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Agent Snickerdoodle stops school to build successful secret cookie service

He goes only by Agent Snickerdoodle. He delivers cookies in disguise. And his business is thriving.

Snickerdoodle was, until last year, a PhD student at the University of California San Diego. The entrepreneurial young man dropped out to launch his late-night Secret Cookie Service.

After a trip home, during which he sampled his mom's "insanely good cookies," Snickerdoodle returned to UCSD with a business idea. He baked 500 chocolate chip cookies, packaged them in individual bags, and stapled the following note to each:

"This is the Secret Cookie Service, a new late-night cookie delivery service on campus. If you like these cookies, just call this number anytime between 7 p.m.-2 a.m. 7 days a week and tell us how many cookies you want, the drop point (delivery address), and your contact number."

That night, his phone went off. The Secret Cookie Service had a customer.

Snickerdoodle now spends six hours a day baking. Every night, students text or call Snickerdoodle, requesting his now-famous-on-campus cookies. He responds with a CETA (Cookie Estimated Time of Arrival) and then hand-delivers the cookies in disguise. He and his partner dress in dark suits with dark ties and wear dark sunglasses to deliver the treats.

The disguise wasn't just a business gimmick; it was to protect himself from criticism when he ditched chemistry class for cookies.

"It was terrifying leaving the program," Snickerdoodle told NBC San Diego. "I think a lot of people kind of looked down on it, like 'what am I doing?' And literally said I was nuts doing it."

Still, his secret-agent attire quickly became a business draw.

"It's definitely unique when guys in suits and shades deliver cookies for you," Snickerdoodle said. "It's definitely an experience."

He has loyal customers already, with some students ordering the fresh-baked gourmet cookies multiple times a week. At just $5 for four, it's an affordable indulgence come exam time. He also delivers milk for an extra $1.50.

The business is growing quickly, with Snickerdoodle now offering off-campus delivery in the greater San Diego area:

"We continue to grow on UCSD's campus, but we're trying to reach out to the rest of La Jolla's region," he said. "I am obsessed with quality control…I want the delivery service to always be the timely, courteous, enjoyable quality fun that it is and not trade these characteristics away in exchange for too rapid of growth."

His goal to open up a permanent shop that could operate as a base of operations.

"My goal is to create a workplace that is a creative, vibrant place, where people are excited to go to work," he said.