Alumni Profiles
Ellie Jamison and Grace Collins - Alumni Profiles - People - Batten Institute
Ellie Jamison and Grace Collins
MBA '24
Co-founders, Play Henry
For Ellie Jamison (MBA ‘24) and Grace Collins (MBA ‘24), what began as a shared hobby has flourished into a career as entrepreneurs through Play Henry, a pickleball paddle company. The idea was born when Jamison and Collins met at Darden in 2022 and bonded over their love of the game. Fast forward to 2024, the pair won $5000 by taking first place in the UVA Entrepreneurship Cup Discovery Competition, which is being used to fund marketing and growth efforts.
The brand has become known for their unique styles, bold color palates, and social media friendly marketing campaigns, and they credit Darden with much of their network. As Jamison noted: “These types of connections will drive placements for aspiring venture capitalists in the industry and assure successful fundraising for founders seeking venture capital money. It is that critical.”
Play Henry has now released the signature "Hoo", a UVA branded paddle that can be found in Charlottesville retailers, as well as expanded to customized wedding and event paddles.
“Beyond the incredible curriculum at Darden– I’ve learned so much – I’m just amazed at the network here,” Jamison said, “and how everyone is incredibly generous and knowledgeable.”
They said they’ve received invaluable mentorship at Darden from entrepreneurship professors such as Jim Zuffoletti. “We rely on his expertise and experience constantly,” Collins said. “We consider ourselves lucky to be able to go to Jim with anything from questions about fundraising to sales questions.”