Story by Tanner O’Neal Riley
Photos by Logan Jackson
At the University of Missouri’s Student Center, tucked inside the Griggs Innovators Nexus, the steady hum of student chatter mixes with the scent of ambition. Among the bustle sits freshman Andrew Rubin, founder of State Street Spices, a venture he built from scratch before even setting foot on campus.
Rubin, a St. Louis, Missouri, native, says his business, which he launched in 2023, blends his passions for food, culture, community and, of course, entrepreneurship. He says that is what brought him to Mizzou in the first place.
“I applied to 29 schools before choosing Mizzou,” said Rubin, a business administration and statistics double major who is also pursuing the Honors Certificate. “From the entrepreneurship activities to the CPG Career Pathway in the Truslaske College of Business and the Honors College, everything just clicked. I knew this was where I wanted to be.”
That drive to find the right fit has followed Rubin into his daily routine. Between classes, he can be found in his office at the Student Center, filming social media content, packing orders or planning his next community donation. His company’s mission is simple but ambitious: to incorporate flavor and culture to bring the world together.
“From fellow students wanting spices to helping my community by donating to children’s hospitals, I connect with the world around me every day,” he said.
Rubin’s entrepreneurial journey started long before Mizzou. Like many young business owners, his inspiration came from TV.
“I grew up watching Shark Tank and dreamed of starting a business,” he said. “A few years ago, I joined an incubator program through my high school and ended up combining my love of food, traveling and entrepreneurship to start State Street Spices.”
The company began modestly, small spice batches sold locally, but quickly grew into an e-commerce operation that ships nationwide. Rubin says the experience taught him lessons that no classroom could replicate, though his Honors coursework complements his business in unexpected ways.
“I’m in an Honors public speaking right now, and it’s been great alongside my business,” Rubin explained. “Getting Honors-level coursework allows me to see things differently and apply that perspective to what I do.”
Running a business as a full-time student is no small feat. Rubin admits that managing his time has been the hardest part.
“The biggest challenge I’ve faced is time,” he said. “Being a college student and business owner are both full-time jobs, and I’m also involved in different clubs and organizations on campus. Time management is a skill I’ve had to work on constantly.”
His daily schedule is relentless — classes during the day, business operations in between and homework at night. Yet Rubin insists the hard work is worth it.
“A typical day for me is long and requires a lot of perseverance, but it’s also super rewarding,” he said.
One of the biggest draws to Mizzou for Rubin was the Griggs Innovators Nexus, the Student Center hub that supports student startups. Having an office there, he says, gives him both credibility and community.
“Getting to have an office to grow my business while working with amazing staff and connecting with so many driven students has truly been an honor,” Rubin said.
He credits several mentors with helping him along the way, figures who’ve shaped both his mindset and his approach.
“My incubator directors have definitely been influential,” Rubin said. “From my high school director, Erin Fluchel, to the staff at the Nexus — Kelsey Raymond, Kelly Mattas, Greg Bier — and my professors at Trulaske and around campus, I’ve learned from all of them.”
While Rubin is focused on growth, giving back remains central to his mission. Last December, State Street Spices donated hundreds of dollars to a children’s hospital in St. Louis, doubling the amount from its first year.
“That moment really keeps me motivated, especially when things get tough,” he said.
That commitment to service has helped shape his brand identity. For Rubin, success isn’t just about revenue, it’s about relationships.