Alexis “Lino” Reyes, owner of Saint Lino Studios, carefully finished a tooth cast at his booth, which he uses to create his handmade grills, at the University of Texas at Arlington Entrepreneurship Club’s MavMarket.
Reyes, a senior at UTA, specializes in making the flashy coverings for teeth as well as other jewelry. Two hours into the market, sponsored by the college’s Entrepreneurship Club, Reyes said he felt like he had learned how to sell his products better.
Reyes was one of more than 100 vendors at the Mav Market, which sprawled across Brazos Park on April 6. The market gives students a low-cost chance to practice their entrepreneurial skills, with many vendors selling their products for the first time.
Items ranged from handmade jewelry, art, glass-blown ceramics and vintage clothing, to homemade Spam musubi, matcha lattes, and mac and cheese.
Construction management senior Alexis “Lino” Reyes makes molds for customer’s grills during the MavMarket on April 6, 2026, at the University of Texas at Arlington. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)
Abhishek Nagaraja, a UTA alumni, started the market after watching students sell on campus from booths in 2023. At the time, Nagaraja had just created the Entrepreneurship Club and felt there was a lack of opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Nagaraja and his mentor, UTA professor Matthew Clark, surveyed students and staff about whether they would participate in a market.
They hosted the first market with 60 vendors in spring 2024. This year, the club received over 200 applications for the spring market.
Nagaraja estimated students generated between $160,000 to $200,000 through the market.
“It’s a very important thing for me personally as well, because I started something that’s helping actual students, not only to make money, but as a proof of concept for their future to run their actual businesses,” Nagaraja said.
Jovi Henderson of Anchovy Arts sells blown glass and art at the University of Texas at Arlington MavMarket on April 6, 2026. Henderson is a junior majoring in glass blowing. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
Jovi Henderson of Anchovy Arts sells blown glass at the University of Texas at Arlington MavMarket on April 6, 2026. Henderson is a junior majoring in glass blowing. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
UTA junior Jovi Henderson, owner of Anchovy Arts, has sold her blown-glass goods at the market for three semesters. The dependable foot traffic has been essential in her sales and in her learning process, she said.
“I just think it’s a really big part of learning that can’t really be taught in the classroom,” Henderson said. “You just have to do it and get better at it every single year, which I feel like I definitely have. I’ve learned a lot since my first market, and I feel like every semester I’m improving.”
Chaitanya Sant Kumar, current president of the Entrepreneurship Club and organizer of MavMarket, emphasized the importance of affordability for student entrepreneurs. Table fees are minimal, so students have a space to comfortably learn and grow, he said.
The market allowed Reyes to try something new and fail without risking too much of his product, he said.
“Having something like this for students, where it’s affordable and gets your name out there, allows you to learn,” Reyes said. “Now that I’m seeing how everything runs, I’m going to be a lot more prepared for next time. And I’m not losing $300 to find that out. I’m only losing 15 bucks.”
Mocoberry mobile cafe serves matcha during the MavMarket on April 6, 2026 at the University of Texas at Arlington. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)
For other students, the market allows them to expand the hobbies they explore outside their busy schedules.
UTA sophomores Nayab and Hadia Akhtar created their mobile matcha and coffee booth, Mocoberry, as a way to raise money for their local mosque. They have since expanded it as a creative outlet and business venture.
The twin sisters said this was their second semester participating in the market. They enjoy working alongside peers with similar goals.
“The community is great. People are hard workers here, and they decide to put their business forth, and take the time to do that, even though they’re studying at the same time,” Nayab Akhtar said. “That’s really inspirational.”
Bianca Rodriguez-Mora is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at bianca@fortworthreport.org.
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