From Spark to New Venture
From Spark to New Venture is a student-driven podcast from the University of Mary Washington (UMW), where undergraduates share the stories of entrepreneurs and their journeys from idea to venture. Each episode uncovers the sparks of inspiration, the challenges they faced, and the mindsets that helped them overcome obstacles in their journey. The goal of this podcast is to inspire students to learn entrepreneurial mindsets and bring them into everyday lives, taking action and learning from every step along the way.
Podcasting since 2025 • 46 episodes
From Spark to New Venture
Latest Episodes
Maria Billmyer- From Solo Cleaner to Selfmade Business Owner
This episode tells the story of a self-employed home-cleaning business owner whotransformed a simple idea into a sustainable venture through determination, adaptability, and hard work. Starting with limited resources, she shares what motiva...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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12:41
Ben Mala: Turning Knowledge, Risk, and Resilience Into Lasting Success
This episode tells the story of Ben Mala and how he went from craving financial freedom to becoming a successful real estate entrepreneur. It walks through what motivated him to start, how he learned the business, and how he built money and con...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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10:17
Mr Juma the construction Entrepreneur
This narrative outlines the entrepreneurial journey of a Zimbabwean visionary who turned a personal obstacle into a thriving concrete brick manufacturing business. Motivated by the high cost and scarcity of building materials while constructing...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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10:17
Echo Chocolate: From Childhood Passion to Award Winning Chocolatier
We had the pleasure of interviewing UMW’s softball pitching coach, Coach Echo, as she gave us a deep dive into her chocolate business. Echo has always had a love for chocolate, and turned her passion into profit, with Echo Chocolate opening in ...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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19:11