When Jake Piekarski (BBA ’24) transferred to UW–Madison in 2022, and noticed a lack of high-paying, flexible jobs for college students like him, he decided to take matters into his own hands. That same year, Jake launched Snow Scholars, a residential snow removal business that employs students at Midwest universities. “During our first season in business, we paid out over $5,000 in student wages,” he says.
In December 2024, Jake appeared on an episode of the business reality television series Shark Tank, where he showcased the company’s success and scored a deal with investor Mark Cuban. With multiple deals on the table, Jake exited the tank with $150,000 in exchange for a 20% equity stake in his company.
In addition to his role as founder and CEO, Jake leverages his WSB education to manage the business’ marketing, partnerships, and customer acquisition. He also credits WSB mentors like Lisa Collins (BBA ’84, MBA ’86) and Jon Eckhardt for helping to advance his entrepreneurial journey.
When he’s not breaking new ground with the business, Jake is connecting with mentors from Great Wolf Lodge, Best Buy, and Deloitte. “I love networking. I’d say every other week I reach out to someone to have lunch and just try and learn something,” says Jake. “I really like to surround myself with successful people.”