Take a look into our dynamic Entrepreneurship Summer Internship (ESI) program, where outstanding students are granted a transformative summer job opportunity. During this season, they will have the chance to grow their entrepreneurial spirit, refine their business idea, and gain access to top mentors, educational workshops, and a generous stipend. Meet our 2025 ESI cohort and discover what inspires them on their journey.
Meet Shane McCarthy, founder of Drago Boxing.
Drago Boxing is a combat sports equipment brand launching its first product: the Dual Wrap Roller. This patent-pending tool solves a common problem for boxers, kickboxers, MMA, and Muay Thai athletes by rolling and air-drying hand wraps after training. The product is manufactured using 3D printing, sold through social media, and fulfilled via direct-to-consumer shipping. Profits from this launch will fund the development of future innovative products as the brand expands.
What drew you to entrepreneurship?
What drew me to entrepreneurship is its freedom to work on what I care about on my terms. Boxing is my passion — I’m training to become an Olympian and a high-level professional, and that kind of commitment doesn’t fit a typical 9-to-5 schedule. I’ve always wanted to build something of my own, but more importantly, I want the flexibility to prioritize my training while working on a business I believe in. Entrepreneurship lets me pursue my goals in the ring while solving real problems for other fighters outside of it.
Elaborate on your business venture. What problem are you solving, and what is your unique approach?
Drago Boxing solves a daily frustration for fighters: after training, hand wraps are soaked in sweat, tangled, and take several minutes to roll up by hand. Most fighters either skip rolling them or stuff them in their gym bags wet, leading to foul smells, bacteria buildup, and wasted time before the next session.
The Dual Wrap Roller is a compact, patent-pending tool that rolls and air-dries two wraps simultaneously. It’s fast and portable and solves a problem nearly every combat sports athlete faces.
We 3D print the product in-house and sell it directly to customers through social media. We will use affiliate marketing to scale by partnering with fighters and coaches who earn commissions for promoting the product. Profits from this launch will fund more gear explicitly built for serious fighters.
How did you encounter this problem, and why did it appeal to you?
I’ve been boxing daily for over four years and am Canada's #1 ranked cruiserweight. In 2024, I started a drop-shipping business selling boxing gear like gloves and hand wraps. While looking for a product that could help fighters manage their wraps more easily, I tested every competitor on the market and quickly realized no effective solution existed. That’s when I decided to pivot from reselling gear to developing my product—one that solves the wrap issue.
What are you hoping to accomplish when starting up at ESI?
At ESI, I aim to take Drago Boxing from a prototype to a fully launched business. By the end of the program, I want the product finalized, patented, and ready for market with the website, shipping, and affiliate logistics fully set up. I recently graduated in mechanical engineering and plan to work on this full-time, so the business must be profitable or generate steady sales by the time the program ends. I’m also looking to refine my pitch, connect with mentors, and build a solid foundation to scale the brand beyond the first product.
When you need a dose of inspiration, do you have a favourite song to play?
"Like A Prayer" by Madonna
Do you have a quote or book that inspires you, or encapsulates your entrepreneurship journey?
One quote that really captures my mindset is:
“If it doesn’t exist, build it.”
That’s exactly how my business started. I couldn’t find a product that solved a basic daily problem fighters deal with, so I built it myself. That mindset—taking the initiative instead of waiting—has guided both my boxing and entrepreneurship journey.