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September 5×5 Night on the Road in Spanish! Hosted at LAUP in Holland- All entries and presentations must be in Spanish.
Voting Closes:

September 22, 2025 11:59 pm

About this idea
In 2020, I started college at Michigan State University. It should have been a fresh beginning, but on my very first day, I received a call that my dad had passed away from cancer. I was devastated. The grief, isolation, and sudden shift into adulthood triggered a severe panic disorder. For years, I lived in fear of my own mind. Panic attacks would come at random and consume me, leaving me unable to breathe, think, or function. I tried medication, but the side effects felt like trading one problem for another. I felt lost and disconnected from the world and others as a whole. “In Its Tracks” is an all-natural, sour hard candy infused with calming adaptogens including Holy Basil and L-theanine, designed to physically and chemically interrupt panic attacks and reduce anxiety symptoms on the spot. There is Vitamin D as well to replace the body with an often depleted vitamin within those diagnosed with anxiety disorders. Unlike supplements in pill form or medicalized anxiety treatments, it’s something you can carry in your bag, take in public, and feel proud, not ashamed to use.
Impact
Today’s solutions for anxiety are either overly medicalized, not immediate enough, or inaccessible. Many Gen Z and millennials (our target market) are seeking alternatives to prescription medications, but current options are limited. Chews, tinctures, and gummies may take 30+ minutes to work. Pills require ongoing regimens. And some solutions still carry stigma. We’re addressing the gap between the problem and the moment. It is that split second when panic begins where people need something immediate, grounding, and portable. Our product bridges that gap. Re-Route is not just a business but a movement to stop feeling shameful for our mental health journey, and to start feeling empowered in taking control back into our lives.
What I'll do with $5,000
If awarded $5,000, I would allocate the funds directly toward research and development (R&D) fees with my large-scale manufacturing partner. This R&D phase is critical to scaling Re-Route Wellness, as it allows us to finalize the formula and production process for our hero product: In Its Tracks, a sour hard candy designed to naturally interrupt panic attacks using fast-acting sensory input and functional ingredients. The R&D fee covers formulation refinement, flavor testing, ingredient sourcing, and small-batch sampling to ensure consistency, efficacy, and scalability. It also allows the manufacturer to conduct quality assurance and shelf stability testing, which are required before entering mass production or retail distribution. Without this phase, we cannot meet safety standards, confirm production efficiency, or move forward with regulatory compliance for scaling. This $5,000 investment would move us from a small handmade pilot to a fully scalable, retail-ready product, opening the door to wholesale partnerships, online sales growth, and national expansion.
Quick Bio
MSU Graduate wanting to help others who also experience panic and anxiety attacks
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