If you are currently an adult, the notion of managing a business was probably the furthest thing from your mind when you were a child. However, for some youngsters, the spirit of entrepreneurship takes hold at a young age.
And today, more child entrepreneurs are reshaping the small business landscape than ever before. These 6 kid entrepreneurs are budding business forces. Every small business owner, regardless of age, could benefit from observing their journeys.
1. Erik Finman
- Age: 22
- Founder: Botangle
During his childhood, Erik Finman changed schools frequently and was frequently subjected to emotional and physical bullying. One particularly unkind teacher advised the Idaho native to “leave school and work at McDonald’s because [he’d] never achieve anything“.
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Erik eventually left school, but not his education. He developed his learning environment at home, using a computer and an Internet connection, and named it Botangle (a blend of “robotics” and “angle“). “I created this side project to essentially rescue myself,” he stated “Its objective is to replace the public education system due to my incredibly poor experiences within it.” When the prodigious robotics expert was 15, he elevated his project to the next level, launching it as a fee-based online video guidance service. He self-funded the startup using $100,000 he’d earned from an early wise investment in Bitcoin. Nowadays, he supervises a team of programmers, not just for Botangle, but for numerous other probable projects.
What Erik cherishes most as a child entrepreneur:
“The most enjoyable aspect is not having to attend school. I have the freedom to travel, socialize with key figures in every industry, and pursue what I love.“
Erik’s guidance:
“Be self-reliant. I believe [the word] ‘selfish’ is simply a distorted term for self-leadership. Lead yourself through life, pursue what you love, create what you wish to create, go where you desire.“
2. Ollie Forsyth
- Age: 23
- Founder: Ollie’s Shop
Richard Branson served as the inspiration for Ollie Forsyth to embark on his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 13. This occurred three years earlier than when the billionaire Virgin Group founder ventured into his initial endeavor.
Similar to Branson, Ollie struggled in school. He encountered frequent bullying and was labeled as lazy. Later on, the Northamptonshire, U.K. native discovered that he has dyslexia, also sharing a trait with Branson.
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One day, while watching YouTube, he experienced a revelation. In an inspiring video, Branson elucidated how he transformed his dyslexia, often misinterpreted as a weakness, into his greatest strength.
“At that moment, I was determined to become like him,” Ollie informed Entrepreneur. His initial step: embracing his learning difference. His subsequent step: proving wrong the individuals who asserted that he would never amount to anything by launching Ollie’s Shop. The online gift boutique offers stylish fashion accessories, including cufflinks, bracelets, and belts. Ollie crafted some of his merchandise himself at home, while others are sourced from China.
Achieving success despite the critics feels incredibly satisfying to Ollie. However, nothing compares to the thrill he experienced when he finally met his hero, Sir Richard Branson.
“I encountered him at a Virgin Unite conference last year,” he shared. “ I was determined to meet him before leaving the venue. He’s the most delightful person I’ve ever met.”
What Ollie cherishes most as a child entrepreneur:
“You get to meet some fascinating people, but, most importantly, you get some incredible opportunities from those connections made.”
Ollie’s recommendation:
“You have to follow your passion, and if you have a business concept in mind, give it a shot and see the outcome. I encounter numerous individuals with fantastic ideas, yet they hesitate to pursue them as they’re afraid. Just take action and do it!“
3. Isabella Rose Taylor
- Age: 20
- Founder: Isabella Rose Taylor
By the age of 12, Isabella Rose Taylor had already achieved an extraordinary feat by retailing her own collection at Nordstrom.
The Austin, Texas, native’s creations encompass a range of items from crop tops to graphic tees, predominantly in black, white, and grey. Her affection for art inspires those featuring patterns. Many display sketches of hands or splashes of paint, all in an abstract manner. Soon after, Isabella Rose became the youngest designer to present a clothing line at the Seattle-based upscale retailer, and she additionally flaunted her hippie-chic designs at New York Fashion Week.
What Isabella Rose cherishes most as a child entrepreneur:
“Like many entrepreneurs, I have the opportunity to construct a company around something I am passionate about, and then observe its progression. I’ve also relished meeting individuals from various backgrounds. Networking is extremely important as an entrepreneur, and I’ve come across people who have inspired me and vice versa.”
