Seed Money, Budding Ventures
When Susquehanna’s Sigmund Weis School of Business created the entrepreneurship & corporate innovation major, faculty wanted to include a course that would usher students from the theory of entrepreneurship to the practice of it — while providing them with a safety net.
In Entrepreneurial Experience, the capstone course for the major, students conceptualize and develop a start-up organization and everything that goes with that process — trying, failing, pivoting and repeating — with the goal of busting the myths surrounding entrepreneurship.
“The word entrepreneurship is scary,” says Lauren Smith, lecturer in marketing & management. “It involves venturing into the unknown, taking risks and facing the possibility of failure. However, by providing students with a structured learning environment, practical experiences and mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs, we can demystify the process and equip our students with the confidence and skills needed to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape successfully.”
The Jameson ’02 and Jennifer Engerer ’02 Troutman Susquehanna Entrepreneurship Fund
Funding from Jameson ’02 and Jennifer Engerer ’02 Troutman led to the creation of the Student Startup Market — the culmination of the capstone course and an entrepreneurial fair where students sell the wares of their “side hustle” to the campus community. The fund they established gives all students in the course up to $250 in seed money for their business, providing that safety net while strengthening their entrepreneurism.
“We were able to revolutionize the Entrepreneurial Experience capstone course because of the funding made possible by the Troutmans,” Smith says. “We could provide initial funding and opportunities for further funding rounds for each of the business ventures in the class. The excitement and spirit that came with guaranteed funding was unmatched.”
“Whether you want to start and run your own business or not, the values and experiences of the entrepreneur can benefit everybody,”
– Jameson and Jennifer Engerer Troutman
The Troutmans were motivated to establish the fund due to their family’s own strong entrepreneurial spirit. Jameson’s father and his mother’s extended family started their own businesses, and Jennifer also runs her own digital marketing firm.
“Whether you want to start and run your own business or not, the values and experiences of the entrepreneur can benefit everybody,” the Troutmans say. “Small businesses are very important to our national economy and countries around the world. We were excited that we could support an innovative program like this at our alma mater to foster curiosity and help power the small-business spirit among the next generation of innovators.”
Additionally, any student regardless of major can apply for up to $2,000 annually from this fund for their business and can apply multiple times if they show growth and development of the business.
Side Hustles on Display
The inaugural Student Startup Market featured 20 students — both from within the entrepreneurship capstone course and
beyond — selling their own products, from professional services to fitness and wellness products and more.
Lindsay Griffin ’24
Lindsay Griffin ’24, a triple major in advertising & public relations, entrepreneurship & corporate innovation, and management from Frackville, Pennsylvania, created a business that combines her passions: sustainability and fashion.
Through her business venture, Reclaimed Runway, Griffin creates fun and unique fashion for Gen Z women by upcycling thrifted and secondhand clothes by embellishing items with unique iron-on designs. She also offers kits so customers can upcycle and DIY clothes or accessories they already own.
“There are a lot of entrepreneurs in my family, so I grew up with an appreciation for working for yourself,” Griffin says. “I love to shop for fun fashion and clothes like printed jeans, but all the stores I found that sold what I was looking for were unethical fast fashion retailers,” Griffin says. “That’s what encouraged me to combine my interests together to create this project.”
Griffin used her funding to help purchase supplies and the materials she used on her table at the Student Startup Market.
“It would have definitely been hard for me to finance all my start-up supplies and materials on my own,” Griffin says. “Without the funding, I would have been a lot less likely to start my business in the first place.”
Griffin is currently employed as a marketing and public relations specialist with LANC Marketing and plans to continue and grow her Reclaimed Runway side hustle.
Ryan Rols ’25
Ryan Rorls ’25 is a business management major with a minor in data analytics from Frederick, Maryland, whose business venture, Sugar & Ry, specializes in handcrafted, elegant and high-quality baked goods. She established the business in 2020.
The funding Rorls received helped her to buy premium ingredients for her baked goods, including pure vanilla bean paste, Irish butter, King Arthur all-purpose flour and organic lemons, as well as attractive packaging to keep them fresh and appealing, she says. The funding also allowed her to “spruce up” her table at the Student Startup Market.
Rorls plans to continue nurturing and expanding her baking business while pursuing her postgraduate career in project management, with the idea of leveraging the valuable experiences and skills she gains from her career to enhance and streamline operations within her business.
“My goal is to create a synergistic relationship between my career and my business, allowing each to complement and enrich the other as I embark on this journey of entrepreneurship and professional development,” Rorls says. “Participating in the Student Startup Market allowed me to showcase my handcrafted treats and connect with fellow entrepreneurs who share my dedication. Telling the story behind each of my creations reinforced my belief that baking is about creating connections and spreading happiness one bite at a time.”
Since the first Student Startup Market in spring 2024, Entrepreneurial Experience students have also sold their wares at Selinsgrove’s Market Street Festival, held in the fall, which was also funded through the Troutman fund.
In the Classroom
Every academic year, students in Entrepreneurial Experience connect with “entrepreneurial mentors” who come into the classroom to discuss topics ranging from ideation, pitching, scaling, collaboration versus competition, work-life balance, setting goals and more.
Annie McCarty
Annie McCarty, owner of Troop 47 Trading Co., a boutique and specialty store in Danville, Pennsylvania, is the business school’s Entrepreneur in Residence for the spring 2025 semester. McCarty began her business selling handmade candles and other scents and has since expanded to include products that are locally sourced from fellow artisans, crafters and makers.
“Sharing my journey with young entrepreneurs is a chance to reflect on my own experiences, both the triumphs and the challenges, and to inspire the next generation with some of the lessons I’ve learned. I hope my story encourages them to pursue their own dreams with passion and perseverance, knowing that they are not alone and always have a network they can turn to for guidance and support.”
The key to the Entrepreneurial Experience capstone course is the safety net, Smith says, which offers safe landing to students as they first set out on the entrepreneurial trapeze. Students can try new ideas, problem solve and ultimately fail, without the fear of losing their shirts.
“We’re not just teaching students to be full-time entrepreneurs because the reality is that most entrepreneurs pursue their ventures while working other jobs. We are teaching students how to think outside of the box, how to mitigate fear and become more comfortable with risk while reminding them that entrepreneurship is not a silo,” Smith explains. “There is a collaborative theme emerging in small businesses in America that promotes the idea that there is room for all of us, that we are more powerful, serve our customers better and have a more fulfilling life when we work together.”
