Envision Greater Fond du Lac is excited to announce GRiTedu by Rewired Dynamics as the first place winner of the inaugural Ignite Rural Business Accelerator Program! $30,000 was awarded to GRiTedu, a new curriculum by Rewired Dynamics, at the final pitch event on November 6 – funds which will be used to scale and accelerate growth of GRiTedu.

The Ignite Rural Business Pitch event was a contest between the Ignite Rural 2025 cohort, a variety of 10 local entrepreneurs looking to scale their skills and businesses through Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s 5-week business accelerator program. The program was led by Raina Lyman, Senior Director of Economic Development, Envision Greater Fond du Lac and Zachary Beasom, Economic Development Coordinator, Envision Greater Fond du Lac. The program and prizes were funded by grants and investments from Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, ADVOCAP, and Envision Greater Fond du Lac.

First-place winner, Kurt Wismer, found great value in Ignite Rural’s 5-week Business Accelerator program, “As a teacher, it was humbling to be a student in the IGNITE Accelerator program. It was both educational and affirmational that GRiT is on the right path, but to also know that as entrepreneurs, we’re all learning through setbacks, obstacles, and opportunities. The difference is that we all keep showing up and doing the hard work with the vision and purpose that we believe in. It was an honor to learn alongside so many talented entrepreneurs in the cohort.”

GRiTedu is a groundbreaking Relational Intelligence Curriculum designed to tackle the growing human skills crisis in education. Developed by educator and entrepreneur Kurt Wismer and his team, GRiTedu empowers students with the essential soft skills of resilience, emotional regulation, leadership, and communication through neuroscience-based learning and a scalable train-the-trainer model. Validated by adoption in schools and universities, including North Fond du Lac and UW-Madison, the curriculum offers turnkey lesson plans and digital resources that promote healthier school cultures and real-world readiness. With a clear go-to-market strategy and ambitious revenue projections, GRiTedu is poised to transform education and scale to institutions nationwide, redefining how students grow into confident, connected leaders.

In response to the win Kurt stated, “I am incredibly humbled and grateful! I appreciate the value the judges and Envision Greater Fond du Lac have placed in GRiTedu and the students we serve.”

Kaitlyn E. Kenealy, MA, LPC, CEO of Into the Woods Wellness, took home the second place prize of $20,000 for ‘WOODIE: Wellness That Moves’, a mobile food truck initiative aimed at addressing urgent health concerns in local rural communities. WOODIE addresses the local crisis of rising obesity and chronic illness by meeting growing consumer demand for sustainable, healthy, fast-casual food. The food truck will offer organic, protein-rich meals, smoothies, and snacks, promoting wellness through accessible nutrition. The overarching goal is to transform nourishment into community impact – helping people eat well, feel well, work well, and live well.

Kaitlyn reflected on her experience, “Winning second place in the Ignite Rural Business Cohort feels both humbling and empowering. This journey has stretched me as a leader and reminded me that healing and entrepreneurship are deeply connected—both require courage, vision, and trust. The funds will help bring Woodie – Into the Woods on Wheels to life, expanding our mission to make wellness mobile and accessible across rural communities. I’m walking away inspired by the collaboration, mentorship, and sense of belonging that Envision Greater Fond du Lac has fostered.”

All participants of the 2025 Ignite Rural Cohort were recognized with a certificate from United States Representative Glenn Grothman. Raina proudly acknowledged the collective achievements of the entire cohort as well, “It was an honor to lead the last 5 weeks of the cohort. They all grew their understanding of their business and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The room’s competitive and collaborative spirit brought an unexpected value to the program.”

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or partner of this program please contact Raina Lyman, Senior Director of Economic Development, Envision Greater Fond du Lac at [email protected].

• 2025 Ignite Rural Cohort