Isabella Rose’s advice: “Starting a business is a significant amount of hard work. Don’t initiate a business unless you are passionate about what you do. Conduct extensive research and planning to ensure that there is a market for your product.“
4. Rachel Zietz
- Age: 20
- Founder: Gladiator Lacrosse
If you can’t find the product you need, create it. That is precisely what Rachel Zietz did. The outcome: Gladiator Lacrosse, the ambitious Boca Raton, Fla., teenager’s premium line of durable lacrosse equipment.
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The varsity athlete and high school sophomore honors student initiated her athletic business in 2013, largely out of frustration. Despite searching in stores and online, she couldn’t find lacrosse gear durable enough to withstand rigorous, repetitive practice.
“For me, if there’s a problem, there’s also an opportunity,” she conveyed to the Sun Sentinel.
Rachel’s parents and younger brother are also entrepreneurs, so she became involved in the business. In her first year, she amassed $200,000 in revenue. A year later, she was on track to generate $1 million in revenues.
What Rachel enjoys as a child entrepreneur:
“I believe the best aspect is that I am able to pursue something that I love [business] and can inspire others that you are never too young to achieve your dream. It is also incredible to oversee the day-to-day operations of the company, and it’s great to witness people’s reactions when they realize who is running the company!“
Rachel’s advice:
“My advice to any burgeoning young entrepreneurs is to ensure that whatever you do, you are passionate about it. Passion is the key to success and it is what motivates you to overcome obstacles and challenges.“
5. Mercer Henderson
- Age: 18
- Founder: Audiots
Unlike most adolescents, Mercer Henderson uses a myriad of emojis when exchanging messages with friends, but she repurposes them in a slightly more creative way than most individuals. She melds sounds, transforming the expressive visual icons into what she terms “soundmojis.”
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One day, the tech-savvy San Francisco teenager combined her own soundmojis. “It was something that I was already enjoying,” Mercer informed Entrepreneur. “So why not combine the two?” thus, her Audiots iOS app was conceived.
The app, propelled by Mercer’s new company, 4 Girls Tech LLC, showcases 50-plus noisy emojis.
The talented young tech-preneur sealed strategic branding partnerships with GE, HINT water, and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). For her SPCA collaboration, she is raising awareness for animal welfare by empowering Audiots users to send entertaining dog and cat emojis that convey “amusing things” and, naturally, bark and meow. She also introduced Cardoji’s, a line of customizable digital greeting cards aimed at Generation Z members.
Henderson has also been working on integrating Audiots with email and Facebook.
What Mercer enjoys as a child entrepreneur:
“The most enjoyable aspect for me is receiving emails from individuals telling me they enjoy the app! One girl informed me it is the only app she has ever downloaded! I try to respond to everyone after I complete my homework and other tasks. Additionally, being on television was enjoyable.“
Mercer’s recommendation:
“If there is something you enjoy, contemplate whether other people also enjoy it. Then attempt to develop a more enjoyable or straightforward method of doing it.”
6. Alina Morse
- Age: 15
- Founder: Zollipops
Alina Morse is one fortunate girl who visited the White House not once but twice and not as a tourist. On both occasions, she was an official guest, personally invited by none other than Michelle Obama
The active Alina Morse showcased the special candy at the White House Easter Egg Roll—a unique creation she devised when she was only seven, with guidance from her father, Tom (the co-creator of 5-Hour Energy).
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Her confections are fruit-flavored lollipops that her younger sister, Lola, christened Zollipops. So, what sets them apart? They are sweetened with a blend of xylitol, maltitol syrup, beetroot juice, and stevia, but not sugar.
She did just that in 2014 when she launched her company using $7,500 from her grandparents. Soon after, she decided to promote her candy creation, available in-store at Whole Foods and SuperValu and online on Amazon. She even pitched her creation to Shark Tank celebrity investor Daymond John on Good Morning America and made appearances on NBC News.
Since the fifth grade, she has been on a roll with her second product, Zolli Drops sugar-free peppermints. In addition to offering a tooth-friendly alternative to sugary lollipops, Alina donates over 10 percent of her earnings to organizations addressing childhood tooth decay
