After a grueling 13-hour drive and a setback at another pitch competition, Juleysi Rosario and her sisters refused to let disappointment define them. The KANU Signal Cup became their chance to start fresh — to rally, strategize and pitch their student-led startup, BladeOne, to a room full of investors, entrepreneurs and peers.

For the senior studying business administration with a concentration in finance, Rosario embraced the opportunity fully, leveraging the competition as a launchpad for BladeOne and a stepping stone towards the impact she hopes to create. 

Early Entrepreneurial Experiments

Long before Rosario stepped into pitch competitions or entrepreneurship classrooms, she was already experimenting with what it meant to build, sell and take ownership of her ideas. Around eight years old, she started creating and selling handmade bracelets, cards and small goods. She was driven by an early interest in how products are created, valued and brought to the market. As that curiosity matured, it evolved into sourcing products from overseas suppliers in China and selling them through platforms like eBay and Amazon, eventually leading her into dropshipping. 

That early experimentation laid the groundwork for how Rosario approaches entrepreneurship today. Rather than following a traditional career trajectory, she took great pride in shaping her own path — building projects that challenged her, taught her resilience and allowed her to generate tangible impact.

“Office roles are valuable, but I’ve always been driven to build something of my own — something that creates meaningful job opportunities and delivers real impact to the community.” 

The Birth of BladeOne

At the heart of Rosario’s entrepreneurial journey lies BladeOne, a tech-enabled lawn care app designed to modernize the lawn care industry. The app connects homeowners with trusted local providers while giving students and small-business owners a chance to build business skills, make an impact and take ownership of meaningful work. Beyond providing a service, BladeOne represents Rosario’s broader vision: to transform a fragmented industry, set higher standards for trust and convenience and make a tangible impact for communities and entrepreneurs alike. 

Looking ahead, Rosario hopes BladeOne will grow into a model for how technology can reshape traditional systems, offering innovative solutions while empowering communities and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs.  

Entrepreneurship Courses as a Launchpad

Rosario credits NC State’s entrepreneurship courses with preparing her for the realities of early-stage venture development. Classes like MIE 201 and MIE 330 aided her in learning how to test and define a business idea, engage with potential customers and analyze the broader market landscape.

Rosario developed an understanding of how to gather insights through targeted interviews, test her assumptions and leverage research trends to industry trends and market size. The structure of these courses helped her clarify the problem BladeOne was addressing, refine the concept and make intentional decisions with greater confidence before moving into execution and generating revenue. 

Finding Momentum After a Loss

That foundation became especially valuable once Rosario moved beyond coursework into high-stakes, real-world environments. After traveling 13 hours to compete in the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization pitch competition, where BladeOne had advanced to the top 100 out of 600 ventures, Rosario and her sisters learned that they would not move forward to the next round. While disappointing, the experience sharpened their resolve rather than weakening it.

Instead of letting these setbacks define their momentum, the founders of BladeOne searched for another opportunity to propel their venture forward. That search led them to the KANU Signal Cup, a multi-day traction challenge designed to push student founders to launch ideas in real time. Over the course of the competition, participants shared their ventures publicly, gathered feedback and earned validation through continuous engagement.

For Rosario and her sisters, gaining traction meant stepping far beyond prepared pitches. To earn support in a highly competitive environment, it was critical that they engage proactively with investors, alumni and peers — introducing BladeOne’s mission in nearly every interaction, articulating its value clearly and responding to questions and skepticism as they arose.

First-Place Victory and a Boost for Student Entrepreneurs

Rosario and her sisters leveraged their strategic engagement and hard work to earn first-place in the KANU Signal Cup with BladeOne. The win secured $60,000 in KANU premium access for one-year, divided equally between NC State University and UNC Pembroke’s College of Business and Economics. This premium access strengthens the student entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing mentorship, resources and infrastructure that help early-stage ventures gain traction, develop skills and make a tangible impact in their communities. 

Reflections and Advice from a Champion

In reflecting on this first-place win, Rosario emphasizes that it represents far more than a personal or team accomplishment. For her, it validates the work she and her sisters have done to strengthen and uplift the entrepreneurial ecosystem for their community. As Rosario said, “Ultimately, it reinforces our commitment to building a brighter, more accessible future for the next generation of student entrepreneurs.”

For students thinking about entering a competition like the KANU Signal Cup, Rosario encourages embracing every challenge as a learning opportunity. She stresses persistence in the face of rejection, staying true to a guiding principle and cultivating discipline. “It’s this mindset,” she said, “that turns competitions into meaningful stepping stones rather than isolated wins.” 

“Identify a guiding principle or ‘north star’ for your venture and stay true to it — genuine passion is something that comes from within, not something that can be taught.”

Building the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

Following their win at the signal cup, Rosario and her sisters are preparing to host a one-evening event at NC State designed to inspire and support student entrepreneurs. Attendees will have the chance to hear from experienced founders, engage in Q&A sessions and pitch their own ideas. This event is designed to guide emerging founders as they take the next steps in their own entrepreneurial journeys. More details to be announced at a later date.