CYstarters has provided $1,124,500 in funding to 135 ventures involving 173 students since its launch in 2026. Over 75% of those students are still operating today with the businesses they launched through CYstarters or in new ventures. This year, the program proudly welcomes Cohort 11, a group of 17 driven students from diverse majors across Iowa State University. Each of these entrepreneurs brings a unique academic background, bold aspirations, and a shared passion for building and growing their own businesses.
From health and wellness and sustainability to custom clothing lines to coffee trailers, the businesses of Cohort 11 reflect the wide range of innovation and creativity that CYstarters fosters. The students will spend the summer immersed in hands-on learning, refining their ideas, growing their businesses, and gaining invaluable experience as they bring their entrepreneurial visions to life.
Meet Cohort 11:
Isaac White - Bark & Grille (Graduate, Meat Science)
Bark & Grille meal kits make homemade pet food easy and convenient. Customized kits meet pets’ unique needs and are delivered straight to the door with easy-to-follow instructions.
Charlie Bennett – Clarion Labs (Sophomore, English)
Clarion Labs is a web-based app that helps consumers make sense of their bloodwork, translating lab results into clear, personalized insights.
Quinn Mitchell – Cota Hydration (Junior, Finance)
Cota Hydration is a natural electrolyte drink mix providing clean and optimal hydration to active, health-conscious people who care about what they put into their bodies.
Mary Staudt – CultivAlte (Junior, Agricultural Business and Entrepreneurship)
CultivAIte is an AI-powered app making gardening approachable for everyone. The app provides personalized garden layouts and sustainable planting schedules tailored to each user’s unique environment.
Wilnuse Riphin – EcoCradle (Junior, Industrial Design)
EcoCradle makes transporting plants safe and simple, designed to change the way you move your plants– making a messy task feel effortless and secure.
Benjamin Trost (Junior, Industrial Design) and Sophia Thomas (Junior, Industrial Design) – Go Mode
Go Mode is a performance-driven sports equipment brand that helps athletes stay disciplined and perform at their highest level.
Teneill Childers – Hydra Lux (Graduate, Entrepreneurship)
Hydra Lux is a modular, self-watering wall planter designed to simplify plant care for modern living– empowering users to confidently grow plants in their everyday spaces.
Berry Schnetter – K Fisher Designs (Graduate, Industrial Design)
K Fisher Designs develops functional products that merge industrial design, ergonomics, and portability for creative professionals– creating tools that support mobile work environments.
Jacob Barglof – HELM (Sophomore, Computer Engineering)
HELM is an intelligent software companion that connects the user to their interface, delivering context-aware guidance and computer control through simple voice commands.
Megan Rose – Meg’s Coffee House (Junior, Entrepreneurship)
Meg’s Coffee House is a mobile coffee trailer serving high-quality, thoughtfully crafted drinks and bringing meaningful customer experiences to wherever people already are.
Allyson Reinert – Mystic Eco LLC (Graduate, Entrepreneurship)
Mystic Eco LLC provides eco-friendly cosmetics and personal care products to the local community. As an Environmental Scientist, I saw a hole in the market for handcrafted products that are safe for the environment and for human health.
Isaac Kenyon – Neoko Music (Senior, Computer Engineering)
Neoko Music is a storage and streaming platform where artists can manage private projects, track versions, samples, ownership, and publish official releases. Listeners can stream released music and trace its evolution.
Kade Wilson – NextUP (Sophomore, Aerospace Engineering)
NextUp is a skill-based matchmaking platform for pickup basketball that uses a ranking system to create fair, competitive games and bring structure to a traditionally unorganized space.
Brandon Och Garland – ONCH (Sophomore, Marketing)
ONCH is a health and wellness brand dedicated to introducing Tibetan and Mongolian herbal supplements to a global audience. Rooted in authentic family tradition, the company focuses on delivering high-quality natural remedies.
Hunter Smith – Premier Surfaces of Iowa (Junior, Entrepreneurship and Professional Sales)
Premier Surfaces of Iowa is a locally owned company serving homeowners with premium floor coatings and exterior surface solutions.
Annie Wiges – Sew Sweet Annie’s (Junior, Elementary Education)
Sew Sweet Annie’s is centered around handmade, sewn pieces made with care and attention to detail. Inspired by a love for crafts and creativity, Sew Sweet Annie’s is all about sharing joyful, one-of-a-kind creations that brighten everyday moments.
Join us for CYstarters Demo Day on Thursday, July 30, to see these 17 exceptional entrepreneurs showcase their businesses and the progress they’ve made over the summer.
Congratulations, Cohort 11! Welcome to the CYstarteres family–we can’t wait to see how you grow this summer!
ABOUT CYSTARTERS:
CYstarters is a summer accelerator program at Iowa State University that helps students from all disciplines launch and grow their own businesses. With a focus on hands-on learning, mentorship, and community support, CYstarters empowers students to transform their entrepreneurial ideas into successful ventures. Since 2016, we have provided $1,124,500 worth of funding for 135 ventures with 173 students since the start of CYstarters in 2016. Over 75% of those students are still in business today with the business they took through CYstarters or a new venture.
