Talia Broder ’28 speaks during the New York City Capstone pitch presentations at the end of July.
By Talia Broder ’28
During finals week of my sophomore year in high school, I woke up at 4 a.m. each morning to partake in a Wharton Global Youth Program called the “Future of Business.” During this time, I faced immense mental fatigue from the insufficient quantity and quality of sleep I was getting, reviving memories of the insomnia I battled as a child. When struggling with insomnia, I had leveraged holistic remedies—such as aroma therapy—that my mom had provided me with to eventually overcome the issue.
For our final project in the Wharton Summer Business Program, we were tasked with developing a solution to an everyday struggle, prompting the creation of the Vitalize Alarm—an aromatherapy-based sleep system. The device has two parts: one part helps promote relaxation at night and the other works to facilitate a gradual awakening with stimulating aromas, pleasant sounds, and light.
So, what began as a high school endeavor is now a production-ready product. Over the course of the 2024–25 academic year, I partook in the Thought Into Action (TIA) Incubator program to expedite my progress. I attended the monthly meetings, competed in regional competitions, and even had the opportunity to pitch in the 13th annual Entrepreneurship Showcase. But, it was the Summer Accelerator that allowed me to devote my undivided attention towards Vitalize’s development and to expedite the progress I had made throughout the year.
The in-person bootcamp motivated me to accelerate both Vitalize’s growth and my own development as an entrepreneur. Working 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. alongside mentors and other startups, I was surrounded by driven, like-minded people, exchanging ideas, gathering user insights, and receiving valuable feedback, which made the intense environment both enjoyable and productive. Coming from Los Angeles, where distractions are constant, having a focused space over the summer was essential for Vitalize’s progress. During the field work, I connected with approximately 30 manufacturers, including one near Colgate. Returning to campus allowed me to tour its facility in person. Thus, the in-person experience was critical to accelerating growth.
I firmly believe you can never get enough practice. Even though I entered the program with plenty of pitching experience from past competitions and the showcase prep sessions, I truly valued the in-person pitching opportunities throughout the program. Presenting to fresh audiences and fielding live questions gave me invaluable experience—something I couldn’t have gained working on Vitalize alone at home.
Participating in the bootcamp has positioned me to be ready to launch. Throughout the summer, my efforts were concentrated on the fulfillment, production, and operations side of the business. I successfully secured an FCC certification vendor, established connections with a fulfillment partner, and formed relationships with domestic manufacturers to hedge the risk of tariffs. However, the bootcamp also made me realize that having a team is essential. I am therefore delaying the launch of Vitalize’s Kickstarter campaign to 2026 to build the team needed for Vitalize’s success.
My biggest insight from the field work portion of the Summer Accelerator was the importance of reaching out to specialists in niche areas of the business plan. For me, this was especially valuable in understanding sea freight and fulfillment processes. Simple conversations and email exchanges often reveal critical, yet previously unknown information, which can significantly alter the production timeline. For Vitalize, that key insight was the FCC certification process, which can disrupt production efforts by months.
Beyond advancing Vitalize’s development and building new relationships, the bootcamp has motivated me to persevere through the unexpected challenges of starting a company. As I enter my sophomore year at Colgate, the TIA Incubator and Summer Accelerator programs have provided me with unparalleled resources. The hands-on-mentorship and grant funding have allowed me to turn an idea into a reality, precisely bringing my thoughts into action. I am eager to continue working on Vitalize this fall in TIA.