Hopeful Handler, Dog Training LLC
Business Founders: Anisa Stumbo and Hope Trentadue
Major: Entrepreneurship, Master’s in Nonprofit Management; Communication
Graduation Year: 2024; 2023
Hometown: Denver, Colorado; Indianapolis, Indiana
Stumbo knew from day one of college that she was going to participate in the business competition, but she didn’t have a business plan in mind. As much as she enjoys business planning, she realized she didn’t necessarily want to own one.
Meanwhile, Trentadue had been interested in training dogs for many years. When she was younger, she found a video made by a dog trainer and tried out his techniques on her uncle’s dog. She discovered that she not only liked it, she was also good at it, and it led to a dream of owning a dog training business.
“As I grew older, I noticed that not many people know how to communicate with their dogs,” Trentadue says. “Relationships between animals and people are often tenuous, and that is a problem. So, I decided this business would be important to help people build or enhance their relationships with their dogs.”
When Trentadue told Stumbo about her dream to own a dog training business, Stumbo saw how it gave her the chance to build a business like she had always wanted, and it gave Trentadue a chance to make her dream a reality. While Trentadue came up with ideas, Stumbo was able to answer questions about the business side.
“I had always wanted to start this business, but I never knew where to begin,” Trentadue says. “We were the perfect team.”