I have always been interested in starting my own business, and franchising is a topic I had only briefly explored before applying to Babson. However, once accepted, I had an opportunity to attend a seminar about Babson’s centers and institutes at the admitted students’ day back in April of 2024. I resonated with the idea of being able to explore specific parts of the business world through these organizations and was curious to learn more. I have since discovered the many opportunities presented by franchising, which led me to apply for the Leadership Scholarship. My goals are to continue to learn more about the industry and all it has to offer.
I became interested in franchising after researching the entry of Burger King and KFC into Ghana. I believe franchising can bridge local innovation with global opportunities, especially in food services and construction. My leadership experience and business background have prepared me to scale ventures in Ghana. This scholarship will help me deepen my understanding and support aspiring entrepreneurs.
I grew up immersed in the world of entrepreneurship, watching my father build and scale his remodeling business from the ground up. Working alongside him, I gained firsthand experience in business operations, from project management to leveraging AI tools that streamlined processes and improved efficiency. Now a first-generation college student and Presidential Scholar at Babson, I am passionate about international business, consulting, franchising, and tech entrepreneurship. I envision franchising as a powerful vehicle for global business expansion, not only empowering entrepreneurs but also creating a lasting impact on communities worldwide. Recognizing that many business owners may not know the steps to scale internationally, I am dedicated to providing them with the necessary resources and strategic guidance to bridge the gap between ambition and execution, ensuring sustainable and innovative growth on a global scale.
My passion for business and operations stems from my upbringing in the Dominican Republic and my experiences navigating new cultures in the U.S. Before attending Babson, I knew little about franchising. It wasn’t until I immersed myself in my business studies that I discovered how powerful franchising can be as a vehicle for economic growth, entrepreneurship, and community development. Learning about franchise models has broadened my perspective, showing me how they can create accessible pathways to business ownership—especially for those who might not have traditional opportunities.
This realization has inspired me to not only pursue a career in franchise operations and financial strategy but also to educate underrepresented communities about franchising. Many individuals, like myself before college, may not even know this path exists. My goal is to bridge that gap by ensuring more people—particularly in Latin America have the knowledge and resources to explore franchise ownership as a means of economic empowerment.
I am pursuing a career in entrepreneurship and finance. My passion for franchising stems from my family's small business—a Spanish catering company inspired by my father's birthplace. Our dream is to open a restaurant in the next few years and, eventually, explore opportunities to expand our business through franchising.
My goal is to gain as much experience as possible during my college career to apply the knowledge and skills I acquire to our family business. This summer, I am excited to be joining Inspire Brands as a Franchise Finance Intern under Dunkin' Brands. I look forward to learning about the restaurant and franchise industry, gaining insights into financial operations, and connecting with professionals in the field.
Sebastian Rosing, the founder of Loans Academy, is dedicated to transforming financial decision-making using AI. As an Entrepreneurship student, he has gained expertise in AI, startup management, lead generation marketing, crypto, and fintech, providing him with a unique perspective on innovation in today’s world. He is passionate about franchising, implementing the franchise model into his family business, and aspires to support innovative startups as a future venture capitalist.
We will be offering 4 undergraduate and 4 graduate scholarships for the academic year 24-25.
The Fyzical Therapy and Balance Franchise Scholars are merit scholarships offered to current undergraduate and graduate students who have an interest in franchising as a possible career path, and others who have an interest in the field of franchising.
The FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Franchise Scholarship program offers merit scholarships to a diverse pool of current undergraduate and graduate students. These scholars have an interest in and passion for franchising as a possible career path. In 2022, we received 35 applications for this scholarship, including 25 undergraduate and 10 graduate students. Four undergraduate and four graduate students were selected out of the 35 applicants for the 2023-2024 academic year.
FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers offers an exciting franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs, physical therapists, and current physical therapy practice owners. Their clinics provide a wide range of services in high demand, from physical therapy to balance and vestibular retraining, audiology, and beyond. Every day, they empower private practice owners to take control of their business and their life through knowledge, relationships, and support only available through FYZICAL.
Brian Belmont – CEO of FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers
Bill Capraro – President of Cap Capital, FYZICAL franchisee
Eric Thompson – Chief Financial Officer, FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers
Scott Wendrych – Growth Development Officer, FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers
Stephen Spinelli, Jr. – President of Babson College
Mateo Acosta-Rubio grew up surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the franchise environment. He was born just 8 years after the founding of CHURROMANIA®, his family’s legacy brand, now the largest churro franchise in the world. Aside from his lifelong involvements in the company, Mateo founded Stuvi alongside his brother Tadeo in 2023, aiming to democratize music creation. At Babson Mateo remains avidly involved in his family's franchise, his start-up, and his scholarly activities within the college.
Tadeo Acosta-Rubio has been involved with franchising since day 1, as he grew up learning from and working with his family business, CHURROMANIA®, which is now the largest churro franchise in the world. He also co-founded Stuvi with his brother Mateo in 2023, which aims to democratize music creation. Before Babson, he earned a BA in Entrepreneurship from the University of Miami.
Manraj Bains is an undergraduate student with a passion for quantitative finance and machine learning. He is the founder and CEO of Social Trade Inc., a social media platform uniting the finance community onto one platform.
Victor is passionate about bringing incredible brands to new markets.
Rodrigo Cavenecia is a passionate entrepreneur: activator, achiever, and strategic thinker. He seeks to make a meaningful impact in the community while he jump-starts his career in Amazon and explores opportunities in franchising. He is married and just debuted as a father. He also loves playing the piano.
Kousalya Lanka has a franchise family business and is experienced in operations. She is passionate about creating employment opportunities for underprivileged women through expansion of her family business.
Shivam Lohiya has over 10 years of experience in the IT and Hospitality industry, driving initiatives across Business Strategy, Marketing Strategy, and Product Management.
Nyaradzo is a full-time MBA student specializing in Business Analytics and Machine Learning. She is eager to contribute her skills and knowledge to the team.
Namratha Narayanan has over two years of experience in marketing—online and offline, developing brand partnerships and managing on-ground event experiences, primarily across the luxury and food and beverage sectors. She is hoping to start a venture in franchising, relating to the food and beverage and hospitality industry.
Mariaclara is a Colombian-American student at Babson College and would like to develop a career within the marketing or public relations sphere. Her academic journey and cultural background have ignited a passion for exploring the dynamic world of franchises, particularly due to the opportunities she perceives in South America. She is deeply motivated by the potential for growth and innovation in these sectors and is eager to contribute her skills and insights to make a meaningful impact.
Rohit Pratapagiri is an undergraduate student at Babson College concentrating in Finance and Strategic Management. Focusing his future on a career in Corporate Finance, he has an interest in shifting to various career directions, including consulting or internal strategic positions with interests in franchising.
Sebastian Rosing, the founder of Loans Academy, is dedicated to transforming financial decision-making using AI. As an Entrepreneurship student, he has gained expertise in AI, startup management, lead generation marketing, crypto, and fintech, providing him with a unique perspective on innovation in today’s world. He is passionate about franchising, implementing the franchise model into his family business, and aspires to support innovative startups as a future venture capitalist.
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Bam Sukamongkol is very grateful for this opportunity and hopes to learn a lot from the institute.
Reina Yohoros currently studies entrepreneurship with a concentration in finance and accounting. She is really excited and grateful to be part of this amazing program and is looking forward to learning a lot about franchising.
