Ball State student businesses bank university grants
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Three Ball State University students’ entrepreneurial ventures will receive university support with its latest pre-seed funding round. This year’s student entrepreneurs include a software developer, a jewelry maker and a marketing consultant.
Each semester, Ball State provides grants of up to $2,500 per student to kickstart their new or growing business concepts and get a taste of “real-world entrepreneurship.” Often, the money is used to conduct market surveys, create digital renderings and earn certifications.
“They can troubleshoot and grow their businesses in a way that they may not otherwise have been able to,” Marie Thompson, program coordinator of the Entrepreneurship Center at Ball State, said in a news release. “Some students really run with the ideas and see their businesses flourish and others learn about how to pivot into a better idea. It’s all a learning experience, which is what we’re really excited about.”
This semester’s students include Cheyenne McMullen, who is a senior studying entrepreneurship and innovation. Through the grant, her marketing consulting business, Cheyenne Marie Consulting, will have upgraded website branding with a photoshoot, website hosting and bookkeeping software.
Will Pancake, a senior of the same major, will secure a trademark for his mobile application, Card Genie. He can also afford additional software for the application development ahead of its launch to app stores.
Liliana Osborne, a junior majoring in communication studies, will purchase supplies, vendor feed and advertising for her jewelry business, Shop Bee’s Bracelets with the funding.
You can learn more about the pre-seed fund by clicking here.