Spring semester at Penn State never slows down. Between darties, graduation parties, the Blue-White Game, Movin’ On and VALLEY Launch (of course) there’s always something happening. However, tailgate-type games can become a little trite. There are only so many rounds of cornhole you can play before you find yourself begging for the sun to set.
The solution? Whirl Pong.
Whirl Pong is a spinning cup pong game designed to keep the classic tailgate favorite challenging and fresh. Created by a Penn State student, it’s intended for a range of players, from college students to families.
Pushing Into The Cup Pong Industry
Dillon Fink, CEO and founder of Whirl Pong, is a third-year mechanical engineering student. He came up with the idea in an entrepreneurship engineering class freshman year, and now, it is a full-blown business.
“I grew up with Legos, I loved building things and I was a very project-oriented person,” Fink says. “So I thought engineering would have been a really good use of my math skills, as well as something that you are able to create cool, fun projects. But I later found out, after doing it for a long time, that I was really fascinated by consumer product brands.”
While getting the company up and running, Fink reached out and found mentors who have helped him navigate being an entrepreneur. Specifically, the founders of Frost Buddy taught him how to interact with customers, create engaging videos and get the attention of affiliates.
Fink takes pride in having creative control of his social media. You may have seen videos of him pitching to local businesses, auditioning for “Shark Tank” or just having fun with the game.
“Usually, the founder knows the best about social media, because they know what videos are going to go viral, and what formats convert to sales,” Fink says. “As a social media creator, in my mind, I’m thinking about how can I get views and reach, but as a business person, I’m also thinking, ‘Yeah, I may not get a viral video every single time, but what is pushing the agenda of how do I get a sale conversion from each video?’”
Spinning To Success
Since officially launching in May 2024, the company has sold more than 900 units and generated more than $60,000 in revenue. Fink has also been involved in the State College area, collaborating with local businesses to promote the product. This past January, The Basement Nightspot hosted Whirl Pong’s first ever “Beer Pong Tournament” with various prizes such as cash, line-skip passes or a Whirl Pong set.
Fink has also secured licensing agreements with Alabama and LSU after receiving requests for college-branded versions of the game.
“It is very competitive, and there’s a lot of vendors that are constantly competing. So I was very thankful for the opportunity to pursue that because it will open up a lot of doors, especially in the tailgate market, as well as tapping into a huge built-in fan base of alumni,” Fink says.
While he acknowledged the oversaturation of entrepreneurial advice, Fink advises students to use resources exclusively available to college students.
“There’s so many costs and opportunities that you would have to deal with as an adult, as you get older, that you get alleviated as a student,” Fink says. “So take advantage of the opportunities that are here right now and learn and grow your skill set, even if your business idea is successful or fails.”
Where To Find Whirl Pong
Whirl Pong will be featured as a vendor for various spring events in the State College area, including Pop Up Ave located on South Allen Street between Beaver and Foster Avenues. Their next pop up is on May 2, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. They will have live demos for people to experience the game.
Along with Pop Up Ave, you can also expect to see Whirl Pong at Mojofest on April 18. In between dancing with your friends and experiencing the other Mojofest attractions, don’t forget to try out the game at the Woodstock-inspired festival.
What are your favorite tailgate and party games? Let us know @VALLEYMag on Instagram or X!
*VALLEY does not support underage drinking. Please remember to always drink responsibly.
