Creativity Meets Commerce at Baruch’s Entrepreneur Marketplace

March 31, 2025

To celebrate Women’s History Month, Baruch hosted a vibrant marketplace for student entrepreneurs on March 26 which drew hundreds of students, faculty, and staff.

Sponsored by the Lawrence N. Field Center for Entrepreneurship and the Office of Student Life, the second Baruch Women Entrepreneurs Marketplace event featured 19 business owners and creators showcasing a wide range of products and services, including apparel, cosmetics, food, and more.

“This popular marketplace is more than just a business event—it’s a hands-on learning opportunity,” said Marlene Leekang, executive director of the Lawrence N. Field Center for Entrepreneurship. “It gives students a chance to test their ideas, hear customer feedback, and build confidence as entrepreneurs. Events like this empower our students to turn their passions into viable ventures.”

Meet the Baruch Entrepreneurs

Sameeha Zaidi (’25) and her sister teamed up to launch merijewelries, a handmade clay jewelry business, during the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a creative way to stay engaged during lockdown has since grown into a small business. Zaidi, who is majoring in marketing and analytics at the Zicklin School of Business, said she enjoyed the opportunity to showcase her work at the marketplace.

“It was a passion project to pass time during the pandemic,” Zaidi said. “We started selling our earrings in the yard and wanted to expand our business. It has been a fun experience.”

The mother and daughter team of Alexandra and Priya Luna Spadea (’27) run SpadeaNYC LLC, a third-generation family business which creates potent, herbal-infused balms and oils using ingredients from their farm in Rockland County. Priya Luna, an English major at the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, is helping expand the brand’s reach by managing the company’s social media channels and website.

“SpadeaNYC is dedicated to providing organic and natural products that help remedy skin concerns and ailments,” explained Priya Luna. “We are grateful for all the new followers and fans from today’s marketplace who are supporting our success.”

Duriana Vivar (’26), who is majoring in entrepreneurship, has been drawn to art from a young age—starting with crayons and colored pencils, then exploring markers and eventually acrylic paint. In recent years, her creativity evolved into a business venture: Art by Duriana, where she shares and sells her original artwork.

“I was inspired to launch Art by Duriana by seeing other artists post their pieces on social media,” Vivar mentioned. “I was intrigued by their art pieces, so I went onto their websites and saw their aesthetic and art style which made me want to start my own business.”

Richard Wen (’26), a marketing major with a minor in communications, participated in the College’s marketplace for the first time. Wen, who is a nonbinary entrepreneur, promoted amazingendernt, a creative venture offering custom artwork, handmade origami flower bundles, and handcrafted bracelets.

“This was a great opportunity to make new connections and show people my creative work,” said Wen. “It was a good experience, and I hope to be back again at the next event.”

The marketplace not only showcased the talents of current Baruch students but also featured a proud alumna, highlighting the continued entrepreneurial spirit within the Baruch community.

Baruch alumna Rosario Campoverde (MBA ’21), the founder and CEO of Ardi Tutors, attended the marketplace to connect students with an educator that could provide them with personalized instruction for academic success. Alums should go after students.

“Our services are fully remote and offer flexibility for all participants who have a busy schedule,” Campoverde said. “At Ardi Tutors, we are committed to helping others get access to educational resources to achieve personal growth.”

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