Lavin Seed Fund and ZIP Launchpad Help SDSU Entrepreneurs Bring Ideas to Life
Money is the biggest hurdle encountered by many university-based entrepreneurs as they endeavor to launch their businesses.
However, budding entrepreneurs at SDSU have several funding options available to them through the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center, including the center’s donor-supported Seed Fund*. Eddy Benton and Kanna Ecklund are two of the beneficiaries of the Seed Fund*, which provides recipients up to $5,000 to cover start-up costs.
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A Party Game with Style
Benton, who is an academic advisor at SDSU’s Fowler College of Business as well as a Fowler MBA student, turned his passion for entrepreneurship and personal style into a “fashion-themed party game” called DressCode Social where players select cards featuring clothing and accessories to build outfits for each other. He said the inspiration for DressCode Social came from seeing people he worked with struggle with their personal style, including those needing help with their interview and career wardrobes.
After receiving $1,700 from the Seed Fund during the spring of 2025, Benton was able to manufacture his first 50 copies of the game. “The funding transformed my game from a prototype with cards held together with a rubber band into a tangible, professionally produced product,” he said. “We recently hosted a fashion show and game demo where nearly all 50 copies were sold out.”
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Green Floral Foam Gets Greener
Fowler alumna Ecklund (’24, business) began her entrepreneurial journey as a student in the Lavin Entrepreneurship Program. Shortly after completing the Lavin program, she started her company ASAICHI (pronounced Ah-sah-ee-chee), which markets eco-friendly foam used in floral arrangements. The company was named for, and inspired by, Ecklund’s grandfather — a florist — when she saw how traditional green floral foam adversely affected his health.
“Seeing my grandfather’s health issues firsthand changed everything for me and I realized that florists around the world were facing the same invisible risks every day,” said Ecklund. “Our product works like traditional floral foam that securely holds stems, retains water and supports arrangements, but without carcinogens or plastic waste.”
“Majoring in general business gave me a broad understanding of how companies operate in everything from finance to accounting to human resources. That big-picture view helped me understand what really matters in business and gave me the confidence to start my own.”
- Kanna Ecklund (’24, Business)
After receiving money from the Seed Fund, SDSU’s ZIP Launchpad offered experts to guide Ecklund through the marketing research, intellectual property and product refinement stages.
Ready, Set, Launch
Currently, ASAICHI’s floral base has nearly wrapped up its pilot program where five local florists are using the product and providing their feedback to Ecklund. She expects to make some final product tweaks before filing for a patent and initiating a small-batch product launch next year.
Meanwhile, DressCode Social has already had its initial product launch with Benton hosting a San Diego-based game demonstration and fashion show in September 2025.
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“I am deeply grateful for both the ZIP Launchpad and the Seed Fund,” said Benton. “It goes without question that I would encourage any aspiring entrepreneur at SDSU to take advantage of what the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center and ZIP Launchpad have to offer.”
*Currently, donations to the Seed Fund will be matched dollar-for-dollar until December 31, 2025.
