ColdSnap Brings Together Tufts Alumni to Serve Up Innovative Frozen Treats
It’s never too cold for ice cream at Tufts!
Last week, the Derby Entrepreneurship Center hosted its most delicious fireside chat to date, featuring Tufts alumni Molly Ryan, A22, and Lyn Ferreira, F19, of ColdSnap. Molly and Lyn brought along two ColdSnap machines. ColdSnap is a countertop appliance which creates a variety of frozen treats (from ice cream to frozen lattes and protein shakes) in just three simple steps: choose your flavor, insert into the machine, and enjoy! Audience members at the fireside chat were treated to a tasting of ColdSnap’s premium vanilla, chocolate, and salted caramel ice cream as Molly and Lyn shared their personal stories of career pathfinding.
ColdSnap was founded by serial entrepreneur and fellow Jumbo, Matthew Fonte, EG10, who earned his MS in Engineering Management and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University. The company is revolutionizing the frozen confections industry with an on-demand ice cream maker that crafts single servings of super creamy ice cream in just two minutes, without mess or cross-contamination, using pods that require no refrigeration.
After launching nationwide last summer, ColdSnap has placed machines in hundreds of Fortune 500 company cafeterias, kitchenettes, micro-markets, and various commercial spaces, including car dealerships, hotel lobbies, resorts, ski and golf clubs, stadium suites, hospital lounges, college cafeterias, senior living facilities, and convenience stores.
Matt shares that the MS in Engineering Management program was a transformative step in his journey, exposing him to tools and techniques to analyze critically, think strategically, and lead with confidence. His time at Tufts also highlighted the value of interdisciplinary collaboration. As he explains, “Innovation often happens when we bridge disciplines from various sectors, combining diverse knowledge to create what none could achieve alone. Tufts unique blend of liberal arts and STEM education makes its graduates particularly well-suited for ColdSnap, where innovation, problem-solving, interdisciplinary thinking and ethical leadership are key to success.”
“Tufts graduates tend to be creative thinkers, collaborative team players, and socially conscious individuals who understand the broader impact of business on society. When we are able to work together as a team with diverse backgrounds, to successfully bridge technical and business challenges with the goal of finding innovative solutions, it is very rewarding and fun!” - Matt Fonte, EG10
Molly and Lyn are just two of a group of Tufts alums who have brought that creative mindset and spirit of collaboration to ColdSnap. At the fireside chat, Molly, a Child Development and Psychology major with minors in Education and Entrepreneurship, recounted how she attended a virtual career fair at the height of the pandemic, met Matt, and landed her first internship with ColdSnap. Working in person, she explored various roles as an operations intern. She loved to travel and excelled in working with people, which led her to sales. Less than three years after graduation, she is now a Senior Sales Executive at ColdSnap.
“For Tufts students looking to take a leap in their career or work at a young or innovative company, my advice would be to embrace curiosity and be willing to take risks,” Molly says. “Startups and innovative companies move quickly, and the ability to adapt, learn on the fly, and pivot when necessary is crucial. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and take on challenges that may seem intimidating at first — that’s where the biggest growth happens.”
Lyn, who graduated from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University with an MS in Nutrition Science and Marketing, traveled a similarly nonlinear career path. She initially joined ColdSnap as a food scientist, and after gaining experience on the product side of the business she moved into her area of passion: marketing, growing into her current role as Marketing Manager.
“Often times we think we need to have things figured out with our career — to have some perfect career path — but for a lot of people, it doesn't work like that,” Lyn shares. “I hope it's an encouragement to many students that the various experiences they've had along the way can contribute to a successful career in business.”
On top of sharing delicious ice cream and stories of career pathfinding, Molly and Lyn spent the evening connecting with Tufts students and discussing innovation. Molly and Lyn’s fireside chat served not only as an example of how career flexibility can open up fantastic professional opportunities, but how connections throughout Tufts’ community of innovators and entrepreneurs help us all excel and lead the way to new ideas.