Author Archive for osmonder19

Fit + Faith

Fit+Faith International - Christian Women Getting Healthy & Honoring GodThroughout this semester in ENTR 101, Dr. Sweet has talked about the different ways to integrate our faith into what we are passionate about.  Whether it’s sports, music, art, etc., there are plenty of ways to combine the Christian faith with a business.  Dr. Melody is an inspiring young entrepreneur who did just that.  Originally, Dr. Melody was a doctor of physical therapy and then acquired skills in coaching and mentoring as a health and life coach.  She was inspired to combine these skills with her passion for her faith to encourage physical, mental, and spiritual health.  About - Fit+Faith International

From this inspiration, Dr. Melody founded Fit + Faith International.  The mission of this organization is to “empower and equip God’s Daughters in growing in their health, faith and life to blossom into who He created them to be.”  Dr. Melody saw herself struggling with prioritizing physical health in the busyness of life and wanted to help herself as well as other women.  She is passionate about encouraging women in a way that is helpful, biblical, and loving.

Her organization offers several different services and tips for healthy living. Dr. Melody runs a podcast called, “The Healthy Christian Women Podcast.”  Additionally, she has spoken at different events and holds a Breakthrough program.  There are also meal and exercise plans posted on her website.

I think that this is a really unique way to combine talents with passion!  Dr. Melody is clearly a qualified individual who genuinely wants to encourage women to be the best versions of themselves.  Also, Fit + Faith has a blog that really dives into the tough, difficult topics.  Dr. Melody talks about how to be truly healthy – not just working for an “ideal” body.  I really appreciate the inclusivity of this organization, and I think that its mission to encourage women in truth and love is really great.

BLDR Faith

In the Bible, Jesus calls his disciples to go out into the world and share the Word.  As Christians, we should strive to share the gospel with others and live boldly.  Blake Stanley, a high school student from Urbandale, Iowa, took this mission to heart.Blake Stanley (@blakestnley) | Twitter

Blake wanted to wear clothing that displayed his Christian faith, but he found that a lot of them were cheesy and “in your face.”  He wanted to design a shirt that made people stop and think about the deeper meaning.BLDR Apparel (@BLDRapparel) | Twitter

Growing up, Blake was taught to use his gifts for the glory of God, and he wanted to use his creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to serve his faith. Hence, BLDR Faith was born in 2017. BLDR is an acronym for Birth Life Death Resurrection and is pronounced ‘bolder’.  These 4 simple letters hold the most powerful message in history, and Blake really loved that it could spark conversations about the gospel.

At the beginning of starting this company, Blake’s family and friends were apprehensive about BLDR because they didn’t want him to be judged for sharing his faith.  Despite this, Blake kept focus and reminded himself of Romans 1:16 which says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

Even though he didn’t get much support or money in the beginning, he knew that he was working for a greater purpose.  He stayed motivated because of the customers who would come back and tell him how they were able to share the gospel by wearing the BLDR merchandise.BLDR Faith – BLDR Faith

Blake is currently taking a year off college to expand BLDR and its mission.  His company donates 25% of all proceeds to various missions.  This year, part of the donation will go to The Salt Network, which helps to plant churches on college campuses across the nation.  Additionally, BLDR will be donating to IllumiNATIONS, which is an organization devoted to translating the Bible in every language.

I really love the mission behind this organization, and it’s evident how the Lord has used Blake to share the gospel through his t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc.BLDR Faith – BLDR Faith

Also, their merchandise is really cool – feel free to check BLDR out and support a small business at: https://bldr.faith/

 

Mo’s Bows

At just 9 years old, Moziah Bridges became a ‘Kid-preneur’ and CEO of Mo’s Bows.  He appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank at 11 years old and furthered his journey with investor Daymond John.  Since then, Moziah has greatly expanded his company.

Moziah fueled his passion for this company based on a need – he couldn’t find any bow ties that fit his style or personality.

Mo’s Bows are unique, hand-made bow ties that “make you look and feel your best while catering to the sometimes conservative, fun-loving lady or gentleman.” Mo's Bows and Daymond John - Business Insider

Moziah stated that he wanted to expand his brand to eventually create a clothing line that has blazers and neckties.  Currently, his company sells bow ties, of course, neckties, and now face masks.  Graduating this past school year in 2020, Moziah dreams of being a fashion mogul and growing Mo’s Bows into a well known public brand.

When going onto Shark Tank, Moziah had sold over 200,000 bow ties.  Currently, his company’s net worth is estimated at $2 million.

Moziah says that one of his favorite things about Mo’s Bows is being his own boss and making decisions at every step of the way.  His mom is also very active in helping and supporting Mo’s Bows.

Bow tie baller: Memphis teen who started Mo's Bows partners with NBA |  WREG.comMany people can recognize that Moziah is an inspiring entrepreneur because of his young, passionate success.  However, they may not know that  Moziah also has a redemptive entrepreneurship aspect of his company.  His favorite bow tie is the Go Mo Bow because 100% of the proceeds are donated to help kids afford summer camp.  Moziah recognized that the summer time is when child hunger is at it’s highest, and he believes in the importance of kids going to summer camp and having a fun time.

