Knox Students Gain Entrepreneurial Experience in StartUp Term

A handful of Knox College students learned what it was like to build a business from scratch during Knox's 10-week StartUp Term, where they presented their new product or project to a panel of judges, including Knox alumni and local entrepreneurs. StartUp Term takes place during spring term and is one of Knox’s signature immersive terms.

Knox's one-of-a-kind immersion terms—a focused, hands-on exploration of a single field of study over the course of a term—give students the opportunity to spend an entire term dedicated to something they love.

StartUp Term gives students practical experience in every part of the entrepreneurial process, from developing a business plan to pitching their product to potential investors. Over 10 weeks, teams transformed original business concepts into real products and services.

Five teams of four Knox students each underwent a whirlwind experience of developing business plans, analyzing markets, and building products. They focused on emerging tech fields, creating scheduling and clothes sizing apps, a food shopping and cooking app, a travel highlights app, and a soccer game that combines fun with skills and workouts. 

The term was overseen by Knox Associate Professor of Computer Science Jaime Spacco, Lecturer in Business and Management Nancy DeWitt, and Associate Professor of Art Tim Stedman ’09.

“One of the primary goals of StartUp Term is to create a structure and environment that helps students build confidence in both entrepreneurship and creativity,” Stedman said. “The program is designed to provide an academic experience that extends beyond the traditional classroom, encouraging students to collaborate as a team while working with a high degree of independence. Through this process, they develop not only entrepreneurial skills but also greater confidence in their ability to solve problems, communicate ideas, and take initiative.”

The 10-week journey culminated with the teams presenting their products in a “Shark Tank” style atmosphere, pitching their business ideas to a panel of faculty and successful entrepreneurs.

“I’m really happy with the way it went. I feel like our presentation was a great representation of how awesome a term we had,” computer science major Bria Gilliam ’26 said. “From the start of the term, we went in confident and had a plan. Midway through, we had to pivot, and everything changed. Even a week before the pitch, things were up in the air. But to see how it all came together was so rewarding. It taught me a lot about startups in general and what it looks like from the inside instead of seeing it from the outside.”

Gilliam, along with teammates Lissette Adame ’26, Jakob Morgenstern ’27, and Carissa Medlock ’27, built an app called It Fits. The design helps users properly size themselves when shopping for online clothing. It helps avoid the hassle of returning clothes that do not fit. It also saves companies the headaches and costs of shipping returns and re-sending clothing. 

“I was an admissions ambassador, so I saw the presentation of the StartUp Term. It was something I thought sounded interesting, so when they offered it this term, I wanted to do it,” said Morgenstern, a business and political science double major.

StartUp Term is offered every other year and allows students to work in an office space off campus to get the full incubator business experience. This term, the teams had their own space on the fourth floor of the Hill Arcade in downtown Galesburg. Teams were able to use the space through a barter arrangement overseen by Nancy DeWitt. During winter term, a business student who was not participating in StartUp Term created a market analysis for the landlord as part of the agreement. 

“The office space was nice. It was a different setting that motivated me to get up and explore,” said Adame, a business major and Spanish translation and interpretation minor. “The program and the space allowed me to get off campus more and meet people, too.”

While the It Fits crew formed through StartUp Term, another team already arrived as established teammates.

Taking their camaraderie off the baseball diamond and into the boardroom, Knox baseball players Aidan McMurtrie ’27, Hayden Derlein ’28, Leo Dircks ’27, and Clark Heeren ’27 designed SEIZN—a one-stop scheduling app geared toward student-athletes, athletic administrators, coaches, and trainers. 

“I think it helped having teammates you already knew. We had a solid bond, could push each other, communicate, and work together,” Dircks, a mathematics and business double major, said. “We did not have to start from scratch and figure each other out. Playing together allowed us to be on the same page and a little ahead at the beginning. We knew how to work together and get everything done.”

Although the team already knew each other and their concept, they still faced the typical challenges of entrepreneurship.

“I’ve learned a ton. I learned about the business side, but also a lot outside my major,” said Heeren, a business and economics double major. “You always look for opportunities and things to implement to appeal to your market. You’re always trying to understand that market.”

Much like a team where different players bring different skills to the table, the SEIZN crew blended their strengths. They created a product with appealing design features and practical, user-friendly functionality.

“We have such a good group of skillsets that we were able to mesh together really well. We could work as a team, but also split up and do our own thing,” Heeren said. “Everybody was getting and giving feedback to each other. That helped us out a lot.”

With three juniors and a sophomore on the team, the SEIZN group also plans to continue their app. They may build a marketplace while pursuing their Knox degrees and playing for the Prairie Fire. 

“We’re looking to keep making progress throughout the summer—while ensuring we enjoy some time off,” said McMurtrie, a computer science major and studio art minor. “We want to keep improving the app and put in consistent work. Our plan is to reach out to potential investors and customers, send information, and secure our first customer acquisition. The goal: get the snowball rolling and keep building momentum.”

Other teams competing were: Preppie, an AI-powered meal management app designed to help new cooks plan, shop, and cook with confidence. Knox students Galgallo Waqo ’27, Tioluwani Olumbunmi ’28, Ahmad Al-Sou’d ’28, and Nysa Phulwar ’26 designed the product. 

The winning entrant, Ball’r, was an app that allowed the participant to drill, play games, and work on fitness playing soccer. Designers were Bishoy Tadrous ’28, Hissan Tahir ’28, Yosuke Yabuki ’26, and Nairran Zargar ’27.

SeeYaa, a travel app that allows the user to better plan a vacation or trip, based on their specifications, whether it is that go-to restaurant, an off-the beaten path highlight, or a spot that only the locals know. Designers were Urvi Bohra ’26, Sikandar Mateen ’26, James Nguyen ’26, and Manavi Subba ’26.

“Working with students is always rewarding,” Stedman said. “I especially enjoy collaborating with them as they develop the visual identities for their projects. Watching their ideas evolve into cohesive, meaningful brands is one of the most satisfying parts of the experience.”