Three years ago, Matthew Rooda entered the barn at the large pig farm where he worked and discovered eight piglets crushed to death by their sow. This baffling behavior costs the pork industry over $6 billion annually. As a recent University of Iowa graduate, Rooda rejected it as an unavoidable loss. Instead, he invented a wearable device for sows that merges fitness tracker and shock collar technology, instantly alerting farm staff and the sow if a piglet is at risk.
Related: 5 Tips to Inspire an Innovative Mindset
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Rooda triumphed at the U.S. National Global Student Entrepreneur Awards in March, hosted by Entrepreneur Organization. He represented the U.S. at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards in Frankfurt, Germany, in April—ultimately won by Mexico's Julián Ríos Cantú.
His company, SwineTech, has generated over $1 million in sales and competition prizes. Now free from balancing CEO duties with full-time studies, Rooda is ramping up marketing efforts.
Drawing from his success with mentors and networks, Rooda advises aspiring entrepreneurs: "Don't be closed off. So many people want to help. Listen, build relationships, reach out to the right people, and let them guide you—you're far more likely to succeed."
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Related: Why Mentors Are Essential to Your Success
This article originally appeared in the August 2017 issue of SUCCESS magazine.
