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Oklahoma State University

Representing the U.S. on the global stage

Oklahoma State University School of Entrepreneurship graduate students Quinn Vandenberg and Jonathon Button represented the United States in November at Global Entrepreneurship Week in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their company, Life Out of the Box, was one of only two U.S. startups at the competition.

Life Out of the Box brings together artisans with their local crafts, global consumers seeking handcrafted goods and children needing free school supplies. Launched in November 2012, its products are currently made in Nicaragua, Guatemala and Morocco.

Each crafted item is made by local artisans and electronically tagged so that a human value chain can be associated with it. Consumers are able to view online video clips that show a child in a developing country who receives free, locally sourced school supplies, paid for by a percentage of the item’s purchase price. In many nations, school supplies are not free.

“Traveling to Denmark to compete in the Creative Business Cup was a huge opportunity for Life Out of the Box, as we were able to connect with potential investors from around the world who have the same vision to stimulate economic wealth in various countries around the world,” Vandenberg says.

“Being a part of an international network of business people, entrepreneurs and government officials opened up several new doors of opportunity that we weren’t even aware of yet, but we are open and eager to pursue everything that comes our way.”

Quinn Vandenberg and Jonathon Button

Vandenberg and Button are both graduate students in OSU’s School of Entrepreneurship. Vandenberg is pursuing her master’s degree in entrepreneurship, and Button is working on his doctorate.

Vandenberg and Button entered the 2015 USA Creative Business Cup competition and were chosen to represent Oklahoma in the national competition. They won second place there, earning the opportunity to be one of two companies to represent the United States in Denmark.

Life Out of the Box competed with other contestants from around the world for a series of Innovation Challenge awards at Global Entrepreneurship Week, had the opportunity to learn at the world finals in Copenhagen and met with potential interested investors and advisors.

“Attending Global Entrepreneurship Week was a fantastic opportunity for Quinn and Jonathon,” says Bruce Barringer, head of the OSU School of Entrepreneurship. “It not only brings positive attention to their business, but allowed them to network with some of the most influential supporters of entrepreneurship in the world. When people meet Quinn and Jonathon and see the passion they have for Life Out of the Box and learn about the lives that Life Out of the Box is positively affecting, only good things happen.”

The Creative Business Cup is an international program that encourages entrepreneurs from various creative industries to expand their business ideas and gives them opportunities to connect with investors. The CBC helps start-up businesses by focusing on some core components including visibility, creating value for stakeholders and partners, internationalization and investor attractiveness.