This thesis project was conducted in accordance with the Founders Lab, a Barrett Honors Thesis program, hosted by the Center for Entrepreneurship at the W.P. Carey School of Business. This paper focuses on the development of Invicta Synergy, a student-led start-up that seeks to provide holistic approaches in developing healthy lifestyle practices as a solution to growing sedentary lifestyles (i.e., sitting at work, school, gaming, etc.) and recently increasing isolation amongst young adult populations. Primary research from interviews conducted during the customer discovery phase showed that many people suffer from self-esteem issues, the lack of a positive support system, and/or inadequate resources which were noted as more of a barrier than even time or financial constraints when it comes to engaging in healthier lifestyle habits. As a solution, Invicta Synergy seeks to connect people to safe, affordable, and engaging classes hosted by experts in yoga, breath-work, and guided meditation. Regularly engaging in these practices has been shown to have a positive effect on one's resilience and may divert health problems associated with chronic stress. This paper outlines Invicta Synergy’s traction since January 2022, including details on fourteen paying clients, four official business partnerships, four successful program classes with high attendance, the packaging and delivering of fourteen individualized wellness gift boxes to purchasing clients, a full-page publication in Elevate Magazine, and $420 in sales revenue so far.

The Founder’s lab is a year-long program that gives students an opportunity to participate in a unique, team-based, experiential Barrett honors thesis project to design and apply marketing and sales strategies, as well as business and financial models to start up and launch a new business. This Barrett honors thesis project focuses on increasing the accessibility of health and wellness programs for small businesses and their employees through a customizable and easily implemented third party program that encourages employee retention.