NC State hosts entrepreneurship festival

Arlo Estill, a 2020 graduate of NCSU’s Wilson College of Textiles, was tabling for his company Hempsmith Clothing Co.

“I love this event, it’s just full of good energy and has some really cool, passionate students looking to learn,” Estill said from behind his table filled with products. “I remember coming here as a student.”

Estill was not the only alumni vendor. Mackenzie Marino, an NCSU 2023 alumni who owns MG Jewelry, also attended. Marino had a featured “pack pride” earring section, which NCSU’s mascot fawned over while interacting with attendees of the event.

“Entrepalooza [is] awesome, you can just get your brand out there,” she said. “Especially me, as an alumni, and graduating so recently, it’s been awesome to connect with students.”

In addition to alumni, local businesses were also available at the event. Rene Greco tabled for 321 Coffee, a newly opened coffee shop that supports and employs people with disabilities. Greco said that 321 Coffee had just opened their brick and mortar location on NCSU’s Centennial Campus on that very day. 

Professional services also tabled at the event, both university affiliated and not. Raleigh Founded, a coworking space company that focuses on creating community for entrepreneurs and also the host of NCSU’s Entrepreneurship Garage, had a table near the front. Some University related services also tabled. The longest line, besides the one for the free Chick-fil-a and ice cream, had a sign above labeling it as the “University Mentoring Program”. 

One visiting student, who had just arrived at the event, said he came because he thought it would be related to the entrepreneurship class he took, as his professor had mentioned the event. 

Students weren’t the only ones who benefitted from the event. 

“I really just enjoy engaging with the student body [of NSCU] so I really just wanna give out stickers and get some people following our Instagram” Estill said, “That’s my main reason [for being] here, I just wanna be involved here in the community.”

Marino said that “I started [MG Jewelry] during COVID, my sophomore year…it just started out as like a side thing just to do in my free time and it just kept snowballing…Entrepalooza definitely helped me…grow my business in so many ways”

Estill had a similar experience. 

“My brother started [Hempsmith Clothing Co.] when I was in high school. [For a while] I was running this brand while I was going to school, but it was mostly part time. Now it’s starting to turn into a full time gig, and we’re starting to get some air under our wings.”