Tuesday, Oct 08, 2024 • Brian Lopez : contact

Felipe Quintero Rojas (’24 MS, Human Resource Management) has been an avid gamer for over 20 years.

From playing classics like Super Mario Bros. to enjoying the latest releases like Age of Empires II, being a gamer is part of who he is. But whenever he tried to showcase his passion for gaming, specifically through donning themed apparel, he found it wasn’t his style, as most gamer clothing featured extravagant designs. He also didn’t see any designs or options that catered to the Hispanic community.

Quintero, a Colombia native who came to Texas in 2022 to pursue his master’s degree, took matters into his own hands and founded EZBUFF, a minimalist take on video game apparel. The name is a popular term among gamers: “EZ” means easy, and “BUFF” means to be awarded an in-game enhancement. Quintero said the logic behind it is that wearing his company’s apparel is an easy way to look good.

“There isn’t much out there giving gamers a customizable experience with their apparel,” he said. “EZBUFF has allowed me to cater to gamers with different styles and do something for my community.”

This fall, his idea won him a $5,000 prize at MavPitch, UTA’s Shark Tank-style competition where students pitch business ideas.

“MavPitch is a great way for students to be exposed to entrepreneurship and help them foster a sense of innovation and outside-the-box thinking,” said Jeffrey McGee, a professor in the Department of Management and the program’s organizer.

Some of the EZBUFF apparel includes T-shirts, hoodies and sweatpants for men and women. Customers can stylize their clothing with different gaming phrases, such as GG (“good game”) or GLHF (“good luck, have fun”), as well as their own preferred phrases. More importantly, apparel with Spanish gaming phrases such as vamos (“let's go”) and buen juego (“good game”) will also be available.

Quintero is currently working on an EZBUFF website. Prototypes of his apparel have already been sent to gamers for testing and feedback. His goal is to become the preferred gaming apparel company.

He credits UTA and the MavPitch program with furthering advancing his entrepreneurial journey.

“I could not have asked for a better place to have earned my master’s,” Quintero said. “UTA provided a high-quality education and resources to make me feel at home. I also couldn’t have done it without Professor McGee, who helped me become a better entrepreneur.”