West Virginia University
Business
MAGAZINE

The_Ticker

2023 2022 2020 2019
Shelby Toompas Heather Richardson Mikenna Pierotti Jake Stump
SHOW ALL ARTICLES
Photo of Brite founders Lukas Thackery, Martin Craig Dombrowski and Nate Wimer posing.

Brite Ideas

Brite Ideas

|

The future’s looking Brite for West Virginia University alumni Lukas Thackery, Martin Craig Dombrowski and Nate Wimer.

In 2023, the trio came up with a bright, or rather, Brite idea to start a business that proactively identifies college students' needs through an app that rewards students for sharing real-time feedback.

As an MBA graduate from WVU's John Chambers College of Business and Economics, Thackery recognized that Brite needed a strategic plan that valued experimentation. 

That led him and his co-founders to Vantage Ventures.

“Vantage Ventures and its director, Dr. Ryan Angus, helped our team by making us continuously challenge our business model assumptions,” Thackery said. “Their mindset kept us nimble and adaptable, driving our growth and success.”

Since launching in 2023, Brite has expanded to five college towns, giving away over $10,000 in prizes from more than 100 local businesses. In November 2024, the company received $150,000 from Wing 2 Wing Ventures, enabling them to build their engineering team and accelerate growth.

So, what’s next for Brite?

According to Thackery, Brite aims to launch new university partnerships designed to reduce student attrition through data-driven insights by spring 2025.

Do you have an entrepreneurial idea you want to pursue? Apply today to the spring cohort of Vantage Ventures’ startup accelerator!

Written by: Emma Higgins

The Future is Innovative Females

In an effort to reach innovative and entrepreneurial females throughout the state, the WVU Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab hosted its Second Annual Women Innovate Pitch Competition. Ten women entered the virtual competition in October in hopes of winning prizes up to $5,000 to turn their idea into a reality. The contestants had to consider every aspect of their pitch – everything from production to advertising – and field questions from the all-female panel of judges. First place went to Anna Cummings, a business management major and entrepreneurship minor from Ashburn, Virginia, whose pitch identified an unaddressed need for a device to help earring-wearers attach their earring backtracks. “The Women Innovate Pitch Competition is an important opportunity for women entrepreneurs,” said Carrie White, executive director of the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab. “The LaunchLab is here to provide support to all student innovators. However, historically we have seen fewer female clients as compared to male. This event is designed to level that field. The first year we held it, we saw our female entrepreneurs increase by 20 percent. We want to provide encouragement to all WVU students who wish to create something new!” 

Read Article

When Life Hands You Lemons

In September 2019, our CEO Club donated the money from its Lemonade Day, which was held spring 2019, to WVU Medicine Children’s. Not only did local Morgantown kids learn how to run a profitable lemonade stand, but they were also able to support a great cause that will go on to help other children in our community.

Read Article

From West Virginia to Japan

A May 2023 graduate in finance and economics earned a highly competitive U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship to travel abroad to learn a new language and immerse into cultural experiences. 

Read Article

Inspiring the Next Generation

Each year, West Virginia Executive magazine publishes a “Young Guns” list recognizing young professionals in the business community who drive our Mountain State forward. We're proud to share that Tara St. Clair, program director of our Encova Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, made West Virginia Executive magazine's Young Guns Class of 2023! As one of 10 West Virginia professionals, St. Clair was honored to be chosen for this year’s class.

Read Article

Brick Immortal

Reynolds Hall may be the future of business, but the Entrepreneurship Club saw opportunity even before construction began. The new building stands on what was once the site of Stansbury Hall, which served as WVU’s beloved Field House, as well as home to a variety of academic departments. 

Read Article

View All Articles