From Safer Schools to Stronger Hospitals: How a Proof of Concept Grant Powered an Unexpected Success Story

The most successful innovations rarely end up where they started. They evolve, adapt, and find a purpose far greater than what their creators first imagined.

That was exactly the case for local entrepreneurs, Nikolas Ackerman and Adam Toland, whose journey began with a simple goal of making schools safer during threatening situations. With school safety becoming an increasing concern in the U.S., the pair believed that DoorBlockade, a patented device that secures interior doors in seconds, could help protect students, teachers, and staff. They spent time developing the idea into a product that could improve safety in schools across the country.

 

Getting Started

Nik had the vision from the beginning, but faced a common entrepreneurial challenge: a lack of resources to prove that the idea works and can turn a profit. That’s where his partner Adam came in, suggesting they apply for a Proof of Concept (PoC) grant from Startup South Bend – Elkhart.

Winning the grant helped turn their vision into reality. With the awarded $2,000, Nikolas and Adam created their first physical product, turning their idea into something tangible, and funded a two-day booth in Carmel, Indiana — covering travel, lodging, food, and brochures — to demonstrate their concept and make the case for why DoorBlockade is a necessity for everyday safety.

“I am pleasantly baffled how just going to that one show… might have been the big break.” — Nik Ackerman

The Pivot

Nik couldn’t express his gratitude enough, explaining that the grant opened several doors to new sales and engagements — including a large health system in central Indiana and a hospital in northeast Indiana.

What began as a school-safety solution soon revealed a much larger opportunity. DoorBlockade was designed to keep schools safer, but hospitals started showing an enormous amount of interest — healthcare organizations saw the same capabilities that made the technology valuable for schools, valuable for them too.

Instead of limiting the product to its original audience, Nik listened to the market. He spoke with healthcare professionals to understand how the technology could better serve their needs. Those conversations shaped the next phase of DoorBlockade’s growth, making hospitals their number one buyer.

Looking back, he recognizes that the grant did far more than provide financial assistance — it gave Nik and Adam the momentum and resources to turn their concept into something tangible. Most importantly, it gave them the chance to put their idea in front of a real audience and see how people responded. That experience made success feel possible, and showed them just how much can change once an idea moves from concept to something people can actually experience.

“To be an entrepreneur is tough. It’s real tough.”

Nik also has advice for other entrepreneurs. He insists on being confident in what you’ve created while also being honest and vulnerable. He believes people appreciate authenticity, and being open about the challenges, setbacks, and uncertainties of building a business helps create genuine connections. For Nik and Adam, being transparent about where they were in their journey, including acknowledging that they were not yet part of the healthcare system, ultimately helped open doors.

As Nik puts it, “just being transparent and clear” allowed them to be honest about where they were and what they needed, which helped get them into two hospitals. Whether speaking with investors, customers, or potential partners, they have found that honesty builds trust and often opens more doors than trying to appear as though everything is perfect.

Today, DoorBlockade is a clear example of what can happen when innovative ideas get support at the earliest stages — and of how much impact a small grant can have, not just on a single product, but on all the connections that grow from it. Nik and Adam’s story is proof that innovation rarely goes as planned: an idea built to protect students and staff during active-threat situations evolved into a device hospitals rely on for safety, too. That unexpected turn became the foundation of a growing business, and a reminder that the best innovations often outgrow the problem they were built to solve.

 

The Opportunity

If you have an innovative idea but need the resources to prove what’s possible, the Proof of Concept Grant could be the first step. Whether you need to build a prototype, test your idea, or validate your concept in the market, the fund is designed to help you move from a great idea to something real.

Learn more about the Proof of Concept Fund and other entrepreneurial resources available through Startup South Bend – Elkhart and take the first step toward turning your concept into reality:

Check out DoorBlockade’s website

Learn more about Startup South Bend – Elkhart 

 

This story was written by Keira Battista during her time as an intern on the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership marketing team.

