Graduate student Annalisa Nundahl’s Iron Step tackles industrial worker foot pain caused by long hours in protective gear
FIT’s DTech Lab, an extracurricular design and technology lab that solves real-world problems through transdisciplinary collaboration, has announced Annalisa Nundahl as the winner of the fifth annual PETE Prize for Entrepreneurs. Nundahl is the founder of Iron Step, a footwear business concept that offers a “recovery slide” designed for industrial workers experiencing foot pain and discomfort caused by protective footwear. “Built for the shift after the shift,” the slide is crafted to provide relief outside working hours while maintaining durability and comfort.
“The concept really started through observation and experience,” Nundahl said. “After nearly 15 years working in industrial and workwear sales, I became very aware of how physically demanding these jobs are and how little attention is given to recovery after long shifts. This project feels personal to me, and I’m excited by the opportunity to turn an idea into something real that could genuinely improve someone’s day-to-day life.”
Nundahl, a Global Fashion Management student in FIT’s School of Graduate Studies, was selected from a pool of 50 applicants to receive the 2026 PETE Prize for Entrepreneurs. As the winner, she receives $30,000 in seed funding, along with office space in the Brooklyn Navy Yard for one year, and marketing, legal, financial, creative, and guidance on how to build and launch an innovative company.
Nundahl plans to use the funding to support the next stage of development for Iron Step, including prototyping, materials, additional product testing, and continued refinement of the business model through research and industry feedback. “Winning the PETE Prize means a great deal to me because it validates both the idea and the journey behind it,” she said. “Returning to graduate school after building a career was a huge life change and definitely a leap of faith at times. This recognition gives me the confidence to keep building, learning, and exploring entrepreneurship in a more serious way.”
“We are proud to recognize this year’s PETE Prize fifth grand-prize winner for her innovative work on Iron Step—a recovery-focused footwear solution that redefines how we think about performance, healing, and long-term mobility,” said Michael Ferraro, executive director of the DTech Lab.
Judges for the 2026 PETE Prize were Keda Albano, Dior brand manager at Bergdorf Goodman; Joanne Arbuckle, advisor for FIT DTech Lab; FIT alumna Aleksandra Gosiewski, co-founder and CEO of Keel Labs; Michael Keany, chief transformation officer at West Monroe; and Penny Tehrani-Littrell, managing director and general counsel at Accordion.
The PETE Prize finalists were Vrushti Mehta, founder of Aarum, a scalable bio-alternative to handcrafted textiles for small design businesses, and Rhoven Macalino, founder of PAWCHEL, which designs smart harnesses for dogs to support off-leash communication.
Committed to access and inclusivity, FIT is one the country’s premier institutions for a creative and creative business education. For New York residents, a four-year degree costs less than $26,000 total.
