The “Where are they now?” series looks at how Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute shaped the lives, entrepreneurial journeys and career paths of its alumni. Email your story.

Name and Title:

Katie VanMeter, Co-Owner / Marketing Director

University attended, degree and year of graduation:

University of Northern Iowa, B.A., Art Studio: Graphic Design, 2010

Year attended Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute:

2009

Company name:

Luna Lab Co.

Year Founded:

2017

Location:

Windsor, CO

Tell us about your company:

Luna Lab Co. is a full-service creative marketing studio that lives at the intersection of data and creativity to help businesses grow their brand and engage their audience. We offer a wide range of services, including web design, digital marketing (SEO, social media, email marketing), and graphic design.

Tell us about your entrepreneurial journey:

In a UNI dorm room, my then-friend (and future husband) Nick and I started crafting a business plan. We decided that we needed some real-world experience to build credibility and so we pressed pause. Fast forward nearly 10 years, two states, several jobs, and one marriage, we founded Luna Lab Co.

How are you applying what you learned or experienced at OEI to how you started and currently operate your business today?

Katie (far right) and some of her OEI 2009 classmates.

OEI helped give me a solid path on which to build my entrepreneurial dreams. It opened my eyes to the opportunities of entrepreneurialism. It provided real-life examples through mentorship; something I had previously had little exposure to. Most importantly, it gave me a sense of empowerment and confidence; that wanting to be my own boss wasn’t that crazy.

Do you have any mentors (in Okoboji or elsewhere) who have helped you along the way? How valuable have mentors been to your entrepreneurial career?

No man is an island. My husband and I could not have started our company without the full support of one another, as well as our family and friends. In addition, we have been fortunate to work with amazing folks that have helped us grow, as individuals and as a business.

What are your favorite OEI memories?

While the “classroom” portion of OEI was valuable, the social networking side was most memorable. I remember being awestruck by the stories of the entrepreneurs that joined us, and humbled by the fact that they were willing to share their time and experiences with college kids that were still in the dreaming phase.

How would you describe OEI to a student who has never heard of the program?

OEI is an intense and unforgettable experience. You will walk away empowered and energized to tackle the world as an entrepreneur.