One Semester, 12 Startups: Babson Students Get Down to Business
Just two months after transferring to Babson College, Tanner Wendle ’29 had already helped launch his first business, selling vibrant succulents to his fellow students at $8 a pot.
For Wendle, who transferred from the University of Connecticut, the experience offered an immediate introduction to Babson’s hands-on approach to learning.
“We’ve already deployed a business, and I’ve only been here for a few months,” Wendle said. “It’s what Babson is all about.”
Babson Botanicals, started by Wendle and classmates Zalen Stason ’29 and Leo Ross Montenegro ’29, was one of 12 student-run ventures on display recently around the Babson World Globe at Kerry Murphy Healey Park.
The businesses are part of a new, one-semester program designed to give transfer students, students who start classes in January, and Babson Begin students the same ability to start their Babson journey with a focus on experiential, hands-on learning leveraging the College’s signature Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship (FME) experience.
The program combines two courses taken simultaneously: a hands-on entrepreneurship course in which students research customer needs, develop business ideas, and launch their own ventures, and Foundations in Management: Organizational Behavior Lab, which explores leadership, teamwork, decision-making, and organizational dynamics through workshops, simulations, and other exercises. Together, the courses allow students to apply what they’re learning in the classroom while creating, managing, and marketing a real business—all within a single semester.
The Pace of Business
The program is fast paced, but many students taking the course, such as Eduardo Beyruti ’29, believe that is an advantage.
“It’s a nice pressure,” Beyruti said, “and I think being an entrepreneur means dealing with pressure all the time.”
Beyruti, of São Paulo, Brazil, joined Babson in January. His three-person team founded Toe Tally, which provides colorful, fun socks for people who want to express themselves in settings where bold style isn’t welcome.
“In many professional settings you cannot be colorful, you cannot be funny, but through socks you can, because they’re mostly hidden,” he said.
The format fit with Beyruti’s plans: He expects to study abroad in China next fall and this allows him to stay on track with his requirements and leaves room for electives.
Learning by Doing
Due to the smaller class size, the hands-on learning experience comes with teams of two to three, something transfer student Morgan Whitlock ’29 prefers. Whitlock and teammates Emma Leahy ’29 and Paloma Suarez Fortuna ’29 opened Clip’d, a business selling personalized hair clips in Babson colors.
“It’s a completely different way of learning, but I like it,” said Whitlock, who transferred from Bucknell University. “With our group of three, we’ve become very close, which is nice.”
Meanwhile, Erica Wu ’29 and Krishna Mewada ’29, both transfer students, helped create Dam Good Chess Co., featuring 3D-printed chess pieces inspired by Biz E. Beaver, Babson’s beaver mascot.
Wu, who transferred from Brandeis University, similarly appreciated working with just two teammates, while Mewada, who arrived from Indiana University, enjoyed the chance to jump directly into building a business.
“I honestly kind of like just getting started immediately,” Mewada said.
Business on a Budget
With a $500 seed investment and about four weeks of planning, Wendle said Jeffrey A. Timmons Professor of Entrepreneurship Heidi Neck’s guidance was key to helping teams launch “in the green.” Wendle said his team chose succulents because they are inexpensive and easy to care for, perfect for students.
“We know students are on a tight budget. Professor Neck actually did a really good job of teaching us about our reachable market, and our biggest customer segment is students,” Wendle said. “So, we wanted to do something that was tailored toward students.”
Many in the class feel it’s already delivered one of Babson’s defining experiences: the chance to start a new business just weeks after arriving on campus.
“It’s exciting,” Whitlock said. “That’s how I like to describe Babson in general. The excitement never ends.”
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