This story is part of a series featuring each of the fourteen startups in the CYstarters 2021 summer cohort. Each team has the opportunity to focus on their startup or business idea while receiving $6,500 or up to $13,000, along with mentorship, accountability, and educational sessions on how to build a business.
By Samantha Dilocker, ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship
Founded by current Iowa State University student Logan Blom and recent graduate Zachariah Ritland, MasterGrass provides quality mowing, fertilization, landscaping, and more to the Ames and Ankeny area.
Get to know: Zachariah Ritland
Age: 21
Education: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Business from Iowa State University
Passionate about: spreading the good news of Jesus!
Most recently I: graduated from Iowa State!
Get to know: Logan Blom
Age: 21
Education: Mechanical Engineering major at Iowa State University
Passionate about: helping people
Most recently I: joined CYstarters
Currently working on: MasterGrass
When did you start working on MasterGrass?
We started working on MasterGrass back in the spring of 2020.
Have you always seen yourself starting something?
Yes we always have.
Why lawn care?
We enjoy working with our hands; lawn care feels like a good fit.
What future milestones would you like to hit?
We want to finish our fully autonomous mower and grow our business to be the preferred lawn care company.
What is the biggest challenge you face each day?
We struggle to find time to do everything we want to do. Focusing on what needs to happen and what things would help us accomplish our goals has been a challenge.
How has entrepreneurship at Iowa State impacted you?
It’s been a lot of fun. There are really great programs that have helped us to meet some very cool people. However, no class is going to make you an entrepreneur, it’s up to you as an individual.
What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student?
Do something you love doing that helps people.
Where are you headed? And how would you invite others to join you?
We are going to be the fastest-growing lawn and landscaping company in the Ames and Ankeny area. Join our journey by joining our sales or service teams.