From an Idea to 450 Pharmacies: How AURA Sports Cream Is Expanding to the U.S.

“Take the resources that are available to you, jump two feet in, and don’t be afraid to pivot.”

That’s the advice from Rory Staunton, an entrepreneur originally from Ireland, and co-founder of AURA Sports Cream. AURA Sports Cream is a natural pharmaceutical product for athletes and fitness enthusiasts that heals and relaxes muscles. Its main ingredients are chili pepper extract and aloe vera.

Rory and his brother Hugh came up with the idea while traveling in Austria, noticing the natural warming remedies used by mountain communities to keep moving through cold. After seeing a lack of natural muscle recovery products on the market in Ireland, they decided to create one themselves. They wanted to develop a product made with all-natural ingredients that people could trust.

As the company began to grow in their home country, the pair began to explore opportunities in the United States. While studying at the University of Notre Dame and participating in the Race to Revenue program, Rory took the opportunity to test whether AURA Sports Cream could succeed in the U.S. market.

But taking AURA Sports Cream beyond Ireland meant stepping into unfamiliar territory. Before taking the leap, Rory and Hugh needed to answer some big questions: Could the product be manufactured in America? And what challenges would come with expanding a young company on such a large scale? To help find answers to these questions, Rory applied for a Proof of Concept Fund (PoC Fund) award through Startup South Bend – Elkhart. The PoC Fund allowed AURA Sports Cream to explore U.S. manufacturing options and determine whether producing the product in the United States was realistic and manageable.

“The funding was instrumental,” Rory said. “It really de-risked our market entry.”

As Rory spent more time learning about the U.S. market, he realized it operated much differently than what he was used to in Ireland. Many pharmacies in his home country are independently or privately owned, so introducing a new product often means sitting down with the owner and explaining the details of why it’s worth selling. In the U.S., it isn’t that simple. Large chains like CVS and Walgreens make purchasing decisions at the corporate level, so it’s more challenging for a new brand to launch.

The PoC grant empowered Rory to identify this obstacle and adjust his strategy before making a decision. Now, the company has adapted. Rather than chasing retail shelves right away, AURA is focusing on selling directly to consumers online while building relationships that could eventually open the door to larger retail partnerships.

The PoC grant also opened to the door for Rory to focus on behind-the-scenes work. The additional funding helped cover testing with U.S. manufacturers, trademark protection, product samples, travel, and meetings with potential partners. Every step brought the company closer to answering their initial question: whether or not AURA could successfully be made and sold in the United States.

Based on the results in Ireland, the answer looks like a strong yes.

Just six months after launching in Ireland, AURA Sports Cream can now be found in around 450 pharmacies nationwide. For Rory, seeing the product on store shelves has been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.

“I’m most proud of actually having a physical product that we can stand behind,” he said. “Something you can hold, be proud of, and give to someone that’s commercially available.”

Now, they are in the final stages of securing U.S. manufacturing and completing the necessary steps to launch in America. While the goal is to have product ready by the end of 2026, Rory expects a full launch in early 2027. In addition to the U.S. expansion, his team is also developing a second product, AURA Ice, a natural cooling cream that will go along with the original warming formula.

Looking back, Rory says the Proof of Concept Fund gave AURA Sports Cream something every startup needs: the chance to test their idea before taking a major risk. Instead of guessing what might work, they were able to gather real feedback, make adjustments, and move forward.

If you have an innovative idea but aren’t sure what comes next, the Startup South Bend- Elkhart Proof of Concept Fund can help you take that first step. Whether you need to build a prototype, test your idea, or validate your concept in the market, the fund is designed to help you move from a great idea to something real. Like AURA Sports Cream and many others, your idea could become the next success story.

Learn more about the Proof of Concept Fund and other entrepreneurial resources available through Startup South Bend – Elkhart and take the first step toward turning your concept into reality:

Check out AURA Sports Cream’s website

Learn more about Startup South Bend – Elkhart     

This story was written by Keira Battista during her time as an intern on the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership marketing team.