Possibility Fellowship helps Busy Bee Systems turn passion into innovation

What began as a shared passion for honeybees has grown into a promising student-led venture thanks to support from North Dakota State University's Possibility Fellowship.

Brady Lindsey, who is pursuing a Master of Science in Natural Resource Sciences with an emphasis in precision agriculture, and Jewel Lindsey, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, both came to NDSU from Missouri for the opportunity to work in Sulaymon Eshkabilov's Agrimechatronics Lab in the NDSU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department. Drawing from their own experiences in beekeeping, as well as Brady's lifelong connection to the industry through his grandfather's beekeeping operation, the pair developed Busy Bee Systems, a venture focused on creating sustainable innovations for beekeeping.

The idea gained momentum through NDSU's Possibility Fellowship, a signature program of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business that helps students explore innovative ideas through mentorship, customer discovery and venture development. Through the fellowship, the team was able to test and refine their idea while benefiting from resources and entrepreneurial support provided by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business.

"Our journey with the Possibility Fellowship has greatly shaped the development of Busy Bee Systems as it has continually guided us with potential next steps and goals for our ideas," the team said. "The program provided us with a team containing a variety of different backgrounds and experiences, which allowed us to look at our ideas from different perspectives, improve our approach and continue building and developing Busy Bee Systems in ways we may not have thought of on our own."

Building on the momentum gained through the Possibility Fellowship, the team was selected by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business to represent NDSU at the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge at the University of San Diego this spring, where they presented Busy Bee Systems to judges and entrepreneurs from around the world.

"Our experience at this competition was incredibly valuable," they said. "We met many new people who gave us great feedback, recommendations, and asked questions that challenged us to think from different perspectives. It made us more comfortable pitching and discussing our ideas while also helping shape our next steps moving forward."

The momentum continued this summer when Busy Bee Systems was selected for Innovate ND, a statewide program that supports entrepreneurs conducting customer discovery and market validation. The program provides up to $50,000 in reimbursement funding to help participants validate business concepts and accelerate innovative ventures.

Honeybees play a critical role in North Dakota's agricultural economy, supporting both the state's honey industry and the pollination of crops essential to food production. Through Busy Bee Systems, the Lindseys are developing sustainable technologies designed to support healthier bee populations and improve hive management practices. The students believe their innovations have the potential to benefit both beekeepers and agriculture more broadly.

"We believe our beehive solution could impact both local beekeepers in North Dakota and the broader agricultural industry by providing affordable entry and scalability while reducing the labor needed to care for hives," they said. "Our goal is to make beekeeping easier for both the bees and the beekeeper."

With support from Innovate ND, the team plans to continue developing and testing prototypes with beekeepers before bringing their products to market. Looking back, the founders credit the Possibility Fellowship with helping turn Busy Bee Systems from an idea into a venture with growing momentum.

For students considering their own innovative or social-impact ventures, they have one piece of advice: "Our biggest piece of advice for other students who want to pursue innovative or social-impact ideas at NDSU would be to apply for the Possibility Fellowship," they said. "They truly believe in you and your ideas and help guide you through a process that ensures there is a real need, while also helping bring those ideas to life."

To learn more about the Possibility Fellowship and how the Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business helps NDSU students develop innovative ventures, visit ndsu-cefb.com.