Meet Niayah Hicks, the 18-year-old Houston baker who started making desserts at seven and built a business with 250,000 social media followers and long queues at her pop-ups

Niayah Hicks, 18, began baking at the age of seven with her parents and grandparents and launched Starr Bakery at 12. The Houston business and pop-up now has more than 250,000 followers across social media, and viral videos have brought hundreds of customers to Houston Farmers Market to try her flavoured rolls. Everything is made at home with help from her small team, including her father, mother and grandparents. Hicks now goes through more than 300 rolls a day, and she hopes one day to sell her products in stores and open her own brick-and-mortar shop.How did Niayah Hicks build her Houston baking businessAccording to The Houston Chronicle, Hicks sold baked goods at Randle High School while balancing her studies and softball. Selling food during school hours was not always allowed, so she sold to students and teachers after school instead.According to the report, Hicks chose entrepreneurship after graduating because she did not plan to attend college. She said she never expected to go viral or attract so much customer attention, and that she had thought it would be much harder.What makes Niayah Hicks' bakery pop-ups so popularStarr Bakery has more than 250,000 followers across social media. Viral videos helped the business grow, and hundreds of customers now wait to try her treats. She is known for pop-ups at Houston Farmers Market, where she sells a variety of flavoured rolls.According to the report, the menu changes every week but always includes the original roll, the Biscoff cookie butter roll and the roasted caramel pecan roll, which is topped with homemade caramel drizzle. Strawberry crunch, s'mores and matcha rolls are also among the popular flavours. After the launch of her chocolate chip salted cookies, Hicks said the item will stay on the menu, and more offerings will follow.How does Niayah Hicks run Starr Bakery from homeThe bakery is not run from a large building or a spacious commercial kitchen. Everything is made at home with help from a small team: her father, Anthoney Hicks, her mother, Ronnada Hicks, and her grandparents. Anthoney Hicks, who has worked in finance for more than 20 years, manages the business side and teaches his daughter about taxes, goods, brand protection and the long-term picture.According to the report, Hicks has been selling out of desserts for the past year and now goes through more than 300 rolls a day. She hopes to sell her products in stores and eventually open her own brick-and-mortar location. She told the Chronicle, "I always wanted to inspire people with my baking," and said people do not need to go to college to succeed in a business.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.