Not only does Grove City College have an Entrepreneurship major and department, but there is also a Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Entrepreneurship students are so blessed to have this Center because it connects us with great people and opportunities. One of my favorite activities sponsored by the Center is the Richard G. Staley ’62 Visionary Speakers Series. Each year, the college brings in some incredible people to share with students their wisdom and experience. This November, we got to hear from Jake Loosararian, a fellow GCC alumnus.
Jake’s Story
Jake graduated from Grove City College in 2013 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. While at the Grove, Jake along with some friends participated in VentureLab, a program funded by the Center. VentureLab provides seed grants and coaching to help launch new businesses. Ultimately, Jake and his friends post-grad co-founded Gecko Robotics, Inc. His company uses robots to scale walls and inspect power plants. Gecko’s products save money, time, and human lives.
Shortly after Gecko launched, they were accepted to Y Combinator, one of the most respected tech business incubators in the county. Jake and his team were paired up with mentors, and were named the #1 Top Startup from Y Combinator’s Winter ’16 Demo Day. His company is fast growing, and currently innovating a space that not only has a monetary impact, but also changing the landscape of safety.
Major Takeaways
I found Jake’s talk to be insightful and inspiring. It is inspiring to see someone not too many years ahead of you succeeding and following their passions and dreams. Jake spoke about courage, and his story truly is courageous. I loved hearing how his time at Grove City prepared him for this crazy adventure.
Overall, I was encouraged by Jake’s talk. I’m thankful that my school sees the value in giving students the opportunity to learn from those a few steps ahead and pass on their wisdom.
Gecko is saving lives and making an impact
