Student entrepreneurs capped off The Ohio State University’s summer accelerators, BOSS for Space Ventures and BOSS for Student-Athletes, by sharing a combined $40,000 in funding to advance their startups.
Innr Wellness received the $10,000 top prize in the Student-Athlete track. Founded by Ohio State junior Thomas Weis and University of Chicago senior Sydney Raths, the venture is creating a spa-inspired marketplace where women can access trusted wellness products.
“It focuses on being a space that makes finding the right products effortless,” Weis said. “Sydney was looking for solutions to invest in her health and couldn’t find the right fit. We saw a gap in the market, and after a lot of customer discovery, we launched Innr Wellness.”
The team plans to reinvest its award directly into growing the business. “We’re going to put a lot of it into marketing and advertising and hopefully drive more sales,” Weis said.
PathoTrace earned the $10,000 top award in the Space Ventures track. The startup, co-founded by computer science and engineering major Hannah Myers along with Ayden Gardner and Devin Yeager, is developing a tape that detects bacteria, viruses and fungi.
“These students show us what’s possible when you combine real world challenges with imagination and entrepreneurial grit,” said Cheryl Turnbull, senior director of the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship. “Their ventures reflect the kind of creativity and drive that will make a real impact far beyond the university.”