Skipping stones to startup success: SCORE NN’ ranks in the Sun Devil 100
What began in college as fish food compressed into skipping stones has turned into a patented product found in thousands of backyards and pools.
From left to right: Morgan Harrison, vice president of the ASU Alumni Association; Jaron Lodge, founder and CEO of SCORE NN'; Christine K. Wilkinson, president and CEO of the ASU Alumni Association. Photo courtesy Tim Trumble
“It started with a simple realization: everyone remembers skipping stones as a kid, but not everyone has access to a lake or flat skipping stones,” Jaron Lodge said, founder and CEO of SCORE NN’, as he recalled the initial spark that inspired his business.
That spark has since evolved into a thriving company, one that has claimed the No. 1 spot in the $250,000–$1.99 million revenue category in the ASU Alumni Association’s Sun Devil 100 Class of 2025.
“It’s an incredible honor — not just as recognition of growth, but as a reminder that ASU believes in building things that matter,” Lodge said, a first-time Sun Devil 100 honoree. “Being named a Sun Devil 100 honoree validates the years of work I’ve put into my business, and it connects me to a community of other founders and leaders who are also pushing boundaries.”
A first-of-its-kind backyard game, SCORE NN’ combines aspects of cornhole and stone skipping. Players toss weighted, flat stones across water, aiming for targeted holes as the stones travel toward their mark. The franchise has since expanded to include versions with golf-inspired elements and land-based game sets.
“I’m driven by the idea of creating real-world connections for all ages — games that bring people together, off screens and into the moment,” Lodge said.
A 2021 business entrepreneurship graduate from the W. P. Carey School of Business, Lodge credits ASU for giving him the foundation and freedom to explore entrepreneurship. Programs like Venture Devils provided crucial grant funding for early prototypes, and the Retail Devils pop-up shop helped shape market strategy during his company’s formative years.
“Being surrounded by other driven students, mentors and professors in the entrepreneurship program gave me the mindset that creating something from nothing was not only possible, it was expected,” Lodge said. “ASU gave me the tools – and the push – to bring my vision to life.”
But building a fast-growing business came with challenges. One of the biggest, Lodge said, is managing rapid growth during peak season while needing to place large inventory orders months in advance.
“It’s a constant balance between being optimistic about growth and realistic enough to avoid over-ordering. I leaned on my leadership skills to negotiate better payment terms with my manufacturers, which helped finance larger orders without overwhelming cash flow. That experience taught me the value of strategic partnerships and making calculated decisions under pressure,” Lodge said.
Reflecting on his business journey, Lodge is confident in his decision to become a Sun Devil for life – largely because it was the right place to build something real, he said.
“I chose ASU because it felt like the perfect place to bring my entrepreneurial ideas to life. With a strong family legacy—my mom, dad, brother, and sister all attended—it already felt like home.”