An inspiring story of how one of our alumni transformed their college project into a million-dollar business.
When Marcus first walked through our doors as a 19-year-old community college student from the South Bronx, he had a notebook full of ideas and a burning desire to build something of his own. He had no business background, no startup experience, and no connections in the entrepreneurship world. What he had was grit, curiosity, and an unwillingness to accept that his circumstances defined his ceiling.
Three years later, Marcus is the CEO of a thriving sustainable food delivery company that serves over 2,000 customers across New York City and recently closed a $1.2 million seed round. This is his story — and a blueprint for what is possible.
The Spark
Marcus grew up watching his grandmother struggle to afford fresh, healthy food in the Bronx. The neighborhood had plenty of fast food options but almost no access to affordable produce or prepared healthy meals. He saw this not just as a social problem, but as a market gap. 'I realized that the people in my community deserved the same access to good food as people in wealthier neighborhoods,' he told me. 'And I thought — why not build the business that solves that?'
The Foundation Years
Marcus joined our College Entrepreneur Track program during his first semester. He spent the first year absorbing everything — learning about business models, talking to potential customers, and failing fast. His first two ideas did not work. His meal kit concept had logistics problems he could not solve. His catering side hustle was profitable but not scalable. But each experiment taught him something valuable.
The Breakthrough
In his second year, Marcus landed on an idea he could not shake: a subscription model for weekly healthy meal packages, sourced from local farms, priced competitively to serve working families. He ran a pilot with 25 customers from his neighborhood. The response was overwhelming. Within two months, demand had outpaced what he could supply on his own.
Scaling with Support
With mentorship from our network and a small grant from a local foundation, Marcus hired his first part-time employee, signed a partnership with two Bronx-based farms, and launched a simple website. He also pitched at our annual showcase, where he caught the attention of an impact investor who eventually led his seed round.
The Lesson
Marcus's journey is proof that entrepreneurship is not about where you start — it is about your willingness to learn, adapt, and keep going. 'The Kaindmind Foundation gave me the skills, the network, and the confidence to believe this was possible,' he says. 'But most importantly, it gave me a community of people who believed in me before I fully believed in myself.'
If Marcus's story resonates with you, we want to hear from you. Our programs are designed for exactly this — to take the spark of an idea and help you turn it into something real. Apply today and join our next cohort.
About the Author
Salimah Rodriguez
Founder & Executive Director, The Kaindmind Foundation
Salimah Rodriguez is the Founder and Executive Director of The Kaindmind Foundation, dedicated to empowering high school and college students in the Bronx through entrepreneurship education, mentorship, and community.