Celebrating Innovation and Vision

Published: December 13, 2024

Fall 2024 at College of Western Idaho's (CWI) Entrepreneur Lab has been a hub of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit. As the year comes to a close, we are thrilled to spotlight the incredible participants who have enriched our cohorts and events, turning their visions into reality.

Meet Our Featured Entrepreneurs

  • Maegan Rupe and Seth Hoover: Inspired by their personal journey, Rupe and Hoover designed functional and fashionable sweaters for women undergoing chemotherapy. Their innovative garments feature arm openings for convenient treatment access—a thoughtful solution addressing an often-overlooked need.

  • Estrellita Gonzalez: Starting with a hot chocolate booth in downtown Caldwell, Gonzalez plans to expand her venture into a family-friendly buffet dining concept.

  • Uriel Ornelas: Ornelas introduced his unique candy creations, specifically designed for teenagers. Having achieved success in the experimental phase, he’s ready to scale up!

  • Patrick Fry-Al Thwani: Our first-ever attendee and prize winner, Fry-Al Thwani is now developing an online side hustle—PRE-assembling circuit board Christmas tree ornaments to save customers time.

  • Daniella Jensen: Jensen is launching a business aimed at helping young people plan gap year adventures. She’s starting with a blog and social media platform to share travel expertise.

  • Dion Saldivar: Saldivar is pursuing his dream of launching a modern and experimental Mexican food and drink truck. He attended our Idea, Set, Go workshop to bring his vision to life.

  • Oscar Perales: Through the Next Level Accelerator program, Perales is taking his business, Take It Easy, to new heights. This app-based junk removal service promises convenience at your fingertips.

  • John Carl Granados: A proud partner of the Entrepreneur Lab, Granados is the owner of 1866 Creations LLC, a screen-printing business based in Nampa. He was a grant winner while attending one of the Entrepreneur Lab's Business Basics events.

A Collaborative Spirit

This semester’s participants have not only showcased incredible innovations but also demonstrated the collaborative energy that makes the Entrepreneur Lab thrive. Their journeys are inspiring, and we can’t wait to see what they achieve next.

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