Student and alumni entrepreneurs spent their spring break on one of the largest stages in the consumer packaged goods industry, representing Michigan State University and the Burgess Institute showcasing their ventures at Natural Products Expo West 2026 in Anaheim, California.
Among those exhibiting were student founder Alina Morse (‘27), CEO and founder of Zolli Candy, alumni founders Paul Reiss and Michael Meadows, co-founders of Protein Pints, and alum Lindsay Frederick (BA ‘24) founder of Tart The annual event brings together thousands of emerging and established brands, retailers, and investors to discover new products and explore the trends shaping the future of food, wellness, and natural products.
“This year was my 11th year exhibiting with a booth,” said Alina Morse, “I have seen the show evolve over a decade and my business mirrors that growth.” She also goes on to share that this was their first time raising institutional capital after over a decade of bootstrapping. “While many of my peers were excited to go on a traditional college spring break I had no doubt mine would be equally as unforgettable attending Expo West!”
The Protein Pints team also introduced their high-protein ice cream brand to buyers and industry professionals exploring innovations for “better-for-you” foods. In the years since last attending in 2023, the company has grown rapidly and has expanded into 10,000 retail locations nationwide. Returning to Expo West with a team and a rapidly scaling brand marked a full-circle moment for the founders as they connected with retailers, partners, and fellow entrepreneurs.
Lindsey Fredrick (BA ‘24), founder and CEO of Tart, an organic functional beverage designed to support everyday wellness without sacrificing flavor also made a debut at Expo West 2026. Tart introduced buyers and attendees to its unique offering, highlighting the growing presence of wellness brands in the functional beverage category.
Experiences like Expo West showcase the exposure our Spartan founders have to grow their brands on national stages and the strength of the entrepreneurial ecosystem fostered at Michigan State University and the Burgess Institute. Through opportunities to engage with industry leaders and build meaningful partnerships, Spartans are empowered to pursue bold ideas, learn through experience, and build ventures that reach far beyond the East Lansing ecosystem.
About the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation: The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is the destination where students launch high-impact, entrepreneurial journeys at Michigan State University. The Burgess Institute empowers students to learn through action by providing global mentors, courses, seed funding, entrepreneurship competitions, student organizations, resources, and campus-wide co-working spaces.