Ryan Pelletier

From SVSU to Startup: How a Student’s Dream Rolled into Reality with Morphite Boards

When Ryan Pelletier, 2024 graduate, first stepped onto the campus of Saginaw Valley State University in 2020, he already knew he wanted to build something of his own. A driven business student with a passion for innovation, Ryan enrolled in SVSU’s International Business program and quickly began carving his path toward entrepreneurship.

His time at SVSU was filled with rich academic experiences, including a life-changing semester abroad in Prague and favorite courses like Theory of Constraints and Entrepreneurship. But Ryan’s journey wasn’t confined to the classroom. He was deeply engaged in campus life—working at the Outdoor Adventures Office, joining the Pine Grove Community Council, playing intramural volleyball, serving as an RA and Orientation Leader, and even assisted in starting the Swing Dance Club as Vice President. His time at SVSU was as adventurous and diverse as the product he would eventually bring to life.

It was through the Garber Cardinal Business Edge program, a leadership distinction program, that Ryan met Professor Mohammad Adel—a pivotal connection that would help shape his future. With guidance from Adel and James Pawloski, fellow SVSU alum and co-inventor of the board, of the Dow Entrepreneurship Institute, Ryan found the mentorship and resources needed to turn a childhood idea into a tangible innovation.

That idea? A collapsible skateboard—born from a simple frustration in high school when his longboard wouldn’t fit in his locker. Like many of Ryan’s ideas, it had been scribbled into one of his many invention notebooks, a habit his father encouraged ever since he was inspired by a biography of Thomas Edison in the fourth grade.

But this idea stuck. And with the support of SVSU and the Dow Entrepreneurship Institute, it began to roll—literally.

By July 2023, Ryan had a working prototype. By January 2024, the Morphite Board was patent pending. And as of April 2024, Ryan launched his company, Morphite Boards, and began the hustle to bring it to market.

Designed with portability in mind, the Morphite Boards is perfect for college students, urban commuters, traveling performers, and anyone who relies on last-mile transportation. It folds for easy storage, being able to fit in a backpack, without sacrificing the performance and feel of a traditional longboard.

What makes Morphite Boards even more special? It’s proudly Michigan Made. Ryan insists on manufacturing locally, even if it means higher production costs—because for him, supporting his community is part of the mission. A complete board is priced at $399, while the deck-only version (no wheels or axles) runs $250.

Now, as a proud SVSU graduate and young entrepreneur, Ryan is inviting supporters to help take Morphite Boards to the next level. His Kickstarter campaign is live, aiming to raise the funds needed to begin manufacturing the first batch of boards.

Donate to the Kickstarter today, or pre-order a board, to help launch the next big thing—born at SVSU, built in Michigan, and made for movement. Donate at https://shorturl.at/plDMJ.

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