Tempe Founders Turn Heads on ‘Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch’

The thirteenth season of Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch blasted off with high drama, fast talking, and one unmistakable theme — bold ideas rising from unexpected places. Among them: Andrew Ekmark and Sammi Ekmark, the Tempe-based duo behind Ink’d Greetings, who stunned investors with their fresh take on an old classic — the greeting card. Their customizable kiosk platform lets anyone design, print, and pair cards with digital or gift-card options in minutes. Backed by ASU’s InvestU network, the startup now operates 16 kiosks nationwide, including several across Greater Phoenix and one at the Sun Devil Campus Store. Facing a powerhouse panel — Kim Perell (100.co), Dhani Jones (former NFL player and entrepreneur), and Jon Bier (Jack Taylor PR) — the Ekmarks held their ground under fire, turning skepticism into curiosity. Investors called out 90 percent margins, rapid scalability, and emotional storytelling as the differentiators to watch. Other founders in Episode 1 included HQ Wang of Zenibee and Demi Oyolede of Limpiar. 🎥 Watch the full episode here: Season 13, Episode 1 on YouTub e Presented by Amazon Business, Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch streams Wednesdays on Entrepreneur.com and Entrepreneur TV .

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