Four Knox baseball players brought their camaraderie off the field and into the business world, participating in Knox College's StartUp Term this spring.

Knox baseball players Aidan McMurtrie '27, Hayden Derlein '28, Leo Dircks '27, and Clark Heeren '27 designed SEIZN, a one-stop scheduling app geared toward student-athletes, athletic administrators, coaches, and trainers as their StartUp Term project, blending their knowledge of web design, business, graphics, and their experience as student-athletes.

"I think it helped having teammates you already knew. We had a solid bond, could push each other, communicate, and work together," Dircks, a mathematics and business double major, said. "We did not have to start from scratch and figure each other out. Playing together allowed us to be on the same page and a little ahead at the beginning. We knew how to work together and get everything done."

The baseball players were one of five teams, each composed of four Knox College students. StartUp Term is designed to show what it is like to build a business from scratch during Knox's 10-week spring term. As part of the immersive learning program, the teams present their new product or project to a panel of judges, including Knox alumni and local entrepreneurs. The experience gives students practical knowledge in every part of the entrepreneurial process, from developing a business plan to pitching their product to potential investors. Over 10 weeks, teams transformed original business concepts into real products and services. 

"I've learned a ton. I learned about the business side, but also a lot outside my major," said Heeren, a business and economics double major. "You always look for opportunities and things to implement to appeal to your market. You're always trying to understand that market."

The term was overseen by Knox Associate Professor of Computer Science Jaime Spacco, Lecturer in Business and Management Nancy DeWitt, and Associate Professor of Art Tim Stedman '09.

The 10-week journey culminated with the teams presenting their products in a "Shark Tank" style atmosphere, pitching their business ideas to a panel of faculty and successful entrepreneurs.

Like a team where different players bring different skills to the table, the SEIZN crew blended their strengths. They created a product with appealing design features and practical, user-friendly functionality.

"We have such a good group of skillsets that we were able to mesh together really well. We could work as a team, but also split up and do our own thing," Heeren, a business and economics double major, said. "Everybody was getting and giving feedback to each other. That helped us out a lot."

With three juniors and a sophomore on the team, the SEIZN group plans to continue developing their app. They may build a marketplace while pursuing their Knox degrees and playing for the Prairie Fire. 

"We're looking to keep making progress throughout the summer—while ensuring we enjoy some time off," said McMurtrie, a computer science major and studio art minor. "We want to keep improving the app and put in consistent work. Our plan is to reach out to potential investors and customers, send information, and secure our first customer acquisition. The goal: get the snowball rolling and keep building momentum."