Tonight at 10 PM EST, Franklin Switzerland alumna Christine Jurzenski ’13 will step onto the national stage of Shark Tank to pitch CRANEL — the women-founded wellness brand she co-created to modernize proactive women’s health.
Her journey to this moment did not begin in a television studio. It began in a one-bedroom apartment.
In 2020, while still working full-time jobs, Christine and her co-founder packed orders by hand after hours, personally shipping their first products to customers. Early reviews confirmed a clear need in the market: women were ready for a smarter, science-backed approach to preventing urinary tract infections.
CRANEL’s flagship product is a concentrated cranberry formula designed to help prevent UTIs and support urinary tract health. Each weekly shot delivers the equivalent of 3,000 cranberries and 500mg of PACs in a convenient, modern format. Built by women, for women, the brand aims not only to deliver effective products, but to remove the stigma around conversations that have long been overlooked in women’s health.
What began as a side project quickly evolved into a high-growth company. In 2021, after closing a strategic fundraising round with experienced consumer-brand investors, Christine left her finance career to build CRANEL full-time. Manufacturing and fulfillment centers were established in the United States, followed by expansion into Australia.
Today, CRANEL generates millions in revenue, operates across multiple markets, and has built a digital community exceeding 50 million social media views. The company has also been recognized through competitive entrepreneurial grants awarded to high-potential founders shaping the future of consumer brands.
Behind this momentum lies a distinctly global mindset.
After graduating from Franklin in 2013 with a degree in International Business and a minor in Economics, Christine moved to Australia, where she spent eight years building a successful career in finance before relocating to New York to scale CRANEL in the U.S. market. Navigating different industries, countries, and cultures required adaptability, strategic thinking, and confidence — qualities she developed during her time at Franklin.
At Franklin Switzerland, education is designed to cultivate independence, cross-cultural fluency, and entrepreneurial courage. Students are encouraged to think globally, challenge convention, and transform ideas into action. It is an environment where ambition is nurtured, perspective is expanded, and talent is given the opportunity to emerge.
Christine’s path — from Lugano to Australia, from finance to founder, from packing boxes in her apartment to pitching on national television — reflects what happens when global education meets bold execution.
Her appearance on Shark Tank is more than a media milestone. It is a powerful example of the mindset Franklin helps shape: internationally minded, resilient, and ready to create impact.
From Lugano to the world stage, success begins here.