Raising Entrepreneurs

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Teenage entrepreneurs aren’t a new phenomenon in the valley – 17 year old Kristopher Tate founded Zooomr back in 2006, and Jessica Mah could call herself a serial entrepreneur by age 17. But it’s still pretty rare to see a startup founder get dropped off for work by his mother.

At our August Capital event last week, I met 15 year old Daniel Brusilovsky for the first time. While I had come across a few videos on the web detailing this young man’s enthusiasm and eagerness to succeed in the tech space, I was still taken aback by just how bright the kid is. He seems to know everyone, and a quick glance at his Twitter account shows he gets around too, with recent visits to Twitter, Apple, and the TechCrunch ranch – all without a drivers’ license.

Today Daniel is launching his first startup. The site is Teens In Tech, a community for teenagers interested in producing and sharing new media content in a safe environment. The site launches today in a very limited private alpha, with plans to expand to a public beta by the end of the year.

Brusilovsky says that while there are a number of sites that allow teens to post their content, they don’t make it easy for users to get started. To try to remedy this, Teens In Tech has a simple 3-step signup process, after which users will be given their own subdomain, WordPress blog, and 100MB of storage (the last figure can be easily changed depending on user needs). Users are also given access to a Teens in Tech forum, where they can go to ask questions about new media, or anything else they may have on their mind.

From a technical standpoint Teens In Tech will be fighting an uphill battle. The site is using Dreamhost, a cheap service that most companies wouldn’t go near with a ten foot stick, as its storage provider. And to be perfectly honest, it doesn’t seem like there’s much new code behind Teens in Tech – the backend is a mostly standard WordPress multi-user install, similar to what runs on the commercial WordPress.com site. Brusilovsky says that his team has made some adjustments and that the front page will display dynamic member updates, but for the most part, it seems like a few experienced developers could replicate the site in a week or less.

That said, Teens In Tech may appeal to a niche community of tweens and teens who aren’t satisfied by the plethora of other blogging services already available. Brusilovsky has amassed an impressive list of supporters, with a board of advisers that includes Robert Scoble and Loic Le Meur. And the site is still relatively early in development – given enough resources, I wouldn’t be surprised if Daniel manages to pull this thing off.

Source: Washington Post

The 20 young participants will tour a business park, learn what it means to be an entrepreneur, work with a “Robosapians,” study aerial imaging and visit a manufacturing facility. The three-day program is part of the Just Us Entrepreneurs program jointly offered by the Purdue Research Park and Nancy Justice, owner of Just Us Kids daycare center, which is based in the park.

Youngsters ages 6-12 in West Lafayette, Indiana, will learn more than how to sell lemonade during a three-day entrepreneurship program at the Purdue Research Park.

The 20 young participants will tour the park, learn what it means to be an entrepreneur, work with a “Robosapians,” study aerial imaging and visit a manufacturing facility. The three-day program is part of the Just Us Entrepreneurs program jointly offered by the Purdue Research Park and Nancy Justice, owner of Just Us Kids daycare center, which is based in the park.

* Monday ( Aug. 4 ), Purdue Technology Center, 3000 Kent Ave., large conference room. From 1:45-3 p.m. students will “Meet the Robosapians” with Susan Manahan, assistant director of diversity for the Purdue College of Technology. Students will “program” three different Robosapians to dance, move and pick up items.

* Tuesday ( Aug. 5 ), Purdue Technology Center, 3000 Kent Ave., large conference room. A 3 p.m. presentation from Sean Henady of Aerial Imaging. Henady will explain what aerial imaging is and then demonstrate the technology by flying above the park in his helicopter and taking a photo of the students standing below.

* Thursday ( Aug. 7 ), Chao Center, 3070 Kent Ave. From 1:30-2:30 p.m. students will tour the Chao Center and learn how manufacturing takes place.

The 725-acre Purdue Research Park ( http://www.purdueresearchpark.com ) has the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The park is home to more than 140 companies. About 90 of these firms are technology-related and another 39 are incubator businesses. The park was ranked No. 1 in 2004 for university- affiliated research parks and received the 2005 Outstanding Commercialization Award, both from the Association of University Research Parks. The park’s companies also have received numerous recognitions, including a 2006 MIRA Award: Innovation of the Year for Purdue Research Park/Quadraspec Inc. and a 2005 CoreNet Global Innovators Award finalist. The Purdue Research Park is part of the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation created to assist Purdue University in the area of economic development. In addition to the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, the foundation has established or is currently constructing technology parks in other locations around Indiana including Merrillville, New Albany and Indianapolis.

Source: Newswire

Blue Sipral Ear Rings by Erin, Young Enrepreneur

An enterprising high school junior has launched her own line of handcrafted jewelry, using recently-acquired web design skills and a totally-online marketing plan.

An enterprising high school junior has launched her own line of  handcrafted jewelry, using recently-acquired web design skills and a totally-online marketing plan.   The young entrepreneur is hoping to use the proceeds of her micro-enterprise to beef up her college fund.

Jewelry Designs by Erin is the work of 16-year-old Erin of Massachusetts.

After a basic high school course in HTML programming, Erin launched her website, http://www.jewelrydesignsbyerin.com,  on August 1, 2008.  The site features her handmade pierced and clip earrings in many colors and styles, and is geared toward the tastes of women of all ages.

Erin hopes to expand the site to include her beautiful handpainted gift boxes, as well as special lines of earrings and other accessories for each season of the year, particularly the Christmas holidays.

