University of Cincinnati graduate Megan Pando announced on May 11 that her business, Makers Social, will expand into Cincinnati following a successful appearance on the television show “Shark Tank.” Pando received $150,000 from investor Kevin O’Leary in exchange for 20% equity in her do-it-yourself project bar business.
Makers Social offers customers the opportunity to work on creative projects such as jewelry making and leatherwork while enjoying drinks with friends. The recent investment is expected to support location expansion beyond its original Columbus site.
Pando credited her time at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP), along with a minor in entrepreneurship from UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business, as influential to her career path. She said UC’s cooperative education program was especially significant. “One amazing thing DAAP and the College of Business did for me was push me outside my comfort zone,” Pando said.
During her studies at UC, Pando completed three co-op experiences across different states and industries—from an artist’s studio in Connecticut to a modeling agency in Pennsylvania and a retail brand headquarters in California. Her most memorable co-op took place at Pacsun’s Orange County headquarters during the holiday season preparations. “Their headquarters is just like you would imagine: There were skateboarding ramps and ping-pong tables everywhere. The environment was just amazing,” said Pando.
Pando explained that these hands-on learning environments shaped both her approach to business and personal preferences for collaborative workspaces. “I’ve always thrived in spaces where you learn through hands-on work,” she said.
Reflecting on how these experiences inspired Makers Social’s concept, she added: “As I was learning about different business structures, I knew I wanted to create a business in the arts.” After graduation coincided with growth in the paint-and-sip industry, she developed Makers Social as an evolution of those ideas.
Looking ahead, Pando hopes Makers Social will allow more people to gather creatively as she did during her time at UC.