This semester, the Dingman Center will be conducting interviews with the 11 student startups participating in our in-person New Ventures Practicum!
Founder: Marcia Manzengele ’25, Biology
DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?
Manzengele: Skylis is a startup that hopes to offer sustainable and reliable smart growing systems as an alternative to current farming methods on Earth, and in the not-too-distant future the goal is to offer those same capabilities to astronauts on the space station and one day on the surface of the moon.
DC: What or who is your biggest influence on your startup?
Manzengele: My biggest influence on the startup is finding sustainable solutions to combat climate change. Another influence would be space exploration, which includes designing regenerative and sustainable systems for future space programs.
DC: How did you come up with the name of your venture?
Manzengele: Skylis was an attempt to merge Sky and Polaris. I wanted to create a company that could be a north star when solving pressing issues using sustainable innovation.
DC: What’s the most important thing you are working on right now and how are you making it happen?
Manzengele: I am currently designing concepts for our future product by collaborating with a firm.
DC: As a student business owner, what motivates you?
Manzengele: Solving problems and helping people are my biggest motivators as a business owner.
DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Manzengele: To be passionate about their company idea and have a north star!
Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship 