NORTHERN TODAY 8 WINTER 2024 News | NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY It’s really cool to come out of school and right after graduation be able to do a passion project full time. “ ” INCE graduating from Northern State University in May 2023, Grace Kramer has been working full time to turn her business idea into reality. It all started with her Honors Program thesis, when Kramer researched the genetic component of urinary tract infections. There is a high prevalence of UTIs in women, she said, but because people don’t want to talk about it, there is nothing preventative on the market. “I never planned on running a company,” she said. “My original plan was going to medical school.” But then she came up with the idea for her product and realized it was viable— and something that can be manufactured in South Dakota. Her solution, called eqUTI, is an over-the-counter patch that sticks onto the urethra to stop bacteria from entering during intercourse. “It’s really cool to come out of school and right after graduation be able to do a passion project full time,” Kramer said. For now, Kramer is keeping quiet about her business and getting all the legal protections in place. Kramer secured financial backing to pay for the trademark, and it’s been sent to the trademark filing office. She’s still working on getting a patent. “That’s been exciting— the intellectual property protection,” Kramer said. “Although, right now, I can’t really have a social media presence or website.” Once Kramer gets the patent filed, she plans to start the information campaign and investigate manufacturers. “Eventually, I want to work with a manufacturer in South Dakota, like 3M, but I haven’t been making any deals yet,” Kramer said. “Ideally, I’d love the business to be in Aberdeen, but I know the materials I use are already manufactured in Brookings.” That’s still a year out, as she waits for the legal protection to be in place, she said. In the meantime, Kramer plans to conduct experiments and work at her part time job. “It’s mostly waiting for lawyers right now,” Kramer said, “so I can’t do a ton of hands-on work.” Kramer has received amazing support from the community, both on and off campus, she said. “I don’t think in a bigger city you would get this kind of support, especially as a young person who doesn’t have a business background,” she said. “If I lived in a big tech city like Silicon Valley or Seattle, my idea probably would have been gone.” Dr. Sal Villegas, assistant professor of management, is on her board of directors, as is Mike Bockorny, CEO of Aberdeen Development Corp. “Aberdeen Development Corp. has been super helpful,” Kramer said. The Aberdeen Development Corp team has taken on a supportive role, helping Kramer set up meetings and advising her on the best plan of action. Bockorny has been walking Kramer through the process of getting the business setup, she said. Currently, Kramer isn’t looking for additional funding. She has good backing right now and received investor funding from Hub City Capital LLC. But, once she starts trials and applies for FDA approval, she’ll be open to new funding. No matter what, Kramer intends to keep the business in South Dakota. She wants to expand the number of science careers available in the state beyond agriculture, like jobs in biotech and microbiology, in order to keep more science students in South Dakota. While she waits on the patent, Kramer is considering competing in the business section of the South Dakota Governor’s Giant Vision Competition. Kramer won second place in the 2023 student competition. Kramer said the stakes would be a little higher this year, and it’s a chance to get feedback on her business. Future ideas are already percolating, but Kramer isn’t ready to talk about them just yet. The new ideas are in the same sphere as eqUTI: FemTech. Kramer is passionate about women’s health issues. “I really want to make women feel heard,” she said. For other young women in the sciences, Kramer’s advice is to be brave. “Don’t be shy to talk about your big idea. Your professors at Northern really want to help you and they’ll make sure you have everything you need to get your idea going. I had help from all the departments on campus. Reach out for help,” Kramer said. And if students need additional incentive to get started, Kramer recommends Northern’s annual Idea Pitch competition. “That’s where I got started,” Kramer said. Recent alum turning passion project into business S
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