Meet the 2024 AccelerateRU Cohort
The Rowan Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (RCIE) hosted its annual AccelerateRU program for student entrepreneurs looking to take their skills and businesses to the next level. Under the guidance of Jessica Vattima, RCIE Director, and coaching from Jiah Pearson-Leary, CEO of Spire BioAdvisors and Co-Founder/COO of Adcelis Therapeutics, companies participated in six virtual “Lunch & Learn” sessions with business professionals on topics such as community resources, sales tactics, marketing, branding, and business plans.
Some of the guest speakers included Nina Farran, CEO of FashionKind; Michelle Berkoben, Partner at Wipfli; Wendy Verna, President of OctoDesign; Ryan Ramkhelawan, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of the Innovation Exchange Coalition; and Isabelle Kent, CEO of Philly Startup Leaders.
Each company had a unique value proposition, showcasing a diverse array of ventures that participated in the program, including:
Lunch Box Cards: Lunch Box Cards is a note card company that enhances the relationship between parents and their children by providing “emotional vitamins” through hand-drawn notes inspired by founder Anna DeMasi’s childhood experiences.
SerenitySpace: SerenitySpace is a mobile app that provides mental health support to college students. It features a self-help library, AI chatbot, anonymous community forums, professional therapy access, and an emergency hotline, all dedicated to helping students manage their mental health.
Dorm Delights: Dorm Delights is a subscription box service that allows parents to send their children a bit of home in a box. Each box contains items like snacks, shirts, and self-care products to help students feel at home while away from home.
Baron Rides: Baron Rides fuses friendship and carpooling by offering a service that allows students from the same town, commuting to the same college or university, to match and give each other rides to campus. Drivers are compensated through a subscription-based model.
TerraTackle: TerraTackle creates sustainable fishing lures crafted from organic materials, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional lures that are safe for fish and their habitats.
EZ Snaps: EZ Snaps is a meal service that focuses on creating healthy, affordable, tasty, and convenient meals. These freeze-dried meals have a shelf life of up to 25 years, retain 95% of their nutrients, and taste just as fresh as the day they were made. They can be prepared with water and a microwave.
The Lotus Review: The Lotus Review is a digital magazine focused on individuals creating solutions to community problems. Founded by student journalists passionate about honest reporting and entrepreneurship, the magazine shines a light on innovative changemakers in fields like business, education, health, and sustainability.
RU FIT: RU FIT is a sensor that provides real-time tracking of gym equipment availability, reducing wait times and increasing workout efficiency. The founders came up with the idea after experiencing frustration with the unpredictability of gym equipment availability.
Mama Bay’s Specialty Foods: Mama Bay’s flagship product, Cilantro Chimichurri, is an all-natural blend of fresh cilantro and scallions in olive oil, flavored with zesty lemon. It pairs well with chicken, salmon, steak, pork, or rice, and can be used to garnish, marinate, sauté, season, rub, or dip.
Bobica Bars: Bobica Bars are superfood granola bars inspired by the health benefits of smoothie bowls. The founders created a portable, glazed granola bar that optimizes superfood benefits and makes healthy eating convenient.
Lushious Beauty: Lushious Beauty is a beauty company that sells high-quality false lashes and various eye products. Their products emphasize comfort, convenience, and confidence while maintaining an eco-friendly impact.
Ivy Landscaping: Ivy Landscaping is a local company offering design, installation, and maintenance services. They provide a full range of services, from mulching and sod installation to pavers, hardscape, snow removal, and even Christmas lights.
The Youth and Amateur Sports Association (TYASA): TYASA offers sports leagues and support resources in mental health, education, nutrition, career preparation, and communication. The program is starting with youth football in New Jersey but plans to expand nationwide to reach athletes across the country.
The program concluded with an intensive, two-day, in-person boot camp. During this time, the companies took a deep dive into mastering their business plans, revisiting their Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), refining their target markets, and perfecting their storytelling and sales strategies. Pearson-Leary worked closely with each team, addressing their specific questions and challenges, and helping them translate their ideas into actionable, viable business strategies.
Paige Britt, co-founder of the Lotus Review, found the program especially beneficial in learning about the business side of creative projects like a digital magazine.
“Accelerate RU has been a great opportunity for me to learn more about the business side of my creative endeavors. It was really cool to hear from leaders in different areas of entrepreneurship,” said Britt.
Visit ent.rowan.edu to learn more about Entrepreneurship at Rowan.
Story by: Madison Miller
