This year marks a new chapter for entrepreneurs as a company founded by Marist students continues to make waves in the world of fitness and wellness. Through innovation, teamwork, and persistence, OmniShake is striving to give active people a better way to fuel their daily lives. The first shipment of OmniShake bottles arrived at Marist just a few weeks ago and are now on sale online and in the book store.
It all started earlier this year, when Mr. Tim Mulcahy’s Idea class held its annual competition, where students got into teams and came up with plans for a new product. They then presented their business pitch to a group of judges who awarded the winner $10,000 to start up their company.
Omnishake won with a team that includes now seniors, Colin Vucko, Devin Feliciano, Sameer Tadros, Sean Carroll and Danny Kelly with their product being a metal water bottle that tries to fix the problems that other bottles have, like leaking and clumping in shakes.
The initial plan for OmniShake was to cater to their audience in the way they advertise and sell their products.
“Our first plan was to lean into e-commerce, social media, and influencer marketing since that is where athletes already spend their time. Instagram was our main focus because that’s what our audience uses the most,” said Feliciano.
In addition to marketing, the team also spent months refining the design of the bottle to make sure it could stand out in a crowded market. From improving insulation to ensuring the bottle could double as a shaker for supplements, the group prioritized feedback from athletes and gym-goers to shape their product into something both practical and appealing. This attention to detail has been key in helping them separate OmniShake from other options on the market.
Many past winners have failed to keep their companies alive. One of the main issues that they run into is not being able to maintain that collaborative effort that helped them get started.
However, OmniShake looks to change this trend.
“When the team won they were all juniors and they were awarded all this money, and they don’t have to worry about going in different directions for college,” said Mulcahy.
Mulcahy has served as a guide for the founders, being able to help them if they get stuck while still letting the company grow naturally and have students learn the process.
“I would have to say my favorite part is the independence of the whole process. Mr Mulcahy has been an amazing mentor,” says Feliciano. “We’ve had to build a lot of communication, presentation, and business skills in a trial-by-fire format and have grown through it all.”
As for the future, the OmniShake team has high hopes.
“By graduation I see us getting our second and much larger shipment of bottles. We will have multiple partnerships with gyms, schools, and online retailers. Our Instagram will have thousands of followers with plenty of ads and promotions. We will be making enough money to help with college tuition even while reinvesting in the business. Most importantly, by that point we will have helped hundreds of athletes and active people avoid the frustration of bad water bottles,” said Feliciano.
“I’m excited to see what these guys do. Whether this is their first success or their first attempt at entrepreneurship and they learn a lot from it, either way it’s a success,” said Mulcahy.
