Celebrating five years cancer-free, he set out to give back, unknowingly planting the seeds for a future in entrepreneurship.

Now, 20, the boy who was known as “Lemon-Abe” is on a bigger mission — revolutionizing hydration.

The Michigan State University sophomore has developed a new product, Voltz — an oral lip pouch infused with electrolytes and vitamins that delivers nutrients to the body in under a minute.

“This is much faster than traditional drinks, which can take up to two hours for full absorption,” Gingrass said.

Voltz, an oral lip pouch infused with electrolytes and vitamins that delivers nutrients to the body in under a minute, will be offered in two flavors — Citrus Surge and Mint Mania. (Contributed photo)

He said he was surprised to learn the blood vessels in the gums are the body’s fastest entry method into the bloodstream in the body.

“When those ingredients start mixing with your saliva, it immediately releases the electrolytes and vitamins into your system — working in as little as 30 seconds,” he said.

The standard-size pouches contain all-natural ingredients to support hydration, with no addictive substances, caffeine or nicotine.

Voltz aims to fill a gap in current hydration methods for all types of athletes and professionals such as firefighters, construction workers, and military personnel.

Gingrass’ innovation caught the attention of Michigan State’s Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, where he joined the Venture Creation Program.

The program guides young entrepreneurs through the process of launching a business with mentorship from successful industry leaders.

Paul Jaques, managing director of the Venture Creation Program at the MSU institute, noted Gingrass embodies key traits of successful founders — initiative, coachability and execution.

“He entered the program with more than just an idea — he brought a willingness to test assumptions, iterate quickly and engage deeply with feedback,” Jaques said.

“Throughout his time in Launch, Gingrass has shown a consistent ability to move forward under uncertainty, take ownership of his progress and leverage available resources effectively,” Jaques added. “His work on Voltz reflects a clear commitment to building something viable, not just conceptual.”

Through his company, Surgenix Supplements LLC, which was formed in May 2025, Gingrass is now in the final, selective launch phase.

A Kickstarter launch campaign started today to help raise funding to complete his dream.

“The Kickstarter campaign will enable exclusive first access to the product for backers,” Gingrass said.

Voltz will be available at its website at www.voltzpouches.com, Amazon and Ecommerce, with plans to expand into the Iron Mountain businesses.

Product formulation began in mid-March, with production nearing completion.

Voltz will be offered in two flavors — Citrus Surge and Mint Mania.

“We’re going to have about 140 samples — 70 of each flavor coming in next week,” he said. “We will then put out a production round of about 10,000 units.”

Gingrass emphasized the importance of finding the right manufacturer to ensure quality ingredients.

Jaques said Gingrass has approached Voltz as a market-ready product, completing packaging design, securing manufacturing partners, and using Kickstarter to validate demand while funding production.

He added that Gingrass stands out for his bias toward action, resourcefulness and ability to balance creativity with discipline — traits that distinguish strong entrepreneurs.

Voltz pouches can be used for up to an hour, with a recommended limit of 10 per day.

Gingrass said the product is designed to complement water intake, not replace it.

“I often say the world is chronically dehydrated — it’s not just athletes,” he said. “These pouches can be used by anyone, youth or adult.”

His idea came from his experience playing high school football.

“You’re told to eat bananas for potassium and drink electrolytes and water to prevent cramps, yet players still cramp,” he said. “Right now our focus is rehydrating the world.”

The son of Todd and Kelly Gingrass of Iron Mountain is majoring in management with minors in entrepreneurship, innovation and real estate.

For more information on Voltz, go to www.voltzpouches.com.

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Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.