Source: PRWeb

Logan Cole had little trouble landing his first summer job thanks, in part, to the Ontario government.

The 17-year-old just started his own summer landscaping company and he’s doing well– both with the number of clients and the amount of money he is earning.

“I have been doing quite well for myself, way more than I could at my age working for someone else,” said the young entrepreneur.

It’s not only about the money, said Cole, who is entering Grade 12 at Nicholson Catholic College this fall.

“It’s been a great learning experience and working for myself has taught me a lot of things,” he said. “It has definitely taught me what the real world is like and how hard you have to work to succeed.”

Cole credits the Summer Company entrepreneur program funded by the provincial government and co-ordinated locally by Enterprise Quinte for giving him a head start in the business world.

“Without the $1,500 they gave me at the start, I’m not sure I would be at the point of success where I am,” he said. “And without the continuing mentoring classes and meetings, I don’t feel I would be as successful as I am now.”

Summer Company provides full-time students ages 15 to 29 with hands-on business training, mentoring and awards of up to $3,000 to help start up and run their own summer business.

Successful students are selected through a competitive process which required them to have a good idea for a business and prepare a detailed business plan.

They receive $1,500 at the beginning of the program to help with start-up costs and another $1,500 on the successful completion. In between, they have to undergo a minimum 12 hours of business training from mentors who are successful business people.

More than 350 students from across the province were accepted into Ontario’s 2008 Summer Company program.

Cole is among eight students from the Prince Edward-Hastings riding involved in the Summer Company program.

Leona Dombrowsky, the riding’s Liberal MPP, said young entrepreneurs selected for this year’s program will benefit greatly from the funding and mentorship they will receive through the program.

“The program will allow them to develop and apply fundamental business skills that will last a lifetime,” she said.

Lisa Price, program co-ordinator for Enterprise Quinte, said there are 12 students from the entire Quinte region — which extends beyond the provincial riding — participating in the Summer Company program.

Last summer, there were eight students involved from the Quinte region; in past summers, there have been as many as 18 operating summer companies.

Examples of companies this summer include personal home-fitness, child care, lawn maintenance, web design, video production, custom T-shirts and photography/specialty cards.

“There is a wide range of interesting summer companies. All the companies are successful and they’re all generating sales,” Price said.

One student is running his own high definition video production company.

“He owns all his own equipment and that’s rare because it allows him to keep his costs down.”

Price also singled out Cole for his landscaping business.

“He is well-rounded with the dealings of his business and doesn’t neglect any area of his operation. He is very conscious of his clients and seeing to their needs,” said Price.

Cole, meanwhile, said he knew he wanted to work for himself “and be my own boss.”

Being in business for himself has also taught him an important lesson.

“It’s a lot more work than you expect. When you come home, the job is not done. You still have to do all your book work and contacting clients.”

Why a landscaping company?

“I grew up doing this type of work around my house. I liked it and I enjoyed doing it,” he said. “Besides, I love being and working outdoors.”

Through Cole’s Landscaping Services, he provides lawn cutting, grub control, lawn repair and shrub and tree care services.

“I also build fences if people want because I’ve had lots of experience with that. I also build sheds and lay bricks around gardens. One of my specialties is natural stone walkways.”

Cole started May 31, handing out flyers and going door-to-door to acquire a client base. His business got a boost when he was asked by Nicholson principal Joan MacDonald to provide a quote to do some lawn maintenance work at the high school.

“I gave her a quote that she was pleased with. And I’m still maintaining some of the gardens at the school,” he said with a smile.

Nicholson is one of his 11 clients — the rest are homeowners.

“I got so busy that I was booked ahead of time. But I still have room to accept more business if they call me at 613-968-2861,” he said.

Cole plans to grow his landscaping business even after he returns to class in September.

He already has clients lined up to carry out lawn repairs and re-seeding during the fall and plans to do snow removal in the winter.

“Last winter, I did some snow removal for people, but that was by hand. This year, I hope to acquire a snowblower,” he said.

Cole will continue with the business next spring and summer and plans on taking some college business courses after he graduates next June.

“My career goal is to run a successful business of my own,” he said.

Source: The Belleville Intelligencer

Jason O

On Monday, I announced the winners of the Cash-Smart Kids competition. Today, I have an update from one of the winners, Jason O’Neill, on what he has been doing since the story which won him the competition – and boy, has he been busy!

Here’s the interview …

So, Jason, how is your business going now?

• Continue with the manufacturing search and hopefully find the right company to manufacture my Pencil Bugs.
• Keep submitting my manuscript to publishers.  I know one will be interested.
• Work on writing the next book in the series.
• Speak at more schools and organizations.
• Work on some of my other projects like my Pencil Bugs board game and video game.  I would love to talk with anyone who is a game designer.  I have the whole game concept drawn out but really can’t try it unless it’s in a program.
• I’m going to start my own blog very soon.

• Get an adult’s help because it’s really hard to do everything yourself, especially when as a kid, we still need to go to school as our first job.  Plus, a kid can’t do the legal things.
• If you have an idea, at least give it a try.  You just never know if it will be the next big thing.  I was recently quoted in an interview saying, “You can’t get anywhere by sitting on your idea.”
• Don’t give up.  Understand it’s not always going to be fun and easy but if you keep trying, you’ll be amazed at what might happen.
• Being an entrepreneur isn’t always about the money.  Sometimes the best opportunities and experiences have nothing to do with sales.
• If you are making money, remember to give back to the community.   Pick a charity that you know can directly help other people in some way.  There are a lot to choose from.