marketing and computer science
Crow’s first entrepreneurial venture was in 2021 with Novel Connections, a book subscription company that provided members with a signed book and invited authors to speak with the readers and aspiring writers. Although the startup garnered loyal customers from all over the United States, the company closed after five months because of a low rate of return.
However, using lessons learned from his first business, Crow joined business partner Noah Fouts and developed Fynch Interactive, a soon-to-be launched startup offering multiplayer games – Project ARDEN and The Perishables – on the Roblox platform. The new business will also sell in-game currencies for purchasing virtual products, private servers, game passes and avatar shop items.
Lane Osborn
Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Business administration
Osborn, who has worked in electric utility construction, has invented and launched the Pole Buddy, a first-of-its-kind aerial mounted tooling device. The idea for the device came from Osborn’s own experience working power lines and seeing too many loose tools and equipment drop to the ground. The Pole Buddy can be attached to an aerial platform, bucket truck or pole to help power-line workers keep track of their tools and materials.
Osborn has obtained a provisional patent and anticipates full patent approval by the end of the summer. He has secured manufacturing in St. Louis and has already sold more than 100 units across 15 states.
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