Young entrepreneurs did this
By TRISOFT team
Everyone knows the saying “age is just a number”, but when it comes to businesses and companies, people are reluctant to put it into practice. Managers want grown-up employees, with experience, which means that the average worker must be past 25 years old; collaborators take partners who inspire seriousness and reliability; and leaders are expected to be elderly, qualified, accomplished and wise.
However, there are numerous teens and even children willing and able to show us wrong. Age doesn’t determine success, since one is never too young or too old for starting a business. Whether you’re seven or seventy, own a driver’s license or a high school diploma, still have a curfew or have to do your homework while working on your business, you can always put your skills and passions to work and create your own company or earn a living from doing what you love.
Here are a few examples of companies founded and owned by fantastic young entrepreneurs.
Are You Kidding by older brother Brandon Martinez, 13, and younger brother Sebastian Martinez, 11, who design, create and sell their own line of funny, original and colorful socks, while also making a difference in their community, one sock at a time. They use their business to raise funds and awareness for different charities concerned with children suffering from cancer, autism or various other ailments or disabilities. They are an inspiration to other entrepreneurs, young and old, with their energy, determination and generosity.
13 year-old Sofia Overton once saw her cousin put her phone in her boot, because her pants didn’t have any pockets, and she herself was often challenged as to where to put her phone when wearing a relaxed and casual outfit, so she created Wise Pocket — a company that produces and sells socks and tights with pockets, big enough to fit your phone, but small enough not hinder your walking or other activities. Sofia also decided to give back to the community, so she has decided to donate one pair of socks to children in need, for each pair of socks sold on her website.
Maya Penn, the creator of Maya’s Ideas, is 18 years old now, but she first got into the business world at the age of 8, when she started creating environmentally sustainable and fashionable accessories and clothes. In her 10 years career, she has been a social entrepreneur, global activist, philanthropist, author, nonprofit organization CEO, she has won awards and given TED talks, has been featured in Forbes magazine and commended by President Obama. Moreover, she gives 10% of her profits to charities and environmental NGOs.
Evan Moana, now 14, started EvanTubeHD in fourth grade; he is a famous vlogger and YouTuber, who was deemed the network’s youngest millionaire in 2016. He and his sister mostly review and play with toys on their joint channel, but also take on kid-friendly challenges and raise money for various charities and activities. The earnings from their more than 6 million subscribers are invested into the brother and sister’s education and future plans.
Cory Nieves, of Mr. Cory’s Cookies, has always had a knack for entrepreneurship, as well as a sweet tooth. Thus, he convinced his mother to try and develop the perfect recipe for chocolate chip cookies, which they eventually, did, after months of experiments and adjustments. He was determined to buy a car when he got older, because he was tired of taking the bus to school, and after attempting a hot cocoa and a lemonade business, he eventually found success and attracted attention from important companies and brands with his cookies.
Asia Newson was only 5 when she saw her father selling candles door-to-door, so she decided to follow in his footsteps and start her own business, making and selling handmade, colorful and scented candles. She was named Detroit’s youngest entrepreneur at the age of 10 and now, at 14 years old, her company, Super Business Girl, is still thriving and helping her and her family make a decent living — her mother being the president, and her father the sales director. Her website also sells T-shirts, mugs, jewelry and other items, and she is striving to teach other children how to become successful entrepreneurs.
Miracle Olatunji was in high school when she took an entrepreneurship course and decided to put it to use after seeing that she and her colleagues didn’t have enough opportunities for exploring possible future careers, building their professional network, or finding and developing their skills, competences and passions before going to college and starting their careers, so she created OpportuniMe, a company that aids youth develop valuable skills, such as leadership, public speaking, collaboration, critical thinking and more. She has been invited to speak on TedX and has authored a book called Purpose: How to Live and Lead with Impact.
Haile Thomas, the founder and CEO of HAPPY (Healthy Active Positive Purposeful Youth) was five when she began experimenting with cooking, and at the age of 8, when her father was diagnosed with diabetes, she started researching healthier meal options, which led her to develop a career in the field. She is the youngest graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and a certified nutrition health coach. She is also a motivational speaker, a vegan chef and a health activist, who aims at bringing nutrition education to poor children through free cooking classes, summer camps and in-school programs.
At TRISOFT, we believe that young people carry the key to reshaping the start-up business landscape. And although they have a lot on their plate, dealing with school, sports, hobbies and other activities all at the same time, they have the energy and enthusiasm to put their entrepreneurial skills to good use and often times they teach lessons in professionalism and community involvement to those older than them.
