Joy Griffin, assistant teaching professor in technology, entrepreneurship and management at The Polytechnic School, one of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University’s Polytechnic campus, left, presents a $10,000 award to Mekonnen Anebo, an organizational leadership student in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, for his venture, Viral Prints, during the Fall 2025 J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute Venture Devils Demo Day on Nov. 22, 2025, at ASU Skysong in Scottsdale, Arizona. Courtesy photo

When Mekonnen Anebo stepped onto the stage at the fall 2025 J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute’s Venture Devils Demo Day, he demonstrated the kind of transdisciplinary, mission-driven leadership that the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts at Arizona State University is known for cultivating. While earning a Bachelor of Arts in organizational leadership in the School of Applied Professional Studies, Anebo earned $10,000 in funding for his venture, Viral Prints, during the university’s largest Fall Demo Day to date.

Held Nov. 22, 2025, at SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, the event featured 82 teams and awarded more than $250,000 in total funding. Viral Prints stood out among a highly competitive group of student-led startups for its clear value proposition, thoughtful execution plan and emphasis on community impact.

Viral Prints is a creative art company that helps businesses transform blank, forgettable walls into bold, visual experiences. Using precision wall-printing technology, the company plans to deliver high-quality, story-driven murals in hours rather than weeks, removing long timelines, high costs and complex installations that often put custom murals out of reach for small and midsize businesses.

“Wall art has the potential to function as a business asset,” Anebo said. “It can build culture, create pride and help customers connect with a brand’s story the moment they walk into a space.”

By offering fast installation, accessible pricing and productized service tiers, Viral Prints wants to empower organizations to enhance their environments with minimal disruption. The venture also operates through an artist collective model that provides local creatives with scalable income opportunities and clear attribution for their work.

Viral Prints is currently working on a pilot job using its specialized printing machine, but it is still in the discovery stage. Meanwhile, Anebo is working on an installation project with a local coffee shop chain at five locations and is in talks with an art gallery about doing an artist showcase.

The idea for Viral Prints bloomed from Anebo’s longstanding interest in entrepreneurship and community impact. He is also the founder of the Sensible Living Foundation, a nonprofit focused on financial literacy education and building vertical gardens in underserved communities. As he worked to secure consistent funding for his growing nonprofit, Anebo began exploring business ideas that could generate sustainable revenue while supporting a broader social mission.

As he observed restaurants, gyms, hospitals and event spaces across the Valley, a pattern became clear. Many organizations had compelling stories, yet their physical spaces did little to reflect them. That realization became the foundation for Viral Prints and its focus on storytelling through design.

Anebo credits his academic experience at Integrative Sciences and Arts with shaping his entrepreneurial vision for Viral Prints. The organizational leadership curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking, applied learning and real-world problem-solving, all of which influenced how he structured a venture that integrates marketing, commercial design, print technology and traditional visual arts such as drawing and painting.

“My degree helped me see Viral Prints as a full experience,” he said. “That includes design, operations, customer psychology and community engagement. Being surrounded by multiple disciplines pushed me to build something that is both creative and scalable.”

Integrative Sciences and Arts offers bachelor’s, master’s and certificate programs in organizational leadership, available online and on campus. These flexible options are designed to prepare students to lead across industries by combining theory, practice and innovation.

With the $10,000 award, Anebo plans to strengthen the Viral Prints pilot and build systems that support growth. The funding will be used to develop marketing assets, cover materials and setup costs for installations, and create a streamlined intake and quoting process. Early projects will serve as case studies as the company expands its reach across Arizona.

Community impact remains central to the venture. A portion of Viral Prints proceeds supports the Sensible Living Foundation, reinforcing Anebo’s commitment to aligning entrepreneurship with purpose.

For other students in Integrative Sciences and Arts who are considering an idea of their own, Anebo recommends action and learning along the way. He emphasizes that progress comes from testing ideas early, learning quickly and seeking support.

“ASU and the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts offer resources, mentors and encouragement for students who take initiative,” he said. “You do not have to build something alone, but you do have to take the first step.”

Anebo’s success at Demo Day reflects how organizational leadership education at Integrative Sciences and Arts empowers students to turn ideas into meaningful impact.

Learn more about organizational leadership programs.

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