Dorm Glow Co

Howard University junior Heaven Rowell is on a mission to make dorm rooms safer one candle at a time.

A year ago, Heaven started Dorm Glow Co. After losing her home and her nine-year-old candle business in a devastating house fire, she could have walked away from candles for good. Instead, she rebuilt launching a flame-free candle line that went viral.

But her success revealed a bigger problem: the electric wax warmers marketed as the “safe” way to melt a candle run on halogen bulbs the same bulbs linked to over 100 fires and at least 10 deaths nationwide.

Now, Heaven is building the fix. Dorm Glow Co. is developing a new, self-regulating lightbulb engineered to meet fire code for college dorms, so students can finally have dorm-safe candles without the risk.

Heaven has raised $160,000 to date, entirely through non-dilutive funding and competition wins. Most recently, she was featured this season on Bet on Black, hosted by Marsai Martin and REVOLT.

“There’s no reason students should have to choose between comfort and safety,” Heaven says.

The lightbulb is currently in development, with preorders expected to open January 2027. Stay tuned.

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