Holy Cross student entrepreneur Nico Corporon ’26 is gaining momentum with WiseDine, the first meal plan generator that syncs students’ specific dietary needs with the meals being served on campus.
With national attention building around schools’ responsibilities to support students with food allergies, intolerances, and specific nutritional needs, WiseDine aims to serve as a scalable solution. Schools that adopt WiseDine could be at a competitive advantage from an admissions perspective. WiseDine positions itself as a tool that not only improves daily life for students but also strengthens an institution’s appeal to prospective families who increasingly prioritize wellness and safety. The app is targeting a 2026 launch and is designed for colleges and universities nationwide. At this stage, Corporon has a functional MVP and is actively iterating on new features and user experience improvements with input from early testers.
Corporon recently cleared the first hurdle for milestone funding through Auxilium’s Innovation Studio, an in-person residency program for early-stage founders based in Worcester. As a member of the first cohort, he became the first and only active student to participate in the program. Through the Innovation Studio, founders present a series of pitches to unlock funding as they grow their ventures.
“So far, I’ve been approved through the Gate 1 pitch and have raised $25,000 in milestone funding through the Innovation Studio,” Corporon said. The Gate 1 pitch focused on customer discovery and proof of concept. He is now preparing for the Gate 2 pitch, which will focus on MVP development and user feedback. Auxilium milestone funding can total up to $100,000, and WiseDine has raised just under $50,000 in additional funding reflecting growing confidence in the app’s path forward
Led by Executive Director Zak Dutton, Auxilium supports entrepreneurs with capital, mentorship, and community through programs including the Innovation Studio and Accelerator. Dutton, who has been involved with entrepreneurship efforts connected to Holy Cross for several years, said Corporon’s story reflects the persistence required to build a venture. “On an individual level, I think Nico’s story is a good one and highlights the drive, tenacity, and determination that is needed to move a company forward and overcome challenges and obstacles,” Dutton said.
Corporon, a political science major at Holy Cross whose interest in entrepreneurship has been shaped by hands-on experiences, earned early funding through multiple pitch competitions and gained insights through internships with startups. These experiences inform his approach to WiseDine, pairing practicality with an understanding of where student needs and institutional priorities intersect.
Written by Casey Treanor ’26 and Cassie Gevry