Back row: Joe Busch, Mason Williams, Carter Kesler, Sam Spivey
Middle row: Megan Grossman, Nick Bahr, Kellee Thier, Blake Holmes, Sydney Wiegand Front row: Micah Peters, Justin Kohler
Middle row: Megan Grossman, Nick Bahr, Kellee Thier, Blake Holmes, Sydney Wiegand Front row: Micah Peters, Justin Kohler
Class History
The class of 2017-2018 was a group of diversified intelligence. From product development and technology to marketing and construction, each student turned their passions into a business. After graduating from the program, several of these entrepreneurs continued to pursue their businesses while even creating additional ventures.
Class Business
Monroe County Veteran's Day Dodgeball Tournament: This tournament was a unique offering for the community and surrounding areas. The event included a dodgeball tournament for multiple age brackets, door prizes, concessions and even a mascot race among each Monroe County school. Students earned $2,500 in profit to use as seed money for their individual businesses.
Individual Businesses
Nick Bahr - Verge Pets, featuring products for exotic pets
Joe Busch - Teamwork Makes The Dream Work, custom team building training
Megan Grossman - Managing Your Mess, personal organizing expert
Blakes Homes & Micah Peters - B&M Marketing, online marketing for modern business
Carter Kesler - Raized Garden Beds, custom built garden beds for your home
Justin Kohler - Kohler's Kicks, personal soccer training
Sam Spivey - Case Customers, custom made phone case and wallet combination
Kellee Thier - Produce Productivity, featuring locally grown produce
Sydney Wiegand - Silver Services, career and technology training for retirees
Mason Williams - XXXX, bringing awareness to bullying
Joe Busch - Teamwork Makes The Dream Work, custom team building training
Megan Grossman - Managing Your Mess, personal organizing expert
Blakes Homes & Micah Peters - B&M Marketing, online marketing for modern business
Carter Kesler - Raized Garden Beds, custom built garden beds for your home
Justin Kohler - Kohler's Kicks, personal soccer training
Sam Spivey - Case Customers, custom made phone case and wallet combination
Kellee Thier - Produce Productivity, featuring locally grown produce
Sydney Wiegand - Silver Services, career and technology training for retirees
Mason Williams - XXXX, bringing awareness to bullying
Entrepreneur of the Year
To capitalize on the angle of individual growth, the Monroe County startUP program offers the opportunity to earn Entrepreneur of the Year. All current startUP students are eligible for this honor. Selected individuals for this award possess the following qualities during their entrepreneurial journey:
- Entrepreneurial Spirit
- Integrity and Influence
- Innovation
- Intellectual Comprehension
- Perseverance
The 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year was named to Nick Bahr of Columbia High School.
Entering into the startUP program his senior year of high school, Nick already had a couple business ventures to his name. One in particular was called Raise the Bahr. Nick started this business as a way to provide a service to the local community. When flags were ordered to be lowered to half staff, Nick would handle the lowering for businesses. By staying in tune with the world around him he was able to take care of this detail without businesses having to devote one of their own to the task.
Another one of Nick’s ventures included an invention of his own. As an avid reptile owner, Nick was faced with the trouble of finding someone to feed his reptiles when he was unavailable. With an unfortunate experience of having a reptile-sitter spill live crickets in his room, he quickly realized it was time to create another alternative. This resulted in the automatic cricket dispenser.
Nick’s experience in product development started from square one. The first prototype he shared of his device was constructed from a corrugated cardboard. He then built his network in fabrications, 3D printing, robotics, market research and venture capitalism. Upon graduating from the startUP program he attended University of Illinois. There he took much initiative to become intertwined in the entrepreneur community. In addition to building his own team, Nick has earned spots in several opportunities such as University Pitch Madness and iVenture Accelerator, to only name a few. These opportunities have provided funding and other resources to promote the continuation of his product.
As founder of Verge Pets, Nick has executed on a dream that has a solid spot in the market for reptile owners. Stay up-to- date with Nick and his team at:
Facebook @VergePets - Instagram @VergeProducts - Website: www.vergepets.com
The 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year was named to Nick Bahr of Columbia High School.
Entering into the startUP program his senior year of high school, Nick already had a couple business ventures to his name. One in particular was called Raise the Bahr. Nick started this business as a way to provide a service to the local community. When flags were ordered to be lowered to half staff, Nick would handle the lowering for businesses. By staying in tune with the world around him he was able to take care of this detail without businesses having to devote one of their own to the task.
Another one of Nick’s ventures included an invention of his own. As an avid reptile owner, Nick was faced with the trouble of finding someone to feed his reptiles when he was unavailable. With an unfortunate experience of having a reptile-sitter spill live crickets in his room, he quickly realized it was time to create another alternative. This resulted in the automatic cricket dispenser.
Nick’s experience in product development started from square one. The first prototype he shared of his device was constructed from a corrugated cardboard. He then built his network in fabrications, 3D printing, robotics, market research and venture capitalism. Upon graduating from the startUP program he attended University of Illinois. There he took much initiative to become intertwined in the entrepreneur community. In addition to building his own team, Nick has earned spots in several opportunities such as University Pitch Madness and iVenture Accelerator, to only name a few. These opportunities have provided funding and other resources to promote the continuation of his product.
As founder of Verge Pets, Nick has executed on a dream that has a solid spot in the market for reptile owners. Stay up-to- date with Nick and his team at:
Facebook @VergePets - Instagram @VergeProducts - Website: www.vergepets.com
