Batten Institute - Ventures Blog

Play Henry, founded by Grace Collins (Darden Class of 2024) and Ellie Jamison (Darden Class of 2024), is a lifestyle sporting brand that makes pickleball paddles and apparel for a new generation of classic competitors.

Q: What is the problem your venture is working to solve?

A: "We love playing pickleball, but when trying to find activewear designed for pickleball players, we found an empty market. Pickleball players deserve more than settling for brands designed for other sports. And thus, Play Henry was born."
 

Q: How did you become a venture/team?

A: "Ellie met Grace in August 2022 during our orientation week at Darden. We became fast friends and started playing pickleball together weekly. After a few months of playing pickleball, we noticed a gap in the market and started talking about this idea to start a pickleball brand. After initial customer discovery and many conversations with players, we decided to launch Play Henry in November 2022."


Q: What are your main objectives in the i.Lab Incubator this summer?

A: "Our main objectives in the i.Lab Incubator are to better our MVP, go to market with an initial product, and help other founders with their startup journeys."

Boozy Frozen Treats

Boozy Frozen Treats, founded by Hoi-San Guan (Darden Class of 2024), is the Tostitos of frozen cocktails, bringing the party wherever you go: top-shelf liquor & real fruit creations to bring people together.

Q: What is the problem your venture is working to solve?

A: "Boozy Frozen Treats (BFT) is working to solve the problem of limited availability of high-quality, hand-crafted cocktails in a convenient and accessible format. The venture recognizes that consumers, particularly young professionals, and individuals with active social lifestyles, desire a convenient and unique beverage option that allows them to enjoy premium cocktails with high-quality liquor and ingredients.

Traditional cocktail experiences often require going to bars or restaurants, hiring a bartender, or making cocktails at home, which can be time-consuming, expensive, or lack desired quality. BFT aims to address these pain points by offering frozen cocktails and sorbets in popsicle form, providing a convenient and portable solution that can be enjoyed on-the-go, at events, or during outdoor activities.

By combining the convenience of frozen cocktails with the taste and quality of high-end ingredients, BFT enables customers to enjoy a refreshing and indulgent drinking experience without the hassle or expense associated with traditional cocktail consumption. It offers a unique and customizable option for individuals who value convenience, taste and the social aspect of enjoying drinks with friends. Additionally, by providing a more affordable alternative to traditional cocktails served in bars or restaurants, BFT aims to make premium cocktails accessible to a wider audience."

Q: How did you become a venture/team?

A: "BFT was born out of a passion for cocktails, a recognition of market demand, and the innovation to create a convenient and enjoyable way for individuals to indulge in premium drinks. I started working on the this as a project last August as a part of the KPI Women Founders Club. As we progress and iterated through the year, hearing how other women founders who also started their business during Darden, gave me the confidence to move this forward and launch into a venture."


Q: What are your main objectives in the i.Lab Incubator this summer?

A: "The main objectives this summer are to establish a strong brand presence and generate traction in the market, through market validation, branding, marketing."