Alina Morse is preparing for life after college while continuing to build Zolli Candy, the business she ran as a child. Now 21, the founder is a senior at Michigan State University and says learning strengthens her work.

In a new Entrepreneur interview, Morse described a business that has kept growing since her magazine cover appearance at 13. She also outlined ambitions for the brand and its complementary nonprofit, the Million Smiles Initiative.

Alina Morse Connects College With Business Growth

Morse told Entrepreneur in the interview that being a student and entrepreneur has long been her routine. She remained in public school while building Zolli, working before and after classes.

Weekends involved business, media, travel and meetings with retailers. College continued that pattern, rather than interrupting a business career that was already underway.

Alina Morse said support from the university and fellow students created opportunities she might otherwise have missed. She also described the social and emotional growth of university life as unmatched.

Her experience connects with other coverage of student entrepreneurship and careers. It also offers a specific founder perspective alongside reporting on startup advice in context.

School and Zolli have been constants for as long as she can remember, Morse said. After graduation, she expects to find other outlets for the energy currently devoted to being a student.

Those could involve the nonprofit, Zolli products or her personal career. She has not described a fixed post-graduation plan, but said she is excited to explore those possibilities.

A Magazine Cover Became A Retail Tool

Alina Morse remains Entrepreneur Magazine’s youngest cover founder, according to the publication. She recalled learning about the cover while finishing her seventh-grade year.

After the bell rang, she retrieved her phone from her locker and saw a missed call from her publicist. The return call brought news of the magazine appearance.

Morse said she was excited but worried about her braces and whether she could pose with her mouth closed. She described her passion for the company as more consistent than her confidence.

Between nine and 13 years old, the business expanded through Whole Foods, Walmart and Amazon.com, she said. The cover later helped introduce Zolli to new retailers.

Alina Morse said the company sends a magazine copy with samples when approaching a retailer. She sees it as validation of the business and a badge of honor.

For related reading on support for entrepreneurs, see reporting on Long Beach’s business grants. That coverage concerns a separate program, rather than Zolli’s financing or retail expansion.

Growth Goals Extend To The Nonprofit

Morse rejected the idea that entrepreneurial balance follows a consistent daily formula. She said she answers the company’s 1-800 hotline even when calls arrive at midnight.

“The idea of entrepreneurial balance is kind of a hoax,” she said. “There is no balance. You have to live it.”

Alina Morse described becoming the No. 1 zero-sugar candy company globally as an ambitious goal. Her statement that Zolli is progressing toward it is her assessment, not an established ranking.

She also wants every kid in America to have a healthy smile and a Zollipop through the Million Smiles Initiative. Morse said business growth has allowed the nonprofit to give more each year.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Alina Morse recommended approaching ideas with a child’s curiosity and less fear of failure. Her next step is finishing college and deciding where to direct that same energy afterward.