Entrepreneur Bootcamp 1.0 and 2.0 Spring 2022 Winning Teams
May 2022 (Lexington, Ky) - The Spring 2022 Entrepreneurs Bootcamp 1.0 program finished the Monday section on April 25, 2022. Fifteen teams pitched their final presentations to a panel of judges, and the top 5 teams received $1,000 each. The Bootcamp 2.0 teams also finished strong with the top 5 teams receiving $2,000 each in startup funding. The Institute for the Study of Free Enterprise generously sponsored portions of the prize money for Bootcamp 1.0 and 2.0.
“I am very proud of all of the teams. They have made tremendous progress during Bootcamp 1.0 and should be proud of their accomplishments.” – Warren Nash | Director of The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship
"It has been a pleasure working with Bootcamp 2.0 teams over these last two semesters and watching them progress at various stages. Being part of their journey is rewarding and helping them succeed in the program is a great honor. I am thankful to all our guest judges, speakers, mentors, and sponsors for making it all possible. Our entrepreneurs are helping shape Kentucky's startup ecosystem, and they are very deserving of these startup funds." -Mariam Gorjian | Assistant Director of The Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship and Co-Founder of the Entrepreneurs Bootcamp Program
Bootcamp 1.0 Winning Teams
$1,000 | Daniel Moore and Elizabeth Woods, Co-Founders of Farm-Assists Dispensary
Daniel Moore and Elizabeth Woods are Co-Founders of a new medical marijuana dispensary in Lexington, KY. Daniel is a University of Kentucky alumni from the College of Pharmacy. Farm-Assists aims to create a working business plan for this potential dispensary to help secure vital funding and obtain a medical license from the government when medical marijuana is legalized in Kentucky. The dispensary will be unique in that qualified health professionals like pharmacists and physicians will be on staff to assist patients in selecting the correct product to treat their medical condition. The dispensary will be on the cutting edge of innovative products and will not only dispense flower to smoke, but patches, creams, lotions, bath balms, tinctures, oral liquids, concentrates, vape pens, oils, and more.
To connect with Daniel Moore, email: dkmoor4@uky.edu
$1,000 | Dr. Kinga Mnich, Founder of W-Health
W-Health is an app that enables women to learn more about the most sensitive aspects of their health: their hormonal balance providing access to real-time measurements of their hormonal levels. W-health is as much an educational platform for women, as it is a tool to take control over their bodies and their health. By learning the function of key hormone levels, correlate them to your cycle, you’ll learn how to compensate by adjusting your diet, your exercise needs, as well as recommendations for rest and relaxation. Women will be able to not just have more regular cycles, but also feel like their best selves no matter what. Through direct access to their hormonal levels, women will be able to learn how specific food can impacts their wellbeing and effect the balance of their hormones. Through data, we will visualize an unexplored world and help women understand the correlation between the environment and their health. Dr. Kinga Mnich is a community entrepreneur based in Lexington, Kentucky.
To connect with Dr. Kinga Mnich, email: kinga.mnich@icloud.com
Website: www.kingamnich.com
$1,000 | Don Trowell and Yahaira Garcia, Co-Founders of KAVA
Don Trowell is a Senior at Lindsey Wilson College studying Business Administration with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship. KAVA, based in Louisville, KY stimulates the visual/performing arts, as well as the youth. KAVA will provide studio spaces for young artists to collaborate. Future goals of KAVA are to develop an independent recording label that will intensively discover, groom, and grow young and aspiring artists that will collectively support one another, as well as giving back to the Louisville community.
To connect with Don Trowell, email: don.trowell@lindsey.edu
Additional team members include, Yahaira Garcia: yahaira.garcia@lindsey.edu
$1,000 | Sasha Owens, Founder of Fierce Photography
Sasha Owens is the team leader of Fierce Photography and current student at the University of Kentucky in the College of Arts & Sciences. Considered homeless, Sasha sold her vehicle and used the funds to purchase a friend’s camera bundle thus, Fierce Photography was born. Business increased rapidly as the name Sasha Fierce was heard all throughout Ohio and into surrounding states. Fierce Photography is just that; FIERCE! More than just another portrait session, Sasha offers clients a chance to shed the horrible insecurities you’ve had for far too long! Its time you saw how FIERCE you already are. Specializing in several areas of photography imaginable, with 8 years in business including 6 years as a full time freelance model. Sasha is ready, willing and ecstatic to travel anywhere in the United States and beyond!
