BVU student ventures earn national recognition, advance to major competition

Buena Vista University’s student startup pipeline moved onto bigger stages this spring, and the stakes for Storm Lake go beyond trophies. The question now is whether ventures like Fuller Radiance LLC can grow into local employers that keep graduates in Buena Vista County instead of sending them elsewhere.

BVU said Fuller Radiance LLC, led by Cody Fuller ’25 and team members Puritie Smith ’26, Alyssa Jordan ’26 and Alexis Kuehl ’27, qualified for the e-Fest Schulze Entrepreneurship Challenge at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, set for April 23-25. The event brings together 25 finalist teams competing for a share of $250,000 in prizes, and one public-vote Brand Builder Award is worth $5,000. Travel stipends are part of the competition, giving the BVU team a chance to compete nationally without shouldering the full cost of getting there.

For Buena Vista County, Fuller Radiance is the clearest example of a student venture that could translate into real economic activity. In 2025, Cody Fuller’s company won first place and $5,000 in the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation’s Big Idea Entrepreneurial Challenge. The business was described as making customized gift items, including centerpieces, fidget toys and lamps. That kind of venture fits the profile of a small-scale manufacturer or creative retailer that can start on campus and, with the right support, keep production and spending close to home.

Jordan also is preparing for a different test in Des Moines. Her business, Outskirts Acres, will pitch at the Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition, a statewide contest open to Iowa college and university students. Judges score entries on business concept and viability, and the competition awards three seed grants of $5,000 each. Finalists who do not place in the top three may still receive smaller participation awards under the rules, which gives more students a reason to keep refining their ideas.

The practical value of BVU’s entrepreneurship program shows up in that preparation. Fuller said the coaching, resources and repeated pitch opportunities helped the team sharpen its presentation and build confidence. That matters in Storm Lake, where the next generation of business owners can become the next generation of hirers, landlords, buyers and taxpayers.

BVU’s School of Business and the Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship are helping turn student ideas into ventures with outside validation. For a community that wants to hold onto young talent, the real win will come if those businesses do not stop at recognition, but grow roots in Buena Vista County.