Teenager Startups - Curated News

Kidpreneurs start "T-and-N Bow Ties and Apparel" to help raise money for children in need

8-year-old Treandos Thornton along with his 5-year-old brother Noah created a bowtie business "T-and-N Bow Ties and Apparel". They use their profits to raise money for food and toys to give to children.

Pandemic has been difficult for their business but their mother said it is also training them to be businessmen. Many organisations like UPS are stepping up to support their initiatives.

Ailbe Bartlett was awarded £1,000 for his sustainable cycling business concept, CogNativeBikes

Ailbe pitched his idea about sustainable cycling business concept, CogNativeBikes which was highly appreciated by the panellists. Peter Jones, who is worth an estimated £450 million was one of the panellists. He told Ailbe that he himself was one of the greatest strengths of the business, suggesting his approach would allow him to grow and pivot in the business. He also donated one of his old bike for the project.

Ailbe has been awarded a full mentoring programme from BBC Dragon's Den star, Peter Jones CBE. His school's business head is incredibly proud of his work.

Dominik Davis started small online business building and selling bat houses, called Beddy Bye Bats.

Dominik Davis participated in a science project when the school were still on, but due to Covid couldn't go to the provincials. It was about the little brown bat. It was his Mom's idea to start a business of building bat houses when she saw his projects

They started building the bat houses by looking from patterns online and soon started getting orders when his mother posted the pictures online. David has been interested in the Bats from very long. P.E.I.'s bat population has struggled for more than a decade because of white-nose syndrome. he hopes his business would help solve this problem

A smartphone app will help you reduce your carbon footprint

Harriet Noy, founder of Hazaar is now working towards reducing carbon footprints by launching a smartphone app which will you help you shop locally. Hazaar is a zero-waste online market place and her new app will support Hazaar’s rapid expansion. Hazaar runs through a Facebook Marketplace where users can buy items online that they hand over in person, which cuts out wasteful packaging and travel miles.

Hazaar community is growing by around 2,000 members every week. Each University’s Marketplace has its own ‘Head of Hazaar’ to help organise trading, community events and encourage a love of sustainable living.

'STEM'- Introducing young scientists to the world, inspires young girls

Missing out on extracurricular activities in this unexpected break due to pandemic, Whitney decided to share her love for science with other girls by launching Fem ‘n STEM which delivers hands-on, science-themed kits for girls in grades 3 to 6. Her startup aims to help young girls, also stuck at home due to the pandemic, to get excited about science.

Her first box was about chemistry named “Get Crazy with Chemistry”. It had all the materials required to make a lava lamp, magnetic slime, and bouncy balls. She is planning her next box on the theme “Space is Stellar.”

Growing up Whitney was always a part of some or the other science group and would have loved such boxes to feed her curious mind. She aims to motivate girls to take up more STEM courses and break the stereotypes linked with them. It's very much needed now during a time when science, medicine, and technology are more critical than ever.

ArchAI applies artificial intelligence to the detection of archaeological sites.

Iris Kramer’s invention, ArchAI was valued at a record-breaking £770,000 at a Dragons’ Den-style event. It is first of its kind to apply artificial intelligence to the detection of archaeological sites. It uses data from laser scanning and satellite imagery to work out the likelihood of a given location containing an archaeological site. Groundwork can then confirm its report.

Iris says it takes 6-12 months for archaeological research before construction and her invention can save that time

Pura Cosmetics, a lip care brand started by Rose Dyson has a turnover of £100,000 a year

Rose Dyson started eco-friendly lip care brand, Pura Cosmetics when she was just 15 as a part of high school completion with just £25. Now six year later her company has a turnover of more than £100,000 a year.

She was always an active kid and liked to participate in all kind of competitions no matter how geeky they sound. That was surely helpful in her case. At the start, she marketed her product using social media and local fairs to set up funding. She won various awards gaining higher investments.

While forming the brand she researched a lot about different formulas for lip care products and contacted various companies for advice. Her products start at £3.99. Her company also provides plastic-free packaging.

Dyson decided not to go to college and focus on her business.

EZ Fade Haircut Guard, a pandemic product

When the pandemic hit, the common problem which men felt was to get their hairs trimmed. While most of them used basic trimmers to trim all of them they couldn't get the desired results. The same problem inspired Hunter Perock to design the product.

He designed the model of EZ Fade Haircut Guard using 360 CAD software — which he learned in high school and printed it using a 3d printer. He printed over 50 models till he got the perfect one. it is made up of two pieces the guard and the attach.

He is now planning to retail the product to barbers shop and to at-home haircuts. He is planning to launch a website once he gets sufficient funds. The guard will be available for $35 online.

Before designing this product his first venture was teaching students how to wake surf.

Frsico teen Gurnoor Narula wins top 10 entrepreneur prize

Groundify, founded by Gurnur Narula won first place in top ten entrepreneur award in the 12th Annual Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Saunders Scholars Competition. Groundify makes products like facial scrubs and candles using spent coffee grounds and sells them online.

They won a cash prize of $5,000 and $30,000 in scholarships.

Teen named Trailblazer at GirlBoss Awards

The GirlBoss Awards, honour girls and women aged 11-18 and work towards empowering women in New Zealand. This year Gina Dao-McLay’s won the Trailblazer award at the 2020 GirlBoss Awards for her "Make it 16" campaign. She was one of the eight winners.

Young people nowadays are surrounded by media and are aware of the many issues their generation would face in future. That's why Gina believes that voting rights should be given to students aged 16 as the decisions made today are going to affect them the most.

While campaigning Gina always had a doubt about entering politics, she answered it with "If not me, then who?"