From Soap to Soil: Tommy Collin’s Journey of Innovation and Impact 

Tommy Collins, ’23 Advertising, was part of Cohort 2 of the Start Something LAS Academy and co-founded Tom Collins Soap Company. What started as a side hustle with a few bars of soap and a Venmo account has grown into a small business with ten scents, multiple products, and nearly $75,000 in sales. But Tommy’s story does not end with entrepreneurship. Today, he is a Communications Specialist at the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, where he is involved in improving water quality through farmer-driven conservation. His journey, from crafting soap to advancing soil health, shows how creativity and impact can go hand in hand.

“Every farm is different, so every conservation plan has to be different,” he says. “That kind of creative thinking is what we practiced in the Academy.”

Tommy first heard about the Academy from his academic advisor and was drawn to its individualized, hands-on approach. “There’s no formula for entrepreneurship,” Tommy says. “The Academy teaches you to solve your own problems and build your own path.” That mindset laid the foundation not only for launching his business but for pivoting into a career focused on environmental innovation.

While at Iowa State, Tommy was a serial entrepreneur. He gained experience through pitch competitions, CYstarters, CyBIZ Lab, and campus events. He presented at 1 Million Cups, minored in entrepreneurship, and served as a teaching assistant for the Academy. Alongside his business partner, Michael Joensen, Tommy created a name, logo, and packaging for their soap business. They got products into local stores and learned the ins and outs of pitching, networking, and building customer relationships.

Now, that same entrepreneurial spirit fuels his work in agriculture. His background in problem solving and innovation helps him connect with farmers, build trust, and support the adoption of conservation practices. “Agriculture is a steady field,” he says. “And being able to build on things that are going well and innovate on other areas that need improvement, are important for growth.”

Tommy’s time in the Academy also helped him overcome shyness and find power in networking. “Each connection is a fresh perspective,” he says. He credits his mentor, Jenny Pollard, owner of Life Distilled in Ames, with helping him land an internship and pushing him to think realistically and ambitiously. He valued their relationship, especially being able to bounce ideas off of her and have her keep him in check. He brings this mindset into his own mentoring experience as he works with students, supporting their businesses and helping them grow.

Even though he and Michael have scaled back soap production for now, making small batches on Tommy’s front porch during the summer, he knows the potential is there. “The knowledge, the support, the experience, they are all in place. If we decide to scale up again, we can,” he says. For now, balancing the personal satisfaction of making soap with the professional purpose of improving Iowa’s water is exactly where he wants to be.

Tommy wants to keep growing personally, professionally, and entrepreneurially. His journey, from soap to soil, proves that innovation is not limited to one field or industry. It is a mindset. And as Tommy puts it, “The Academy gives students their own tools to innovate in their own ways. It excels in teaching students how to approach issues and solve problems, rather than chase a bottom line. The students that come out of the Academy are better equipped to handle life after college than anyone else.”