Wolverine Venture Battle pays off for Pronto, other teams

The 2025 Wolverine Venture Battle (WVB) judges gave the largest share of a record $38,000 prize pool to a team of Grove City College students who pitched their plan for a fitness supplement company.

Pronto, a venture conceived by Entrepreneurship majors Mason Nichols ’25, Christian Royer ’26, Oliver Schwarz ’25, and Finance and Economics major, Marcos van Tienhoven ‘25, was the big winner at the annual venture pitch competition sponsored by the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation (E+I.)

The students’ proposal for Pronto, a fitness supplement company that delivers convenient, single-dose pods designed for use with Keurig machines, earned $8,820 from the judges and the $500 Fan Favorite Award determined by the audience at the April 25 competition.

“This year's competition is the most prize money, sponsors, and judges yet, and, in talking to our generous supporters, that's because they want to encourage and equip the next generation in their quest to build a better world and serve the common good,” said Yvonne J. English ’97, E+I executive director. “It was an exciting and inspirational day for all, and we are so very proud of our students.”

Six other finalist teams competed in the WVB and split the rest of the prize pool, which included in-kind business services in addition to cash. They, and their winnings, are:

• Careot: $7,050— Jack Henne ’25 (Entrepreneurship), Eleni Kasianides ’25 (Entrepreneurship and Management), Aliyah Shelatz ’25 (Entrepreneurship), and Jackson Welsh ‘25 (Design & Innovation) — A secure, multi-faceted app disguised as coupons that provide essential information, tangible resources, and personal support to women seeking to leave their abusers.
• Great Frontiers: $6,200 — Sarah Karns ’28 (Entrepreneurship), Kaitlyn Kuscevic ’28 (Entrepreneurship), Jonathan Steen ’28 (Entrepreneurship), and Emily Williams ’28 (Entrepreneurship) — Creates outdoor adventure boxes to encourage kids to explore God’s creation and spend time away from screens.
• JourneyWell: $6,170 — Caroline Dawson ’25 (Entrepreneurship) and Craig Nyguist ’25 (Entrepreneurship) — A food delivery travel service for people on the go who want easy access to healthy, personalized food.
• Agora Initiative: $2,270, plus $1,000 Hudson Financial Advisors Award — Isabele Crouse ’26 (Biblical and Religious Studies--BARS), Austin Garrett ’25 (BARS), Sam Hogue ’25 (BARS), and Ryan Miller ’25 (BARS) — Inviting churches to invest in local communities by seeding redemptively-minded businesses and fostering relationships leading to church plants.
• Mom: $2,320 — Mara Brak ’26 (Design & Innovation), Lauren DeLeonardis ’28 (Entrepreneurship), and Anna Scott ’27 (Design & Innovation) — An app connecting younger Christian moms with experienced moms in a godly community.
• Lacey’s Love and Paws: $1,170 — Jonathan French ’25 (Entrepreneurship) — An event that functions like an auto show, but with dog breeders, adoption agencies, related vendors, food trucks, and mini shows.

The Wolverine Venture Battle provides invaluable experience for aspiring entrepreneurs and a crucial test for their business ideas, which can be at any stage of development. Each team had eight minutes to make their case and another six to field questions from the judges.

Seventy-two students from 11 different majors and every class year entered 25 teams in the first round of the competition.

The WVB judicial panel included experienced entrepreneurs, founders, CEOs, and a variety of professionals and alumni. They are: Lori Brinker ’96, Patrick Colletti, Tim Daigle ’84, Kyle English, RJ Fryan ’08, Andrew Graber ’19, Jonathan Graber ’16, Darrin Grove ’91, Tim Habbershon ’81, Dave Karaguntla ’05, Winifred McGee ’77, Rick Newton ’86, Paul Passaro, Bill Powers, Dan Reed, Don Tharp, and Ben Tobias ’19.

WVB sponsors include: Hudson Financial Advisors, Inc.; St. Louis Arch Angels; IQ Inc.; Graber Supply and Build; Fun Fore All; Newton Institute; Truefit; The Habbershon Family (Tim '81, Grant '06, Meredith '07, Jonathan '09, and Natalie '11); The Passaro Family; The Kiska Family (Stan '85, Deanna '87, Evan '20, and Lauren); Elizabeth (Smith '81) Hanley and Peter Hanley; Laura (Koller '11) and RJ Fryan '08; Lori (Shoemaker ’96) and John Brinker; Dan Creston ’81; Susan (Peshek '81) and Peter Durfee '80; The Pentz Family (Mark ‘81, Cheri ‘79, Michael ‘06, and Yvonne ‘06); Winifred (Williams ’77) and Chris McGee ’77; Roberta and Allen ’64 Geyer; John '68 & Betsy Baun Charitable Foundation (Pittsburgh Foundation.) In-kind sponsors are: Sisterson & Co., LLP, Pittsburgh Web Design, and CIRDEC Consulting, LLC.

For a recording of the final pitches and awards, visit gccentrepreneurship.com/wvb-finals.

For many finalists, the competition marks the culmination of their journey through an entrepreneurial ecosystem created and managed by E+I. For others, it’s just the beginning of their journey through E+I’s robust entrepreneurial support system. Either way, the prize money and in-kind services may help these teams fuel their commercial and social ventures.

For more about the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation at Grove City College, visit gccentrepreneurship.com.

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