The INCubatoredu Experience: How CleatGuard Turned a Student Idea Into a Patented Product
How INCubatoredu Supports Real Student Entrepreneurship
INCubatoredu gives students the opportunity to experience entrepreneurship through real-world business creation, product development, and collaborative problem solving. In this student success story, Laura Manna and Cat Menna share how their team developed CleatGuard, a product designed to solve a common problem faced by athletes using cleats and track spikes.
As students pursuing interests in marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship, they used the INCubatoredu program to move beyond traditional classroom learning and build an actual startup. Their experience highlights how hands-on education can help students develop practical business skills while turning ideas into tangible products.
How the CleatGuard Idea Was Created
The CleatGuard concept originated through customer discovery and problem interviews, a core component of the INCubatoredu process. After hearing athletes discuss the inconvenience of carrying track spikes and cleats, the team identified an opportunity to create a practical solution.
Instead of pursuing a technology app or software platform, the students chose to build a physical product. This decision challenged them to navigate manufacturing, testing, and product design while learning how real startups evolve through experimentation and feedback.
Learning Product Development Through Hands-On Experience
One of the most valuable aspects of the INCubatoredu experience was the ability to create and test a functioning prototype. Although the first versions of CleatGuard were rough, the students discovered that creativity and persistence could overcome limited resources.
The experience taught them that entrepreneurship is not only about ideas, but also about execution. By building a product from the ground up, the team gained firsthand exposure to innovation, iteration, and problem solving in a way traditional classroom instruction rarely provides.
Pitching, Funding, and Building Confidence
In addition to product development, the CleatGuard team focused heavily on presentation and pitching skills. Preparing for their final pitch required extensive work, reinforcing the importance of communication and storytelling in entrepreneurship.
Receiving funding became a major milestone for the team and validated the effort they invested throughout the program. Their experience demonstrated how INCubatoredu helps students build confidence while preparing them for future academic and professional opportunities.
Exploring Patents and the Startup Process
As CleatGuard evolved, the students began exploring intellectual property and the patent process. Their work toward securing a patent added another layer of real-world business education that extended beyond standard classroom concepts.
This exposure helped the students better understand how startups protect innovation and navigate long-term product development. Through INCubatoredu, they experienced entrepreneurship not as a theory, but as an active process with real challenges and outcomes.
Why Experiential Learning Changes Education
Throughout the interview, both students emphasized the difference between traditional lectures and experiential learning. They described INCubatoredu as a transformative educational experience because it allowed students to actively apply concepts instead of simply learning through presentations or textbooks.
Programs like INCubatoredu help students develop collaboration, communication, creativity, and resilience. These skills are increasingly valuable for students preparing for careers in business, innovation, and leadership.
The Lasting Impact of the INCubatoredu Experience
The CleatGuard story demonstrates how INCubatoredu empowers students to think creatively, solve real problems, and pursue entrepreneurship with confidence. By combining hands-on learning with mentorship and practical business experience, the program creates meaningful opportunities for student growth.
For schools and educators seeking innovative approaches to education, INCubatoredu represents a model that connects classroom learning with real-world impact.