Seasoned for success: Trulaske student grows spice startup into national brand
By Brian Consiglio
Andrew Rubin started selling his own spice blends in high school, and the University of Missouri Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business has since provided an entrepreneurial launchpad for his company’s rapid growth.
Case in point: The mentorship and resources he gained through the college helped him land a deal with World Market. As he prepares for his sophomore year at Mizzou, his spices will soon be on shelves in roughly 250 World Market stores nationwide.
At age 16, Rubin began creating spice blends inspired by iconic dishes from American cities. For example, his Buffalo Buffalo blend lets wing lovers recreate western New York flavor at home.
The Trulaske College of Business gives student entrepreneurs numerous opportunities for experience-centered learning, a philosophy known as the Missouri Method, and Rubin has made the most of them since he started at Mizzou last year. His business idea earned him a top 10 spot at Mizzou’s Entrepreneur Quest, an initiative that provides workshops and mentoring to help student entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
Rubin was also selected by the Griggs Innovators Nexus to set up his own incubator office space inside the MU Student Center.
“The mentorship I’ve received from the staff in the Griggs Innovators Nexus who are entrepreneurs themselves has helped me learn so much and fuel the growth of my business,” Rubin said. “Building a community with other student entrepreneurs who are selling their products in the Student Center has been so impactful. We meet as a cohort to bounce ideas off each other, learn about new topics and discuss areas for improvement.”
One notable mentor for Rubin is Kelsey Raymond, executive director of entrepreneurship programs at the Griggs Innovators Nexus. She has played a pivotal role in helping Rubin grow both his business and his mindset.
“World Market was interested in a gift box set that features three of our most popular blends: Los Angeles Taco, New York Steak and St. Louis Barbecue,” Rubin said. “I’ve only sold my spices individually in the past, but Kelsey was so influential in helping me figure out how to expand nationwide while staying on budget.”
Trulaske has supported Rubin beyond entrepreneurship programs. His academic coursework in the consumer-packaged goods career pathway allows him to study business cases involving companies similar to State Street Spices. The college also brings successful entrepreneurs into Rubin’s classes, giving him the opportunity to learn directly from founders who have scaled their own businesses.
“My business has also made me a better student, as the experiences I have doing taxes and crunching numbers for State Street Spices have come in handy in my accounting classes,” Rubin said.
The College of Business also gave Rubin an opportunity to expand his product line. He recently partnered with the college to develop three Missouri-themed spice blends — a poultry seasoning, a steak seasoning and a salt-pepper-garlic blend — for business alumni.
“The Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business has been incredibly influential on me, so getting the opportunity to give back to the alumni has been really exciting,” he said. “It just makes me so proud to be a business student here at Mizzou.”