Kyle Welch
Kyle Welch was drawn to Michigan State University because of his love and passion for hospitality. He graduated from the world-renowned School of Hospitality Business in 2009 amidst the epilogue of a financial crisis. Despite his initial fear of the collapsing job market ahead of him, Welch dove into the world of franchising.
Kyle attributes his confidence to the security he felt within MSU’s ecosystem.
“It was being at a university during that time, during the financial crisis, and still feeling secure like, ‘I can do this.’ There was a class called Business Strategy, where my professor took the curriculum and completely changed it based on what was happening in the real world with the financial crisis.”
Welch goes on to say, “It was just so cool, transparent, and he was so vulnerable about what was actually happening in the world.”
After graduating, Welch turned an internship into a full-time career at Sizzling Platters LLC.
“Graduating at that time was very difficult, but as you can see with the economy during the Pandemic, chaos creates opportunity. If you have the stomach for it, you can make a name for yourself and/or build some really cool stuff,” said Welch.
During his time at Sizzling Platters, it grew from 90 to 300 units and became one of the fastest-growing restaurant groups in the nation. Despite a promising career path ahead of him, Welch knew his path was one of an entrepreneur.
“I had these entrepreneur mentors I would look up to when I was in my early teens. A family friend is one of my business partners today. I remember wondering, what does that guy do?,” said Welch.
Welch left Sizzling Platters LLC in 2012 and started Chicago Caesars LLC, a Little Caesars franchise group that owned and operated locations throughout Illinois.
He recognizes that the jump may not have been possible if it wasn’t for his investors with whom he built relationships at Sizzling Platters. Referring to the private equity group that owned Sizzling Platters, “they’re my business partners today; they actually funded me and my ideas.”
“If it wasn’t for Michigan State, having those internships and having platforms to get them, I wouldn’t be where I’m at right now. And if it wasn’t for the professors that completely pivoted their curriculums to show real-life examples of what was actually going on, I wouldn’t have had the drive to go out there and figure it out,” said Welch.
In 2014, Welch founded Chicago Scoops LLC a franchise group that owns and operates Cold Stone Creamery and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory franchises. Over three years, the group expanded from one to 45 locations across 13 states and is still operating today.
Welch has recently returned to Michigan with his wife, fellow Spartan, Alexandra Clark. She is the master chocolatier and founder of Bon Bon Bon Chocolate, an award-winning chocolate shop based in Hamtramck, MI.
Today, he spends a lot of time at Bon Bon Bon headquarters. “It’s really fun to help her and to work with her in some ways,” said Welch.
For him, the entrepreneurial journey is never-ending.
“The future is to continue to grow businesses and to do so at a high level. You put in that sweat-equity and now it’s about family, health, and helping other entrepreneurs,” said Welch.
Outside of his ventures, Welch uses his innovative spirit to give back. He co-founded Prosper Chicago, a non-profit focused on fighting food insecurity in Chicago through their text-based ordering solution.
“People can order food on their phones and pick it up from local independent restaurants. So, we’re getting revenue into these local, independent restaurants and creating jobs. It’s really cool because, instead of standing in a food bank line or going to a food pantry, you can order food right on your phone,” said Welch.
Welch is also an Auxiliary Board Member for College Possible, a nonprofit college access and success organization.
“There’s a lot of luck involved and there’s a lot of help along the way, and I’m really open about that. My timing, my business partners, and my mentors – I’d be nowhere without them, so what I try to do is give that to other people,” said Welch.
He describes MSU’s ecosystem as being one to “keep in the family.” He and his wife utilize a lot of their time mentoring young entrepreneurs.
“It’s just fun to give back to a school that gave so much to each of us.”
Welch will continue to assist Spartan venturers in their entrepreneurial journeys and share his stories, experiences, and, “hopefully inspire someone, help someone, or navigate someone around the missteps that I’ve made,” said Welch.