Defying Norms: OEI Alum Builds SparkDefy

Defying Norms: Iowa State Student Builds SparkDefy from the Welding Floor Up

OEI Alum Boluwarin Ojo is creating flame-resistant wleding gear designed by someone who actualy does the work

November 19, 2025 — Women's Entrepreneurship Day

Boluwarin Ojo—"Bolu" to those who know her—didn't set out to become an entrepreneur. She was just trying to solve a problem that shouldn't exist: protective gear that actually protects everyone.

As a fourth-year Industrial Design student at Iowa State University and a working welder, Bolu experienced firsthand what happens when safety equipment isn't designed for people like her. When a co-worker casually mentioned he'd once set his hair on fire while welding, her reaction wasn't just shock—it was the spark that ignited SparkDefy.

From Problem to Solution

"I looked for a solution. I couldn't find one. So I made one," Bolu explains simply on the SparkDefy website.

That decision to create rather than complain has defined her entrepreneurial journey. Today, SparkDefy is developing innovative flame-resistant welding safety gear that prioritizes both protection and performance—designed by someone who understands the craft from the inside out.

The photos tell the story: Bolu at her sewing machine, carefully constructing each piece of protective equipment, combining her industrial design education with real-world welding experience. This isn't theoretical product development. This is lived experience translated into better gear.

An Extraordinary Year

Bolu's journey accelerated this year when she participated in the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute (OEI) program, hosted by the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation. The week-long intensive program connects Iowa's brightest entrepreneurial minds with mentors, business leaders, and resources to help turn their ideas into reality.

Since OEI, Bolu's achievements speak for themselves:

Won 1st place at the Global CEO Conference Pitch Competition in Tampa Bay, Florida—competing against 300 applicants nationwide, advancing through multiple rounds to the top 8, and taking home the grand prize

Placed 1st in the first round of ISU's Pappajohn Fall Startup Pitch Competition

Earned Honorable Mention ($500) in the finals

Attended the Midwest Women in Safety Conference, connecting with industry leaders in her target market

Pre-Launch and Building Momentum

SparkDefy is still in pre-launch phase, but Bolu isn't waiting around. She's doing the hard work—designing, sewing, testing, pitching, and refining. She's building a company that could serve welders across the country, all while studying full-time at Iowa State and continuing to work in the trade herself.

"I'm a trained industrial designer, but welding wasn't part of the plan," Bolu reflects. "I started part-time, just to get my hands dirty, to learn the craft." That hands-on experience became the foundation for SparkDefy's mission: creating protective gear that's bold, functional, and unapologetically designed for you—whoever you are.

The Real Work of Entrepreneurship

This is what entrepreneurship looks like in the Iowa Lakes Corridor region: identifying a real problem, building a real solution, and putting in the work to make it happen. It's about students like Bolu who refuse to accept "that's just how it is" and instead ask "why not make it better?"

The Corridor's entrepreneurship ecosystem—from OEI to pitch competitions to networks of supportive mentors—creates the environment where bold ideas can become thriving businesses. Bolu's story demonstrates the value of investing in young entrepreneurs who bring fresh perspectives to old industries.

What's Next

As SparkDefy moves toward launch, Bolu continues to refine her products, connect with the welding and safety community, and build the foundation for a company that could reshape how we think about protective gear. Her work represents more than just a new product line—it's about making workplaces safer and more inclusive for everyone who picks up a welding torch.

To learn more about SparkDefy and follow Bolu's journey, visit sparkdefygear.com.

The Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute is a collaboration between the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation and partner institutions including Iowa State University, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, Buena Vista University, Iowa Lakes Community College, and Dordt University. To learn more about OEI or the Corridor's entrepreneurship initiatives, contact the Iowa Lakes Corridor at 712-264-3474 or visit lakescorridor.com.