After graduation most people attempt the harsh job market, but this SLU grad is attempting to create his own job.
Saint Louis University 2009 graduate Kris Priemer is one of the five college category finalists in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Entrepreneur of 2009 contest presented by the UPS store.
Priemer is the owner of Apolleau, a company that provides filtered water at water purifying stations.
“I decided to put my knowledge to the test,” said Priemer, who actually majored in mathematics while at SLU but has read extensively about entrepreneurship. “I like the creativeness in running your own company.”
When Priemer began thinking about names for his company he wanted something different and “catchy.” Apolleau also came from both the Greek and French languages.
“I wanted something short that would stick, Apolleau comes from the Greek God Apollo and the ‘eau’ means ‘water’ in French,” said Priemer.
Priemer’s company provides filtered tap water at these stations.
Customers can fill up their reusable water bottles for a small fee with a membership card. Membership and water bottles would also be available for purchase at these water stations.
“There’s no transportation or manufacturing. It takes out the pollution and waste,” he said. “It’s almost as convenient as buying bottled water.”
Priemer said that he came up with this idea while working on a research project for the English 190 class that he took his senior year.
“I researched how [water bottles were] made, how much is not recycled, and which industries were becoming popular,” he said. “I knew the knowledge of why it’s so bad.”
At SLU Priemer served as Student Activities Board President his senior year and he said this leadership experience played a pivotal role in his life.
“My leadership opportunites at SLU gave me confidence and experience that has helped me in this project.”
From now until Oct.12, people can vote online at http://www.entrepreneur.com/e2009/vote/college.php for Priemer’s business idea.
The finalist who receives the most votes will be awarded a 25-point preference by the judges.
The winner will receive startup money for the business, a trip to Miami, Fla., for the awards ceremony and a write-up in the magazine in December.
According to the company’s website, www.apolleau.com, some of the company’s goals include bringing water filtration systems to countries who lack a fresh water supply and diminishing the American carbon footprint.
“My next step would be to get a prototype out to show people how it works,” said Priemer.
If Priemer doesn’t win the contest, he said that he plans to pursue the idea anyway.
“I’m going to have to try and implement this idea,” he said. “I’ve gotten feedback from people I don’t even know thinking it’s a good idea.”
