Entrepreneurship students like Grace Nowak ’28 are required to start a business. Photos by Aidan Brill ’26
For most first-year undergraduate students, the first semester is a time to adjust to college life, but for Grace Nowak it’s been an opportunity to launch a business at Eckerd College.
Grace, a first-year student from Cantonsville, Maryland, with a developing focus on marine science and an entrepreneurship minor, has introduced a unique, new product for campus pets: Pet Pops. These frozen, nutrient-rich treats—branded as Mighty Mutt Munchies (large dog pops), Pint-Sized Pupsicles (small dog pops) and Feline Freezes (cat pops)—are designed specifically for dogs and cats and have quickly gained attention across campus.
The idea for Pet Pops originated in her class Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mindset, taught by Jennifer Knippen, associate professor of management and entrepreneurship minor coordinator. Knippen, who holds a Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Florida, describes the course as a way for students to learn by doing. “If I want students to develop and cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset, what better way than have them actually engage in the entrepreneurial process?” she explains.
Knippen says the course begins with identifying problems in students’ everyday lives and brainstorming practical solutions.
“At its core, entrepreneurship is about solving problems,” she says.
“Grace’s Pet Pops venture is a perfect example of what can come when you merge your passions and interests with innovation. She’s developed a real solution for nurturing and treating our pets in a healthy way.”
As part of the course, students are required to start a business, following a structured series of lessons inspired by real entrepreneurial stories. “Half the class is about learning how to be an entrepreneur, and the other half is about starting a business from the ground up,” Grace explains. Initially, her project was focused on a food delivery service for students who lack access to groceries, but after logistical challenges, she turned her attention to pets. Seeing the potential need for pet enrichment on campus, she dove into creating a product that could offer both mental stimulation and nutritional benefits.
Grace developed the Pet Pops recipes through extensive research on pet nutrition, spending hours studying what dogs and cats need for a balanced diet. “The dog pops have kale, broccoli, blueberries, salmon oil, dehydrated chicken breast, and beef bone broth,” she says, explaining how she selected ingredients that provide essential nutrients many dogs lack. For the cat version, she collaborated with her father, incorporating sardines, dried chicken heart, beef bone broth and kefir. “Each ingredient has a purpose,” she notes, highlighting her aim to keep recipes simple yet effective. The kefir, for instance, is a nutrient-dense fermented milk beneficial for cats’ digestion.
The cold popsicles received a warm welcome from the pups.
Grace says the cost to produce each pop ranges from $1 to $2, depending on size. Her pricing reflects this, with Mighty Mutt Munchies priced at $6, Feline Freezes at $5, and Pint-Sized Pupsicles at $4. Since launching her small business, Grace has sold 25 pops through on-campus events, with overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Launching Pet Pops has been a significant learning experience for Grace, especially as she worked on engaging with new customers. “I’m not someone who usually goes out and talks to random people,” she admits. “But it’s been a learning curve.” Setting up sales stations around campus has been key to introducing her product to pet owners. She was thrilled with the response from her first sales event, where she interacted with both pet owners and their excited pets. “So far, I’m at a 100% success rate!” Grace says with a smile, encouraged by the positive feedback.
Customers were equally enthusiastic, including Eckerd senior Morgan Metelo, who bought a treat for her miniature dachshund, P.D. “He really enjoyed it, and we shared it with some dog friends, and they all loved it,” says Morgan, an animal studies and environmental studies student from Raleigh, North Carolina. “I think this is an amazing product since most dog treats have a lot of ingredients that aren’t great for dogs.”
Grace plans to continue her sales through several on-campus events. She aims to set up near South Beach during sunset walks and hopes to attract even more customers near the residence halls to reach cat owners. “I think setting up by the dorms will be perfect for students who want to bring something back for their cats,” she says, adding that she intends to increase her presence outside the campus cafeteria, where pet owners often pass by.
Grace describes her merchandising experience so far as surreal.
“I’ve been planning this for so long, and now this is the first time I’m actually putting the product out there and selling it,” she says. “It’s a weird feeling, but it’s been good so far.”
Knippen is equally excited about Grace’s potential. “She found an untapped market, and I’m excited to see where it will go for her,” Knippen says. She had planned to support Grace by purchasing treats at the campus Indie Flea Market in December.
This isn’t Grace’s first pet-care enterprise. Back home, she managed a small pet-washing and pet-sitting business. But Pet Pops represents her first venture creating a product, one that fulfills a real need for pets on campus. With her dedication to pet health, guidance from her entrepreneurial course and the supportive feedback she’s received, Grace is proving that her vision has the potential to grow.
