Iowa State graduate builds a business while excelling in the classroom

Dec 11, 2017

Michael Hanstad always knew he wanted to start a business. He just didn't know what to start. But after meeting his friend Tyler DeVos in business class, the two decided to try producing a family member's homemade bbq sauce recipe. They spent the summer after their freshman year driving to farmer's markets all across central Iowa. They continued to grow, soon moving to Hy-Vee and Fareway store shelves. Their Deadeye Premium Barbecue sauce is now in 85 grocery stores and can also be sold on Amazon. And Hanstad says the help and support they received at Iowa State helped them get it all started.