New ‘Cobbertunity Fund’ helping Concordia entrepreneurs get business ideas rolling – InForum

MOORHEAD — A new grant is helping young entrepreneurs in our area make their ideas a reality.

Starting next school year, Concordia College students can apply for a grant, up to an estimated $3,000, to start or grow a business.

Concordia Senior Frederick Robin started his business, Studio FSR, in 2016 when he was a high schooler.

It began in selling bars of soap for people with sensitive skin, like his family, but has since grown to much more.

“Today we really focus on candles, especially, anything with scent really, but candles are our focus. And then we have toiletries like shower gel and lotion, and then perfumes as well, and we’re going to be working on some room sprays and wax melts, a bunch of other things,” Robin said.

Throughout his time at Concordia, managing inventory and homework, Robin kept growing the business, with products now being sold at 120 retailers across the country, including local boutiques. He also sells his products through his online storefront, studiofsr.com.

Although he graduates next weekend, the new Cobbertunity fund would have allowed him to grow even faster.

“Probably I would have spent it on marketing, or more research, or you know we’ve remained debt-free this whole time, and so sometime just having capital to buy a ton of boxes at a really low unit price is what we need,” Robin said.

The fund was created by a $75,000 investment from the Student Government Association’s SPIF Fund.

“Which will actually be managed by a student organization called the Scheel Investment Fund, and so they have a fixed income portfolio now, and that appreciation will then be granted to student entrepreneurs across campus,” said Kevin Ness, the student president of the entrepreneurship club at Concordia.

It’s estimated that the fund will be able to give up to $3,000 per year in total, based on how much the portfolio brings in, to students who successfully apply online with a business plan.

The hope is that the boost will be the catalyst that kickstarts the next big success in our area.

“Major enterprises in the region all started from humble beginnings. So, you don’t know where or when this regions next Great Plains Software will come from,” Ness said.

Interested students can find more information or apply at www.concordiacollege.edu/academics/programs-of-study/offutt-school-of-business/cobbertunity/