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Lorentzen Student Hatchery

Thank you for your interest in the Lorentzen Student Hatchery at the Zimpleman College of Business. The Hatchery is a summer program designed to help students gain an unprecedented opportunity to start their business while still in school under the mentorship of experienced entrepreneurs. Stipends up to $6,000 (to cover costs such as housing, startup, and other expenses) are available. Students in the Hatchery program will be provided with working space, access to office equipment, mentoring, coaching, and other assistance from the Hatchery’s program director and other local entrepreneurs. Funds will be distributed in three equal increments, distribution of which is contingent upon students meeting agreed-upon benchmarks. In the event a student or team abandons their project, the remaining funds will be forfeited.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, you must be:

Any currently enrolled Drake student (*see below)
Undergraduate or graduate
Any major
Willing to dedicate a summer, approximately 12 weeks of full-time commitment, to work toward meeting their project’s goals and fulfill program benchmarks. This includes regular meetings with the program director and mentors, participating in training, and other events as required.

Students chosen to participate in the Lorentzen Student Hatchery will present their pitch for their business idea before an assembled group of potential investors, including Mr. John Lorentzen, for whom the Hatchery is named. This will take place early in the Fall 2024 semester.

* If you are a graduating senior or an international student, please email us about potential restrictions.

To apply for the program, please complete the application and return it with a copy of your resume to the Entrepreneurship Center, Aliber Hall, Third Floor.

Want to know more? Please email us at paula.kueter@drake.edu.

About the Hatchery

John Lorentzen (Drake B.A. and B.S.B.A. in Political Science, Economics, and Management, 1977) founded the Hatchery with the intent of helping Drake University students get a head start on creating their businesses through a generous donation to the program.

Hatchery Resources

Lorentzen Hatchery Resources

Here are some resources that may be useful for Lorentzen Hatchery participants and others:

Cowles Library business resources

Meet the Cohorts

Meet the Summer 2019 Lorentzen Student Hatchery Cohort

ADAM HEATER MEDIA, Adam Heater. Adam Heater Media is a video production and photography company specializing in working with small businesses and non-profits. We use small crews, limited equipment, and smart production design to showcase the people behind these businesses and non-profits while keeping costs low for clients without sacrificing quality.
OUR LYF, Tyrek Washington. Our LYF is a lifestyle brand that seeks to make individuals more confident and assertive. We want to inspire people to become positively selfish and understand that if you don’t care about yourself first, you can’t become your best self and put your best foot forward to anything. We want to achieve these means by education, media, and apparel.
ENCRYPTIUM, Kellen Karls, and Alex Mathison. Encryptium stores access management information using decentralization technology to take data off a company's server. This allows companies to verify logins and identities without holding the data and, therefore, prevents information from being lost in the case of a data breach.
KNM, Nick Miller. KNM Productions LLC is an event production and media company. It currently offers DJ, videography, and photography services and plans to expand to include photo booths, live sound and lighting, graphic design, and commercial media services. KNM Productions strives to be the premier, one-stop shop for weddings, corporate events, and other events, with the flexibility to offer specific individual services based on the needs and wants of our clients.
MILK CHOCOLATE PRODUCTIONS, Luc Pham. Milk Chocolate Productions, LLC is a music video production company dedicated to promoting representation for artists of color in and around Des Moines, Iowa. By creating thoughtful, innovative and unconventional videos (with viral potential), MCP serves to propel local talent into the national spotlight and provides a platform for artists of diverse backgrounds to share their voices with the world.
PICTO, Sohil Brahmbhatt, and Case Martin. Picto puts the social back in social media. It is based on trust, accessibility, and togetherness. With Picto, you create groups to share content. There is no posting alone, so if you want to share things, you always do so collaboratively. We are so excited to share with the world what we believe is a healthier, easier, and more mindful alternative to today's social media.
RAY’S PET SHOP, Ravyn Anderson. Ray’s Pet Shop is your one-stop shop to make your dogs or cats healthier, smarter, and happier with boarding, training, dog walking, and custom-made supplements designed to help each animal personally.