In August 2025, Haley Bishop created Baking for the Brain, a baking startup designed to integrate the approachability of cookies with the mental health benefits of a variety of ingredients, Bishop said. A sophomore neuroscience major with an entrepreneurship minor, she started in August by hand mixing and refining all her ingredients.
Once she received a second grant from the psychology department, Bishop was able to invest in a mixer to make the whole process easier. She said that investment was “the highlight of [her] week.”
Bishop has received two grants in her journey to create Baking for the Brain: the first from LaunchNET in August and the second from the psychology department. This month, she has the chance to get another. IdeaLabs is a startup pitch competition in northern Ohio for undergraduates, a chance for them to receive additional funding for their projects along one of two tracks.
“There’s the money maker category, and then there’s the big idea category,” Bishop said. “I’m in the money maker category because I am producing revenue.” As part of the competition, Bishop must make a 3-minute and a 6-minute pitch to judges to proceed further into the competition.
A major challenge that Bishop has had to face as she grew the scope of her startup is the balance between academics and entrepreneurship. Bishop said “it is very difficult when you first start” and that “you need time management.”
Bishop had a lot on her plate: she attends Baldwin Wallace University full time, works full time, and is building her startup in between. Bishop said it “gets very crazy and hectic some days, I’m here at 6 a.m., here at 7, here at 8, and it’s like running back and forth, but it’s really rewarding.”
Bishop said the burden doesn’t make the work any less worthwhile. “Why did I go through all of that? Because I can help these people manage their emotions in a more approachable way.”
Looking ahead, Bishop plans to grow Baking for the Brain by expanding her baked goods, attending more campus events, and continuing to apply for grants. She hopes to improve production and reach a wider audience, turning her small startup into a more sustainable business that combines mental health awareness with everyday treats.
