Kid entrepreneurship has flourished in the last 15 years no doubt sparked by the popularity of the TV Show, Shark Tank and the extensive reach of social media. Through its engaging format, the show has inspired and empowered young minds to think entrepreneurially, solve problems creatively, and pursue their business ideas.
Schools now offer programs and extracurricular activities that teach children the basics of entrepreneurship, including idea generation, business planning, marketing, and financial literacy. We're also experiencing a STEM renaissance with more focus on science, technology, engineering and math over the last decade. This increased focus on STEM is a great effort to keep the US strong at what we do best, innovation. This exposure equips young entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the world of business.
Shark Tank has introduced young viewers to remarkable kid entrepreneurs who have achieved remarkable success. These inspiring role models serve as examples of what can be accomplished at a young age. Their stories showcase the possibilities and motivate other children to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. Here are 15 amazing young entrepreneurs to inspire you!
1. Mikaila Ulmer: Mikaila is the founder of Me & the Bees Lemonade, a successful lemonade business which donates a percentage of profits to support honeybee protection. She started her venture at the age of 4 and charmed the world when she appeared on Shark Tank and got a deal with Daymond John. Website: https://www.meandthebees.com/
2. Rachel Zietz: Rachel founded Gladiator Lacrosse, a company that sells lacrosse gear, at the age of 13. She identified a need for high-quality yet affordable equipment and filled the gap successfully. Website: https://gladiatorlacrosse.com/
3. Ryan Kelly: Ryan started Ryan's Recycling at the age of 3. He collects recyclables and has recycled over 1 million cans and bottles, earning him recognition and awards for his environmental efforts. Website: https://ryansrecycling.com/
4. Isabella Dymalovski: Isabella founded Luv Ur Skin, a skincare brand for young girls, when she was 8 years old. Her products gained popularity, and she expanded her line to include various skincare items. Website: https://www.luvurskin.com/
5. Henry Patterson: Henry started Not Before Tea, a children's gift company, at the age of 9. He designs and sells a range of products, including toys, stationery, and accessories. Website: https://www.notbeforetea.co.uk/
6. Alina Morse: Alina is the founder of Zollipops, a sugar-free candy company. She came up with the idea at the age of 7 and has built a successful business around healthier candy alternatives. Website: https://www.zollipops.com/
7. Lino Marrero: is the inventor of Kinetic Kickz, shoes that turn kinetic energy into power for your phone. Lino found a way to use the energy you generate walking into energy to charge your phone. We applaud Lino's invention that creates clean, renewable energy!
8. Gabrielle Goodwin: Gabrielle created GaBBY Bows, a line of barrettes that don't slip out of hair, at the age of 7. Her innovative product gained popularity and is now sold in major retail stores. Website: https://gabbybows.com/
9. Moziah Bridges: Moziah founded Mo's Bows, a bow tie business, when he was just 9 years old. His company gained significant attention and he has since expanded his product line. Website: https://mosbowsmemphis.com/
10. Daisy Hampton: Daisy founded Including You, connects students with volunteers who can teach them a new skill, help them with work, or just chat. Daisy says her goal is to provide friendship and learning for any student who needs it, so they have access to the resources they need to succeed. Also, Including You will provide technology to students if they don’t have access to any to make sure every student can succeed. Website: https://includingyou.org/
11. Trey Brown: Trey is a young designer and entrepreneur from Philadelphia, PA who created Spergo, a clothing brand meant to empower and give back to his community. Additionally, Brown wrote a book about his “entrepreneurial keys to success” to help inspire others. Website: https://spergo.com/
12. Asia Newson: Asia, also known as "Super Business Girl," started selling candles when she was 5 years old. She now runs a successful candle-making business and is a motivational speaker. Website: http://www.SuperBusinessGirl.com
13. Caleb Maddix: Caleb is the founder of Kids 4 Success, a company that provides educational resources for young entrepreneurs. He started his venture at the age of 13 and has inspired many other aspiring kidpreneurs. Website: https://apex4kids.com/
14. Bella Weems-Lambert: Bella founded Origami Owl, a jewelry company, when she was 14 years old. Her customizable lockets and jewelry became highly popular, and she built a successful direct sales business. Website: https://thinkgoodness.com/
15. Cory Nieves: Cory is the founder of Mr. Cory's Cookies, a gourmet cookie company. He started his business at the age of 6 and has since expanded his product line to include other baked goods. Website: https://mrcoryscookies.com/
So many kids have been inspired by Shark Tank, even adults who watched the show debut in 2009 and are now their own entrepreneurial success stories. Kid entrepreneurship has experienced substantial growth, with more children venturing into the world of business and learning to be kidpreneurs. With the continued support and encouragement of society, the Shark Tank effect is likely to fuel the growth of kid entrepreneurship and inspire the next generation of innovators and business leaders.
Please note that some of the kidpreneurs may not have active websites or may have changed their website URLs since this post was written.
About the author
Suzanne Appel is an experienced marketing executive with a 25-year background in creating and running digital marketing programs for large companies. She founded Young CEO Squad, an educational platform and product line dedicated to inspiring young kids to venture into entrepreneurship.
Witnessing her own children's entrepreneurial prowess, Appel was motivated to simplify and popularize the process of starting a business for kids.