CEL Spotlights: Scooping Up Success

“Most people don’t think about how something was made when they buy clothes. Is it bad for the planet? Was it produced in a sweatshop? We want people to think about the little steps they can make to help the environment,” says Marino Surfwear co-founder Alex Zeka. 

One of the latest clothing businesses to emerge from the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL), Zeka and his Venture Accelerator partner Noah McLaughlin, both seniors, believe in creating high-performance surfwear “that’s as kind to the ocean as it is to your ride. Our sustainable materials and eco-friendly practices are designed to protect the waves we love, so you can surf with purpose. Join us in making a difference, one wave at a time.”

Marino Surfwear features those in-demand products—t-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants—for kids and surfers on the go. An M in the shape of a wave is central to the logo they use for the majority of their products. (They recently started seasonal drops to expand the line and play with the surf theme.) After taking Juliet Fajardo’s graphic design class and learning Adobe Illustrator, Zeka refined the logo he had created in his Capstone class where the idea for the company originated. The logo now makes a simple, yet strong statement that speaks to ocean lovers.

The duo has landed on a teamwork model that suits their talents and interests. Zeka is focused on the product line, while McLaughlin manages the marketing aspects. Using Shopify to source their product, “We’ve landed on a vendor that provides quality control and on-demand ordering that has really added a level of professionalism,” says McLaughlin. Their social media and marketing have also benefited from the use of AI-generated models sporting their fashions.

As they work through early-stage entrepreneurial growing pains, the two remain committed and enthusiastic. McLaughlin loves the creativity aspect, “I feel like I can really flourish when I work on my CEL project.” Zeka adds, “I think we both immediately associate happiness when we think of the beach. So our merch is designed to bring a bright vibe when you wear it.” 

Consider bringing that happy vibe to someone you know this holiday! Check out their product line here.

Another student making waves in the community is Sophia Katsman ’27, founder of Katsman Kreamery, an ice cream business she started in her 8th-grade CEL class. Last week, Katsman, now a sophomore Capstone student, held an event for SCHers to generate buzz for her homemade ice cream before her website launch. She offered a taste of eight different flavors for just $2, gathering feedback as she scooped.

Katsman’s entrepreneurial journey began during the pandemic after finding a Ben and Jerry’s recipe book and an old ice cream machine in her house. She eventually decided to sell quarts of her ice cream to her classmates, raising $360 for Philabundance, a hunger relief organization.

While Katsman’s favorite flavor is classic chocolate, the Earl Grey ice cream proved to be a popular choice at the recent event on campus, for which she produced 19 quarts, toiling away at home over several weeks. As her business grows, she's eager to host more events, introduce new flavors, and continue her mission to combat food insecurity.

Top image, from left: Noah McLaughlin and Alex Zeka
Bottom image: Sophia Katsman