Entrepreneurial Grant
The Grant program awards grants up to $3,000 to individuals or teams to launch sustainable enterprises that create commercial, artistic, social and/or scientific value.
Grant pitches have ended for this year. You are strongly advised to Meet with Roberto Zayas to discuss your business idea! To request a meeting with Roberto, please login to Ole Career Central. On the right hand side under shortcuts, click on "Request a Coaching Appointment". For the topic, select "Business Plan Review".
When submitting your application, please also include the Application Form. For more information see the Application Grant Process.
Entrepreneurial Grant Recipients:
Sudip Bhandari ’14
Major: Biology and Political Science
Project: The Anne Frank Project
Working with the Anne Frank Project in Amsterdam and select schools in Nepal, Sudip designed an educational display and workshop to educate Nepalese youth about the consequences of compromising democracy in order to support an extremist leader. The touring curriculum accurately portrays the history of Germany, Hitler and the Holocaust, something the current Nepalese curriculum does not currently address.
Erik Brust ’14 (Econ. , Statistics), Andrew Sather ’14 (Economics),
Connor Wray ’14 (Econ. & Comp. Sci.) and Kilian Wald ’14 (Econ. & Political Science)
Project: JonnyPops
Made by Oles for Oles, JonnyPops, the frozen gourmet treats being sold on campus and in downtown Northfield, are a product of the time, energy, and ambition of four budding entrepreneurs. Sophomores Erik Brust, Connor Wray, Andrew Sather, and Kilian Wald bonded as first-year students through their self-formed investment club, and in 2010 they decided to start a business that would combine an alternative dessert with locally available ingredients.
Kyle Hanson ’13
Major(s): Economics and Russian Area Studies
Project: EntwinedWeb Solutions
EntwinedWeb Solutions is a web services consulting company that works with businesses to deliver customized services to solve businesses' technology problems as well as developing our own software products with a focus on open-sourced technologies and transparency. Our first product, ConnectedEatery (name pending), powers restaurants with easy-to-use table based menus with support for hostess table management.
Ole Thrift Shop
Students:
Corey Ruder, Lyla Amini, Emily Hoar and Sudip Bhandari
The Ole Thrift Shop is a student-led initiative that is committed to increasing the sustainability of St. Olaf College by extending the lifecycle of goods that would normally be discarded. Started by Corey Ruder, Lyla Amini, Emily Hoar and Sudip Bhandari, Ole Thrift Shop is dedicated to empowering students with the knowledge of how their purchasing choices can be both environmentally conscious and economical. It strives for a paradigm shift in the cultural, social, and ethical practices of our community members, and aim to establish responsible consumerism as a practice that is continued by students throughout their lifetime.
Risa Piper ’15
Major: Pre-med, Anthropology, Biomedical Studies
Project: Bling for a Cause: Sparkle that Matters
Bling for a Cause is an organizaiton that partners with the St. Olaf Bookstore to advertise, embellish, and sell St. Olaf apparel or personal apparel. All profits will be donated to the Hope Center in Faribault, MN
Darin Steffl ’13
Major: Economics with emphasis in Business Management
Project: Minnesota WiFi LLC
Minnesota WiFi is a wireless internet provider whose primary mission is to provide affordable, reliable, and fast high speed internet to consumers and businesses. Service will start at the grain elevator in Kasson, MN and will be able to reach over 1,000 households from this one location. In smaller towns that have weak competition, we will provide service in town as well as the rural areas outside the town. To strengthen rural coverage,
rural AP locations will be placed on grain silos from farmers who are willing to trade free space for internet access.
Christian Weeks ’13
Major: Physics
Project: Christian Viggo Furniture
Woodtheory is dedicated to producing heirloom quality furniture and household goods primarily out of hardwoods and steel. Woodtheory's general design philosophy follows that of clean, minimalist form with influences predominantly drawn from Danish Modern, Mid-Century, and Contemporary styles. Woodtheory welcomes custom jobs and requests.
Florian Weil ’15
Major: Exercise Science Major, Management Studies Concentration
Project: Münchner Freiheit
Münchner Freiheit stands for luxury tours with excellent customer service, magnificent roads, hotels, meals and in general experiences of a lifetime. Münchner Freiheit will provide guided tours through Europe.
Nicholas Kang ’12, Julia Coffin ’12, John DeFrance ’12, Rachel Buchmeier ’13, Anne Brooker ’13, Sudip Bhandari ’14, Juan Francisco Yanqui ’14, Isaac Rysdahl ’14, Steven Wett ’15
Project: STO Talks: Ideas and Innovation for Social Change
A one-day conference shaped around a series of short, entertaining pres. from the most inspired Olaf professors, students & alumni who are passionate about sharing their best ideas with the greater comm. The talks facilitate a new level of connectivity throughout the St. Olaf academic comm. through the sharing of ideas and innovations of how our critical thinking & unselfish ideals are preparing us to make a positive impact on the comm. around us.