In Ghana, where access to quality eye care can feel scarce, widespread gaps in affordable, approachable vision services leave many underserved. Dr. Raphael Kyei recognized this challenge and took action. In 2020, he founded Lenzvision Optical with a clear mission: to reshape how eye care is accessed and perceived. What started as a small, self-funded […]
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Nibbles and Sprouts: Raising a Generation of Curious Eaters
“We believe that every child is born with the ability to love food,” said Dr. Bonnie Feola. A pediatrician and certified chef, she recognized a gap in how we talk about feeding children. She is the founder of Nibbles and Sprouts, a pediatric culinary medicine practice that she is growing in the Master of Business […]
Quasi Stepper: Changing Chip Fabrication for the Future
While finishing a degree in chemical engineering with a minor in math at the University of Utah, John Peterson pursued a fascination with photolithography and launched Quasi Stepper, a project that aims to make possible the creation of micro- and nanometer-scale patterns essential for fabricating components used in chips and other advanced devices. With a […]
Malabar: An All-Natural Fragrance
What began as a high school hobby is shaping up to be one of the freshest fragrance startups to emerge from the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah. Malabar, founded by Calder Stratford, Marshall Moorehead, and Tenney Palmer, is redefining what it means to wear scent in a conscious, modern way. The three […]
Strobilos: Kinetic Desktop Sculptures
Do you ever spend your day sitting at a desk and fidgeting with every possible thing? Daniel Hallman, a mathematics Ph.D. student at the University of Utah, has a solution. Utilizing his background in electrical engineering, he created Strobilos, a line of mesmerizing, kinetic desktop sculptures that give your brain something better to focus on. […]
From Stuck to Exit: Lessons from Selling the Startup Stack
I started the Startup Stack in 2020 to help founders survive the COVID pandemic through deals on the software and services they use to run their business. I was one of three co-founders, and the only one to begin to work on the company full-time in May 2023 at what seemed like the right time. […]
Photo Gallery: Summer at Lassonde 2025
Here are the photos from events and activities at Lassonde Studios in summer 2025. This summer, we built things in our Make Space, attended Workshops, pitched for startup grants, met new people, and more. Find upcoming events here: lassonde.utah.edu/calendar.
Lassonde Events Calendar: Fall 2025
The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute events calendar for fall 2025 is now available in print and online formats. See links below. We have many events and opportunities planned for the semester. We have Make Space hours, grants, workshops, mentor hours, application deadlines, entrepreneur classes through the Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy, and more. All University of […]
Get Seeded Awards $10,500 in Grants for June
Nine student startup teams received $10,500 in Get Seeded milestone grants in the round ending in June 2025. See below for a list of teams and their product ideas. The final pitch event for regular grants was held at Lassonde Studios. It included live startup pitches, free food, and public voting to determine who received […]
Lift Design: A Sleepless Print Shop in Accra New Town
Tucked inside Accra New Town, one of Ghana’s busiest hubs for commercial printing, is a shop that never rests. In the midst of the steady buzzing of machines and the shuffle of late-night orders, Lift Design is quietly and consistently growing to become a driving force behind how businesses across the country bring their brands […]