First Start Something Weekend sparks creativity and big ideas at NDSU

The Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business launched its inaugural Start Something Weekend on March 20 and 21, taking over Richard H. Barry Hall to bring together students from every major for a fast-paced, 24-hour entrepreneurship challenge. Participants were invited to build something from scratch, including an invention, a product, a creative project, a digital concept or an early business idea, and pitch it for a share of $3,000 in scholarship funding.

Throughout the weekend, students formed teams, attended hands-on workshops, gained insights from a panel of local entrepreneurs and took part in rapid-fire creative challenges designed to spark experimentation. The atmosphere remained energetic and collaborative, creating a fun, low-stakes environment for students to stretch their skills, meet new peers and explore ideas they were genuinely excited about.

Onnolee Nordstrom, Ozbun Chair of Entrepreneurship and a judge for the final pitch round, said the level of creativity far exceeded expectations.

"Start Something Weekend exceeded every expectation. The diversity of ideas, from engineering to business to agriculture to digital ventures, showed what is possible when students from all disciplines come together with curiosity and initiative. The quality of work produced in just 24 hours was remarkable, and it reflects the entrepreneurial talent growing at NDSU."

First-place honors went to Shaylee Stroot, a marketing major, for her startup idea Soul Scribbles. Her customizable, print-on-demand prayer and reflection book was recognized for its clarity, purpose and thoughtful development. Stroot teamed up with Artin Sadeghi, an electrical engineering major, to bring the concept to life during the 24-hour sprint.

Stroot said she arrived at the event with only a loose concept in mind.

"I had a vague idea that had been in the back of my mind, but I had never thought super in depth about how it would actually work or what it would look like," she said. "It always felt like more of a 'someday' idea rather than something I would take action on right now."

That changed once she began interacting with students from across campus.

"I learned a lot just from listening to others," she said. "There were ideas and perspectives I had not even thought about before. It motivated me to take my own idea more seriously."

Her biggest takeaway from the weekend was the confidence that comes from taking the first step.

"My biggest takeaway is that things are not as scary once you take action," she said. "Once you start asking questions and putting your idea out there, it becomes much less intimidating. You realize it is actually very possible."

Stroot plans to continue refining her product beyond the weekend, an encouraging sign of the long‑term momentum the event is sparking for student‑driven innovation. For students considering participating next year, her message is clear: "Do it. It is a great way to test an idea in a low-stakes environment, whether you have your own idea or just want to help others build theirs."

Second place went to Finnova, an AI-driven financial security solution led by Mackenzie Kinney, finance, with teammates Fatemeh Sarani Rad, computer science, Joan Acaso, microbiology, and Biplab Kumar Sarkar, computer science.

Third place was awarded to HobbyHub, a platform designed to connect communities around unique interests. The team included Gayathri Senanayake, microbiology, Lisa Johnson, computer science, and Chandan Gautam, microbiology.

Teams placing fourth through sixth also received a share of the scholarship funding.

The success of the inaugural Start Something Weekend marks the beginning of what organizers hope will become a signature tradition at NDSU. The event underscores the university’s commitment to providing students with meaningful, hands-on experiences that inspire confidence, leadership and creative problem-solving, preparing them not only for future careers but also for building ideas that make an impact.

Upcoming Center for Entrepreneurship events, including NDSU Takeover Day at Startup Brew on April 1 and the Possibility Showcase on April 14, continue to expand opportunities for students to explore what is possible and bring new ideas to life.