Allen County
Founder Profile
Eric
Fabian
Business
GrandQvist: Fueling Healthy Journeys
Founded
September 2022
Idea
Crafting plant-based energy and protein snacks for athletes and health-conscious consumers.
Empowering Active Lifestyles, One Bite at a Time
Eric Fabian Granqvist, a Swedish native and former Indiana Tech student, embarked on his entrepreneurial journey with GrandQvist, a venture rooted in his passion for health and fitness. Drawing from his background in exercise science and fueled by his competitive hockey career, Eric identified the need for nutritious snacks to support active lifestyles. GrandQvist emerged as a response to this need, offering plant-based energy and protein products crafted from whole-food ingredients.
Eric’s dedication to health and wellness is evident in GrandQvist’s product lineup, which includes baked protein muffins and no-bake energy balls. By substituting processed ingredients with wholesome alternatives like dates and date syrup, Eric ensures that his snacks deliver superior nutritional value and promote overall physical health and performance.
Since its inception, GrandQvist has made significant strides in gaining traction and expanding its reach. Eric secured a $2000 prize from the Indiana Tech Innovation Challenge, kickstarting his startup journey. A strategic partnership with Smile More Meal Prep provided invaluable support, granting access to a commercial kitchen space and mentorship opportunities. Notable customers, including the Indiana Tech Hockey team and Parkhurst Dining, have embraced GrandQvist’s products, laying the foundation for future growth.
Looking ahead, Eric envisions GrandQvist becoming a staple in the athletic community, with distribution extending to retail stores, college campuses, and gyms nationwide. With plans to participate in the Fort Wayne Farmer’s Market and leverage social media for marketing, Eric is poised to propel GrandQvist to new heights.
To support his local investment and expand GrandQvist’s presence, Eric plans to utilize the $1,000 grant for Farmer’s Market fees, logo design, and production costs. Additionally, he relies on mentorship from industry experts like Terel Lynn and strategic guidance from advisors like Steve Franks to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape and achieve his vision for GrandQvist’s success.”
Business Updates
Founders Spark wins national skysthelimit competition
Founders Spark is all about building and strengthening connections in the entrepreneurial community, and it was a personal connection that convinced the Fort Wayne company’s young owner to enter a new nationwide business plan competition he recently won.
Local entrepreneur wins $2,000 grant
A Fort Wayne man recently won a national award for entrepreneurship for his business Founders Spark.
Skysthelimit.org awarded Aaron Robles a $2,000 Friends and Family grant, which provides a chance for individual donors to vote for people and projects they believe in, according to a news release from the organization.
Robles holds events for local entrepreneurs in the startup community to provide them the tools they need to succeed. He said in the release that the grant will help cover costs of the events and make them accessible to more people.
Fort Wayne Magazine People of the Year
The last cover of 2019 for Fort Wayne Magazine features People of the Year. Ten people have been selected to represent the People of the Year.
Fort Wayne Magazine says these people are only givers, meaning they only give time, ideas, and experience. They give their 110%.
Fort Wayne Power Circle celebrates diversity, inclusion
Demographic representation improved locally with the election of three African Americans, including two women, to the Fort Wayne City Council. But, participants in panel discussion at a Founders Spark Power Circle celebration said the city remains far from approaching what it could achieve by improving inclusiveness.
