What started with a simple game of pool has now become a company focused on connecting local businesses with the University of Utah community.
Students Kaleb Begg and Aiden Alringer met during the first week of school while playing pool at Lassonde Studios, a student innovation space and residence. With both students having a yearning to make campus life better, they had the idea for Campus Connect.
Campus Connect connects local Utah businesses directly with campus food markets. The goal behind this: to bring local food options to students and promote healthier foods on campus, Alringer said.
Campus Connect is a student-run company that finds the gaps in the university’s dining experience and fills them with local solutions. Alringer and Begg do the behind-the-scenes work to bring new vendors to campus. “It supports local students and the surrounding community,” Begg said.
Their inspiration was born from their own struggles as students. Unable to find healthy and sustainable food options on campus, they were determined to make a change.
When starting this company, they had to become familiar with the Utah dining scene. They contacted Chartwells, the university’s dining company. “We navigated the entire process from scratch — including learning how Chartwells functions and finding a way to collaborate rather than compete,” Begg said.
Their first product and collaboration launched fall 2025 with Mamachari Kombucha, a local Kombucha brand. “We were literally driving around and meeting local suppliers,” Alringer said.
Both founders credit much of their early success to the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. Begg, a three-year Lassonde resident, Lassonde Founders residential entrepreneur program participant, and student leader, said the Lassonde environment motivated him to create this business. “Lassonde is a great activator,” he said. “You’re surrounded by like-minded individuals, other entrepreneurs, and potential business partners.”
One of their most significant values as a company is their collaboration. “It’s unbelievably helpful to find a business partner through Lassonde,” Alringer said. “They can fill in the skills you don’t have, and when you find the right person, you can endure the hard times and find success.”
Moving forward, Begg and Alringer hope to expand Campus Connect beyond the University of Utah. They hope to transfer to Brigham Young University, Utah Valley University, and other universities in Utah.
Balancing academics, a social life, and a startup isn’t easy, but both agree that it is worth it. Their advice for others looking to start a business is simple: Go to networking meetings. Go to Lassonde events. Talk to people.
Learn more about Campus Connect at campusconnectutah.com.
