Lost your lip balm again? For Gies Business undergraduate Pariyat Aggarwal, that small frustration led to a big idea: Omnipher, a credit-card-sized lip balm designed to help consumers keep track of the everyday necessity. This January, Omnipher earned a place on Poets&Quants’ Most Disruptive Business School Startups of 2024.

Now in its fourth year, Poets&Quants’ ranking highlights the most disruptive startups founded by undergraduates at top-ranked business schools. Each startup is selected for its potential to transform its industry and become a "game-changing" force in its market.

Aggarwal, a junior with a dual major in marketing and information systems and Omnipher’s co-founder, credits much of her success to the mentorship she received at Gies. One particular piece of advice from Elias Kourpas, clinical professor of business administration and academic director of the Strategy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship major, shaped Omnipher's development: "Sell the problem, not just the product."

“Elias Kourpas made a profound impact by teaching us that victory in business comes not from the product itself but from the relentless dedication of the team – the jockey, not the horse,” said Aggarwal.

Omnipher's success reflects the entrepreneurial ecosystem at Gies, where learners transform classroom concepts into real-world ventures. For Aggarwal, turning an idea into a nationally recognized startup has been a journey fueled by campus resources and support.

“Illinois has been pivotal to our venture’s growth, offering a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem with extensive resources,” said Aggarwal. “From ideation and mentorship to funding, the support on campus has been invaluable.”  That support helped shape early ideas into meaningful milestones.

“One of our proudest accomplishments so far was making our first sale at the campus Main Quad,” said Aggarwal. “For a startup looking to gain traction, converting sales felt monumental.”

Aggarwal joins a proud tradition of Gies entrepreneurs recognized by Poets&Quants, including Jonathan Politzki (2021), Dhanashree Mandhani (2022), and Shriya Srikanth (2023).

Like many past winners of a ranking in Poets&Quants, Aggarwal has big ambitions for the future.

“Our long-term goal is for Omnipher to become a common, everyday accessory,” said Aggarwal. “That’s why our tagline says, ‘Everyday essentials, always at hand.’”

Aggarwal co-founded Omnipher with Nick Militello, an undergraduate in engineering mechanics at The Grainger College of Engineering. To read more about the Most Disruptive Business School Startups of 2024, visit Poets&Quants. Learn more about Omnipher on its website.