Entrepreneurship Starts with a Folding Table—and a Purpose
I remember the first time I heard the word “entrepreneurship.” I was in high school, and someone told me,
“Don’t let anyone impress you by saying they’re an entrepreneur. It’s code for being unemployed.”
That stuck with me. But in college, I found myself in an entrepreneurship class with Professor Jen Capps. I learned how to spell it—and more importantly, I learned that entrepreneurship starts with a pain point and a purpose.
Lesson 1: Find Your Pain Point
Mine started in third grade when I switched schools and felt completely alone. That changed when three girls invited me to be their friend. They had an innate sense of inclusion and saw people as people. We were all different—Emma has Down syndrome, Grace has DiGeorge’s syndrome, and Sarah had a stroke when she was 1—and I was neurotypical and able-bodied.
As we grew older, I saw differences in our future. I was preparing for internships and study abroad. My friends weren’t. Emma had a job at a grocery store, but all they let her do was clean bathrooms. That was my pain point. I realized something was broken—and I felt compelled to do something about it.
Lesson 2: Build Your MVP
We started scrappy. Our first event featured a folding table from the student union, coffee from Starbucks, and iron-on aprons. We gave coffee away for free—and people loved it.
Soon, we were invited to offices, golf tournaments, even weddings. Eventually, people were willing to pay. We built our first location at the NC State Farmers Market—literally built it, with Lewis Sheats’ nail gun.
We taught ourselves how to dial an espresso machine from YouTube the night before opening. That DIY spirit still drives us today.
Lesson 3: Manage Risk
Entrepreneurship isn’t about avoiding risk—it’s about managing it. I had to decide whether to pursue medicine or go all-in on 321 Coffee. I was terrified. I didn’t have a resume or a success story. I had imposter syndrome.
But I leaned on my mentors. Lewis Sheats told me:
“I hear the excitement in your voice. I’d love for you to have the ability to try.”
That changed everything. I dropped my pre-med classes and committed to 321. I realized I’d rather try and fail than regret not trying.
Lesson 4: Celebrate the Big and Small Moments
Opening our first brick-and-mortar location was surreal. I was 22, signing a 10-year lease. The morning of the grand opening, it poured rain—but hundreds of people showed up with umbrellas.
That afternoon, Aaron and I flew to NYC to film a commercial with Queen Latifah. It was Aaron’s first time leaving Raleigh, first time on a plane, first New York bagel.
These moments—big and small—are what entrepreneurship is all about.
Lesson 5: Representation Matters
Being a young founder is harder than being a female founder. People underestimate you. But our age became our superpower. We weren’t afraid to try new things—like rewriting the “12 Days of 321” and recording a jingle in Lenovo’s studio.
Meeting Maggie Kane, founder of A Place at the Table, another young female founder, changed everything. She was relatable. She spilled coffee, tripped, burned grilled cheese—and she was still a successful social entrepreneur.
Seeing Maggie made me believe I could do it too. And now, Grace and Emma—my third-grade friends—work at 321. Full circle.
Break the Mold
I’ve broken all the rules:
Married my co-founder
Took investment from friends and family
Michael hired his mom
And it’s working.
Entrepreneurship isn’t about following a formula. It’s about empowering people to make the next best decision for themselves. That’s where innovation thrives.
So if it’s not broken—break it.
