AG Business Student’s Probiotic Frozen Dessert Startup A Success
Alex Malone, a fourth-year agricultural business major, is the is the CEO and co-founder of Vandra, a health and wellness startup that is redefining how people approach gut health through ice cream. Malone, along with co-founder third-year business administration major Wian Roothman, were selected for the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) 2025 Summer Accelerator Program to develop their business marketing probiotic rich frozen desserts made with dairy based kefir to promote gut and immune health. The intensive 12-week program provides seed funding, mentorship and workspace at the HotHouse in San Luis Obispo.
Malone expressed her gratitude for her involvement in the center and the possibilities that it opened up for her, “The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship provided me with opportunities I never thought imaginable,” she said. “I was quite literally able to start a company just by the tools, connections and funding provided to me by the center and Cal Poly.”
Earlier this year, Vandra earned third place and the Bakir Begovic Innovation Award of $5,000 at Cal Poly’s Innovation Quest (iQ) competition. Additionally, Vandra won a $5,000 award from the California Milk Advisory Board. Malone and Roothman are continuing to refine their product and business strategy as they work toward introducing Vandra to the market.
Read more stories in Ag Biz Buzz Winter 2026.
