Entrepreneurship Testimonial
Journey of LLET-MI Nutrition
Left to right: Ben Martz, Jim Dovel, Sunny Mahavadi (uncle), Akshit Mudigonda, Anna Mahavadi (aunt)
Left to right: Jim Dovel, Emily Lemen, Akshit Mudigonda, Julia Snyder
Left to right: Millet almond cookies, Oats and millets cookies, Millet dark chocolate cookies
Over the past two years, I dreamed of starting a business that would have a futuristic appeal and help solve problems. After a lot of brainstorming and constantly thinking about what to do, I stumbled upon “Millet”. These miracle grains are a group of cereal seeds that promise immense health benefits. The question was how to bring these non-traditional grains to the American palate.
I added Entrepreneurship as my minor. My first class BADM 311 (Introduction to Entrepreneurship) was a much-needed start where I realized that there is actually a process that one must go through in order to put one’s plans into action. Although I did not pursue the millet thought yet, my goal was to get comfortable with the process of building a business plan.
After BADM 311 the next step was the BADM 370 (Entrepreneurial Finance). Now that I had a better understanding of the process, I started working on the millet project and I named it LLET-MI Nutrition (llet-mi is a reconfiguration of the word millet). I started thinking about this in a practical sense rather than as a “fictional class project”. This shift in mindset was important because it enhanced my focus on the project which only kept improving over time.
The most gifted aspect of this journey thus far and the bigger things that came later, was working under the supervision of Dr. Jim Dovel. Unlike traditional teaching, Dr. Dovel brought real-world business contexts into teaching which added to my excitement and made me never want to miss a class. He insisted that everyone in class take part in the West Virginia Business Plan Competition. This unique opportunity presented to us showed the potential to convert the business plan into a reality. I immediately thought I must grab this opportunity and so I did.
The competition was divided into three rounds. In round one we had to submit a short video explaining the idea. I created a 90-second video that briefly explained what millets are, their health benefits, and my plan to introduce these ancient grains in the USA. I got picked for round two which amplified my motivation and seriousness toward this idea.
It was the beginning of the spring 2022 semester and the round two submissions were due in weeks. This round was a submission of a business model canvas. It took me close to nine drafts, a lot of back and forth, and several sleepless nights to get selected for the finals of the competition. At this point, I was in the last step of my entrepreneurship course BADM 411 (New Venture Creation). Although I was nervous and overwhelmed by what was ahead, I challenged myself every day and quickly built up my work ethic.
Dr. Dovel designated half of the students in the 411 class to work on this, as part of their class. They all worked effortlessly by providing ideas and suggestions. The College of Business faculty understood my passion and encouraged me to pursue my interests. My teammates, Emily and Julia, went above and beyond to bring our plan into perspective. Dr. Dovel and Prof. Goolsby were equally passionate about helping me pursue my goal. They prioritized their commitment to helping me with this project. There were times when they responded to my midnight emails almost instantly.
In the end, we finished the competition as finalists with a prize money of $2500. This phase of my life really helped me evolve as a person and an entrepreneur. The networking opportunities were endless. I got connected with valuable resources like SBDC, Small Business Development Center, 3steps2startup, and RCBI, the Robert C. Byrd Institute at Marshall University. Today, under the mentorship of Dr. Jim Dovel and Prof. Carol Goolsby, we are developing a launching pad for Llet-Mi Nutrition. Over the summer we created a website, and after several trials, we developed a variety of cookies that we are testing now.
On 9/14/22 we conducted our first tasting event with a variety of millet cookies. A randomly selected group of roughly sixty members, a combination of students and faculty, attended the event. The majority enjoyed our products and provided their feedback in the form of a survey questionnaire. Their feedback is now being analyzed and our team will process this to improve and finalize the products.
Llet-Mi nutrition is closely working with Shepherd University’s College of Business, the SBDC, and 3steps2startup, who are all providing guidance and creating a path to launch.
My confidence is growing every day and with the love and support of my near and dear ones, I look forward to carrying this energy and motivation in the years to come and seeing Llet-Mi Nutrition grow to greater heights.
Akshit Mudigonda ’22
Business Administration/Entrepreneurship