To connect with Sasha Owens, email: fierce.photography@uky.edu
Website: www.instagram.com/everythingfierce
$1,000 | Golden Mashindi, Founder of Jet Ski Indy
Golden Mashindi is a current student at the University of Kentucky in the College of Communications and the team leader of "Jet Ski Indy," a new aquatic recreational rental service being brought to the Indianapolis area. Specializing in jet ski rentals, they wish to bring a new practice/hobby in an enjoyable and affordable way for all demographics to take part of during the summer season. Through this Bootcamp program, Jet Ski Indy seeks to develop new safety integrations that will be merged into our fleet to increase safety for our riders.
To connect with Golden Mashindi, email jetskiindyllc@gmail.com
Bootcamp 2.0 Winning Teams
$2,000 + $500 Dentons Choice Award - James Clark and Brittany Harris | Rave On Sports
Rave On Sports is a community-led startup that has a mission to provide dedicated sports fans with the best mobile app to enhance their experience as fans, at home or in the stadium. Using a unique engagement and interactive features, Rave On aims to dominate the fan’s second screen presence during live events, in the stadium, or their homes. By growing the fanbase, Rave On will use targeted ad placement, deep linking, merchandise, and sports gambling commissions to begin our revenue streams. Rave On seeks to build out a unique and more profound fan engagement options in the app to attract and monetize “premium” customers in the future. The Rave On team consists of James Clark - President and CoFounder, Brittany Harris - Vice President and CoFounder, Rick Baker - CoFounder, Jeff Atkisson - CoFounder, and Harry Lockstadt - CoFounder, Principal owner. To contact Rave On Sports, email: brittany@raveonsports.com or james@raveonsports.com
$2,000 + $500 Dentons Choice Award - Doug Thorpe | Solar Roofing
Doug Thorpe is community entrepreneur and the team leader for his startup, Solar Roofing. Doug is currently developing a domestically produced solar roof panel that is simple enough for roofers & DIY (plus electricians) to install thereby eliminating soft costs and reducing the total cost of a solar energy system by ~30%. His startup intends it to be sold as a commodity in Lowes/Home Depot type of stores. The product uses a standard 4'x4' OSB roof sheathing covered with an industrial grade roofing membrane. On to which, we glue a 7x7 array of PV cells that will produce 250 watts. The product is the roof, and replaces asphalt shingles, but the panels can be installed on roof trusses, deck board, and over asphalt shingles. We intend to have 4 panels plug into a single 1,200-watt microinverter/Vent Louver with the MC4 cables routed under the panels by the roofers. The vent louver comes with a fan that pulls hot air from under the roof panels while at the same time blows air across the 4 panels. To learn more, or connect with team leader Doug Thorpe, email: kyrocketman@gmail.com
$2,000 - Tricia Kellenbarger | Performance Fuel
Tricia Kellenbarger is a University of Kentucky Nurse and community entrepreneur that seeks to develop a program that incorporates nutrition with youth/teen athletes for improvement of training and performance. Tricia is currently working on a certification for Nutrition for Human Performance as well as a separate program in nutrition. As an experienced nurse, she understands the importance nutrition plays in health and wellness. She has more than 18 years of acute and critical care nursing experience. She earned her ADN from Ohio University in 2003, her MSN in Nursing Education from Walden University in 2011, and has completed her post-master’s certificate from the University of Kentucky as an Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist – Adult Gerontology. Professor Kellenbarger has served in both education and as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital; as well as adjunct faculty at the College of Nursing since 2011. To connect with Tricia, email: triciakellenbarger1@gmail.com
$2,000 - Tom Harney | Greater Good Network
Tom Harney a community entrepreneur and the Founder of "Greater Good." This startup project is an ethical nonprofit that seeks to disrupt and reform the $3 billion USD voluntourism, or volunteer vacation, industry. The overarching aim is to create ethical, responsible programs that empower disadvantaged communities and create new opportunities through innovative partnerships and impactful program design with a focus on continuous improvement. Team members supporting this effort include Carolee Allen and Mellisa Hunter. Contact Tom Harney at tom@greatergood.org.za | Click here to visit their website and learn more!
$2,000 - Kaizar Mahuwala | Connecting Worlds
Kaizar Mahuwala is a University of Kentucky graduate student, pursuing his MBA at the Gatton College of Business & Economics. His startup, Connecting Worlds, brings precious items and keepsakes to your doorstep. America is known as the land of opportunity, thousands of people immigrate to the United States every year from different parts of the world. At the same time American’s love to travel and explore rest of the world. Many people have desires and needs for items available either in their native place or from other parts of the world. But don’t have resources to source it. Connecting Worlds will source globally and deliver it at door step. At the same time local small businesses wants to grow and have global presence. Connecting Worlds will work and collaborate with such individuals or organisation to setup business channels to buy and sell making the world a local market. Connecting worlds will help to achieve and fulfil dreams to go global. To learn more about Kaizar's startup concept, please email: kaizar.mahuwala@uky.edu
