CYstarters Spotlight: A 16-part series highlighting student entrepreneurs pursuing their business ventures as part of the CYstarters 2026 summer cohort. Through this program, students have the unique opportunity to prioritize the development of their own startup or business idea. Each individual receives $6,500 and access to resources such as mentorship, networking opportunities, and educational sessions on entrepreneurship and business startup. Learn more and meet our 17 entrepreneurs at Demo Day on Thursday, July 30. Register today!

From Artist to Entrepreneur: Berry Schnetter Designs Seating with Purpose

Berry Schnetter never set out to become an entrepreneur. Instead, he simply stumbled into it. A graduate student earning his master’s in Industrial Design at the Iowa State University College of Design, Berry is passionate about finding creative solutions to everyday problems. 

Berry grew up in Alta, Iowa, a small town in the northwest corner of the state. At 17, he joined the military and, after his service, attended Iowa State and earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts.  

He spent some time working in the community as a tattoo artist and eventually returned to Iowa State this past year, where he decided to start his own business.  

“I feel like artists kind of need to make an income, and having a business is one way to do that,” Berry said.  

Berry created K Fisher Designs, a furniture and product design brand that focuses on developing a portable ergonomic stool system for seated precision professionals.  

The brand gets its name from Berry’s grandmother, Karen Kay Fisher, and is a tribute to her work ethic, toughness, and resilience. 

The idea for the business began during Berry’s first semester as a graduate student in industrial design.  

For one of his first projects, he and his peers were tasked with identifying everyday pain points for each individual. As he worked with his classmates to explore potential problems, one issue kept resurfacing: uncomfortable seating, especially when sitting for long periods of time.  

The challenge was personal for Berry. As a veteran with a service-connected disability and a tattoo artist who often spent hours seated while working, he experienced the discomfort firsthand. That’s what inspired him to create the Portable Ergonomic Stool: a backless split-saddle seat with hands-free foot-activated height adjustment, and a frame that can be disassembled and packed for travel.  

The Portable Ergonomic Stool features a backless, split-saddle seat with hands-free foot-activated height adjustment, and a frame that can be disassembled and packed for travel.

“The seat that I designed for that class helped professionals and people like me sit for longer and not have the pains and problems that come about with that process,” Berry said. 

While entrepreneurship is a new path for Berry, he believes being an older student has given him a unique perspective. “Being a much older student than the rest of them, it’s been a transition, but it’s nice to have a lot more experience to bring, and also be a sponge for everything I’m learning,” he explained. 

Over time, his confidence to share his ideas has only grown. After being an artist for over 10 years, accepting feedback and applying it is normal. “The sooner you can get your ideas out, the sooner you can get feedback to make them better, so you’re constantly improving,” Berry said.  

Creating new products allows Berry to combine his artistic creativity with his curiosity, while also giving him opportunities to collaborate with others and tackle challenges from different angles.  

The homepage of the K Fisher Designs website.

His portable ergonomic chair is under development, and in addition to furthering the production process, Berry is preparing to have another design manufactured. His Adaptive Slat Chair, which received the IWF Commercial Seating Design Award, was also created with ergonomics in mind.  

As he works to bring both products to the market, Berry is focusing on taking the time to refine each design rather than rushing the process. Every project is unique, which gives him something new to learn. 

“It’s a learning process,” he said. “There will be different methods or different techniques you have to do for everything.” 

Berry has been surrounded by support the whole way and has personally felt the support of peers and mentors in the CYstarters program. “Everybody has the same goal, and everyone helps push you towards that goal,” he shared. 

It can be hectic to find a balance between building a business, being a student, and everything in between, but Berry organizes his priorities by setting aside time for what matters most. 

“I would say most of my time is focused around the goal or my objective. I prioritize what needs to be done and what is going to be beneficial in the long run,” Berry said. 

Over the course of the summer, Berry has worked to create a testable model and physical prototype that shows the chair’s collapsible function. He’s also working to market the product to a broader audience. “I’ve been focusing mainly on traveling tattoo artists, but the design actually will help a lot of different career paths,” Berry said.  

Berry is especially grateful for the resources that CYstarters has given him. “The amount of energy and help they put into this program, and the whole organization, that’s been great,” Berry said. 

Berry shared his advice for prospective student entrepreneurs: Just do it. “I’ve learned everything you do can help in some way,” he said. “Be a sponge, soak it all up.” 

Learn more about K Fisher Designs at www.kfisherdesigns.com.

Connect with Berry and learn from the entrepreneurs of CYstarters Cohort 11 at Demo Day on Thursday, July 30. Be sure to register today! 

Check out our video interview with Berry Schnetter below!