Heider College of Business Student Launches Eco-Friendly Fishing Bobbers
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Some things never change. For first-year Heider College of Business student Rian Jacobs, two lifelong constants have shaped her journey: fishing and entrepreneurship. At Creighton, she’s learned how to channel her passion, curiosity and problem-solving skills into real-world impact—starting with the fishing industry itself.
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“I’ve been fishing since I could walk to the pond in the backyard of my childhood home,” says the Olathe, KS, native. “It wasn’t just a hobby—it was a way of life.” Many of her earliest memories are of afternoons spent casting lines with her siblings and dad—though she laughs admitting she wouldn’t go near the fish as a child.
But fishing wasn't her only passion. Jacobs spent many hours dreaming up creative business ideas. “I’ve been an entrepreneur my entire life,” she says, adding that her dad made her first business cards when she was five. “I love creating new things and positively contributing to the world.”
That mindset stuck. During her countless hours patiently waiting for her big catch across streams, ponds, rivers and lakes, she noticed a recurring problem: Non-eco-friendly plastic bobbers—or “floaters”—frequently went missing. She says that “this plastic rarely biodegrades over time and leaves plastic washing up on shorelines,” polluting the bodies of water and aquatic life she loves.
While others may have overlooked it, Jacobs saw a problem worth solving.
At Creighton, she found the tools and support to bring her idea to life. Through the Creighton Entrepreneurship Club, she collaborates with other student entrepreneurs, “creating new products and services that will benefit the world.” With help from the students and the guidance of her mentor Nathan Preheim, Jacobs turned her concept into a business: BioBobbers—an eco-friendly, biodegradable alternative to traditional plastic fishing bobbers.
As a student, entrepreneur and changemaker, I strive to set an example for others...and leave a positive impact on Creighton and my peers.
— Rian Jacobs, Heider College of Business student
“BioBobbers are designed to break down over time if they get lost in the water,” Jacobs explains. “They offer a sustainable solution that doesn’t leave plastic or harmful residues behind.”
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Jacobs credits much of her progress to Preheim, director of the Heider College of Business Center for Enterprise Value. “He is constantly excited to help me with my business venture and takes time out of his busy schedule to meet with me whenever I need guidance,” she says.
Preheim sees Jacobs’ vision and potential. “I’ve had so much fun engaging with Rian and offering support and encouragement,” he says. “She’s a mature founder—thorough, hardworking and willing to do whatever it takes to move forward. I am genuinely excited to watch her scale up her commercialization efforts.”
Another crucial resource for Jacobs has been Creighton University Libraries Makerspace. “I can rent out a 3D printer, allowing me to produce BioBobbers from the comfort of my dorm room,” says Jacobs. “The Makerspace is also a great place to discuss sustainable materials with the employees who work there."
“From design through production, Rian has shown remarkable dedication to her craft,” says Rich Jenkins, Creighton University Libraries Makerspace coordinator. “Rian has also demonstrated the inquisitiveness I see so often in the Creighton community, always exploring new possibilities. She is committed to learning and constantly improving on her process in exploring available materials and optimizing her design and production process.”
Now, Jacobs is not only building a business—she’s setting a precedent.
“As a student, entrepreneur and changemaker, I strive to be an example for others and make a positive impact on Creighton and my peers.”
She’s especially passionate about using BioBobbers as a tool to educate young anglers to be conscious about their choices that affect waterways. “Since bobber fishing is typically marketed towards younger fishers, I hope that these younger generations will learn how to be eco-conscious during fishing from the start and then teach that to their future children,” she says. “I also hope that BioBobbers makes current entrepreneurs rethink the way they produce their products and investigate sustainable options to implement in their company.”
From backyard ponds to dorm-room innovation, Jacobs is proving that passion, purpose and a little ingenuity can go a long way.
I hope BioBobbers teaches younger generations how to be eco-conscious during fishing from the start, and that it makes current entrepreneurs rethink the way they produce products.
— Rian Jacobs, Heider College of Business student
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