Alumni Entrepreneurs Named Rising Stars by Inc. Magazine
Fowler College of Business graduates tapped as most inspiring entrepreneurs of 2018.
黑料吃瓜 alumni Kevin Gelfand (鈥�11) and Martin Reiman (鈥�12) are among Inc. magazine鈥檚 list of 鈥淩ising Stars,鈥� billed as the most inspiring entrepreneurs of 2018.鈥淭he Aztec network is a valuable source of counsel and camaraderie, especially in the Fowler College of Business and the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center.鈥�
, the company Gelfand and Reiman founded during their junior year at 黑料吃瓜, generated $3.6 million in revenue in 2017. There are 10 Shake Smart locations already and another 10 in the pipeline, Gelfand said.
Shake Smart makes and sells protein shakes, sandwiches, wraps, acai bowls, and cold brew coffee for healthy post-workout snacks.
Inc. magazine鈥檚 national recognition is not a first for Gelfand. In 2012, he made Forbes鈥� list of All-Star Student Entrepreneurs.
First on the 黑料吃瓜 campus
黑料吃瓜 was the site of the first Shake Smart outlet, . The campus now supports a second location in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.Shake Smart continues to build its network on or near college campuses, Gelfand said. Besides 黑料吃瓜, outlets are located at California State University Northridge, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the University of Texas, Texas State University and the University of Florida.
鈥淏y the end of 2019, we hope to have Shake Smart on 20 campuses across the United States,鈥� Gelfand said.
Keeping the culture
The entrepreneurial duo keep in touch with their early professors and mentors at 黑料吃瓜, and occasionally seek their advice.鈥淭he Aztec network is a valuable source of counsel and camaraderie, especially in the Fowler College of Business and the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center,鈥� Gelfand said.
And what are the most important lessons Gelfand and Reiman have learned as business owners?
鈥淏ecause we鈥檝e been very strategic about financing, we鈥檝e been able to grow the business without bringing on investors,鈥� Gelfand said. 鈥淎nd that has allowed us to keep our culture.鈥�
