Alina Morse (Zolli Candy)

At just the age of 7, Alina Morse started her own sugar-free tooth-friendly candy. How the idea started? One day she went to the bank with her father. While there, the bank teller asked her if she wanted a lollipop. She reluctantly declined because she had been taught by her parents that candy was bad for your tooth health. This sparked the idea to make a lollipop that people could enjoy without the worry for declined tooth health. Alina then dove into the research with her dad. They discovered xylitol, erythritol, and stevia — natural sweeteners that help prevent tooth decay by balancing the pH in ones mouth. They then worked with food scientists and dental professionals to define her formula. Along the way, Alina learned how to patent and trademark her ideas, showing great drive at such a young age. at age 9 (2014), Alina launched her company, Zollipops. She is now credited as being the youngest person ever to be featured on the cover of Entrepreneurship Magazine. Forbes also included her on their 30 under 30 list. The company has generated $10 million in revenue. It is also 100% woman run and a family owned business. Her mission statement is to “help reduce tooth decay, one smile at a time”. Despite just wanting to make money, Alina, more importantly, wants to help teach kids about dental health.