Seth Trimble is proving that his vision stretches far beyond the basketball court. The 21-year-old University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) guard has just made history as the youngest Ben & Jerry’s franchise owner, using his name, image, and likeness (NIL) earnings to turn a dream into reality, AfroTech reports.
“I’ve always had that vision, I know the ball doesn’t juggle forever,” Trimble told reporters.
The Wisconsin native has always been passionate about exploring new lanes. NIL deals, including partnerships with Powerade and Town & Country Farms, gave him the financial boost to step into entrepreneurship. For Trimble, this wasn’t just about ice cream — it was about building something that lasts.
“I know that me, as a human being, I’m allowed to have many interests in life. Basketball is a thing that I crave the most. It’s what I love to do, but you know, there’s things I also want to explore, and that’s the business world, that’s entrepreneurship, that’s just seeing what I can do and how successful I can be in these other fields,” Trimble explained.
A major influence in his journey has been Primo Partners CEO Antonio McBroom, a fellow Tar Heel alum who went from scooping ice cream in college to owning more than 24 Ben & Jerry’s locations. The two first met during Trimble’s senior year of high school and built a bond that turned into mentorship.
“I just see him as like somebody very close to me who always instills the right things and the right beliefs into me,” Trimble said.
When McBroom suggested he could pass down one of his stores, Trimble jumped at the opportunity. On September 1, he revealed that he officially owns the Ben & Jerry’s shop on Franklin Street near campus — the same street countless UNC students and Chapel Hill residents walk for late-night scoops. With the move, he also breaks McBroom’s record as the company’s youngest franchisee.
“In the recent months, I have been blessed with the opportunity to fulfill one of my many dreams and aspirations of entrepreneurship. I’m extremely grateful to officially be able to say that I am now an owner of the Ben & Jerry’s store on Franklin St,” Trimble wrote on Instagram alongside pictures of himself and McBroom.
“The main goal is always the main goal, but I’m excited to stamp myself in a different way at this University. I am honored to reinvest in the community that has given so much to me. Go get y’all’s Ben & Jerry’s,” he added
From buzzer-beaters to business moves, Trimble is showing his peers that it’s never too early to own your future — and yes, it might just come with two scoops on top.
Cover photo: UNC’s Seth Trimble Used NIL Earnings to Become Youngest Ben & Jerry’s Franchise Owner/Photo credit: Seth Trimble/Instagram