There’s a lot to be learned from someone like Moziah.  From a young age, he took a passion and turned into a successful business all while having fun.

myYearbook

A yearbook is a great way for students to reflect and look back on memories from the school year.  It’s also a good opportunity for students to sign each other’s yearbooks and wish each other a great summer, otherwise known as H.A.G.S.  However, these yearbooks can only connect students so much – after all it’s just a physical book.  Seeing this problem, siblings Dave Cook and Catherine Cook decided to invent myYearbook – an online social networking site based on the concept of the yearbook.  The siblings were fairly typical 15 and 16 year olds in high school at the time, but within a few years they had launched a successful company that made them millions of dollars.Myyearbook.com : nostalgia

In 2005, Dave and Catherine talked about the frustration of seeing people in the yearbook but not really being able to meet them.  myYearbook solved this problem by allowing students to digitally connect with each other while also sharing memories from the school year.  Dave and Catherine also wanted myYearbook to go beyond just high school.  Their hope was that students could continue talking and connecting with each other after graduation as well as network with potential employers.

By 2008, myYearbook was the fastest-growing social network in the U.S – it had about 11 million members at the time.  In addition to social networking and sharing, the Cooks came up with some unique features to add to the site.  Users could play games, contribute to charitable projects, take quizzes, or even use a dating service on the site.  Another unique feature of myYearbook is that it allows individuals to connect to those with similar interests, whether it’s the same school, hometown, or 20-something 'myYearbook' owners sell website for $100M - nj.comfavorite activities.

myYearbook continued to innovate with mobile apps, partnerships, and more features. In 2012, myYearbook combined with Quepasa to become “MeetMe.”  Although other social networks have somewhat “replaced” myYearbook and MeetMe, Dave and Catherine continue to be a testament of hard work and young entrepreneurial minds.

Sustainable Ocean Alliance

Senior Wins Global Recognition for Ocean Sustainability Work - Georgetown  UniversityAt 19 years old, Daniela Fernandez developed a passion for protecting the world’s oceans from marine pollution, ocean acidification, and habitat destruction.  In 2014, she fueled this passion into a new student-organization at Georgetown University, Sustainable Ocean Alliance.  In the past 6 years, she has grown this former club into a full-scale, non-profit organization.  The Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) seeks to empower young leaders and entrepreneurs, just like Fernandez, to help preserve the health and sustainability of the ocean.

There are about 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste in our oceans, and about 100 million marine animalsSolutions for Ocean Pollution | LoveToKnow die each year from plastic waste alone.  Fernandez saw a need – climate change and ocean pollution – and sought to create change.  Starting a non-profit organization was not easy, but Fernandez and her team have raised over $3,000,000 in funding.

Fernandez created two main programs of SOA to carry out her original mission.  The first is the Ocean Leadership Program, which gives young leaders a platform to take meaningful ocean-related action.  This program allows individuals from all over the world to connect and work on unique projects and business ideas to help protect our oceans.  For instance, some young leaders and entrepreneurs have hosted community-centered workshops, ocean hackathons, and advocacy campaigns.

Sustainable Ocean Alliance » Sustainability » Boston UniversityAnother innovative program of SOA is the Ocean Solutions Accelerator.  The program comes alongside ocean-tech startups to grow and support their ideas.  Each entrepreneur is granted $25,000 and access to an 8-week leadership and development program with SOA.  These entrepreneurs receive unique guidance from investors, marine biologists, and experts in the field to grow their ideas into sustainable change.

Daniela Fernandez is truly inspiring.  Not only has she founded a non-profit social enterprise, but she has also inspired other young entrepreneurs to protect our oceans.  Through her programs, she has helped grow many new ocean-relief organizations.  Because of all of her diligent work, she was named the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur.  She truly is a change-maker and leader, and she will surely continue to make a positive impact in the world.

Goldieblox: the building blocks for the future of STEM

Official GoldieBlox Store

Like many young entrepreneurial adults, Debbie Sterling found herself yearning to make a difference on the world.  Sterling, a 2005 engineering and product design Stanford graduate, was working a minimum wage job after college.  For several years, she bounced around between different projects, but she hadn’t found something she was truly passionate about – until Goldieblox.

How Debbie Sterling's GoldieBlox tapped into 'the holy grail of marketing':  viral video - Bizwomen

Goldieblox, founded in 2012, is a children’s multimedia company that creates toys, books, videos, and other products with the mission of empowering young girls in their hopes and dreams for the future.  Some of their products include the DIY LED cloud light, Maker’s Essential’s Toolbox, and a DIY Glitter Beauty Lab. As a young woman with an engineering background, Sterling wanted to inspire young girls to love science, technology, engineering and mathematics.  Looking at the world around her, Sterling saw that cars, legos, and construction toys were pretty much only marketed to young boys – inspiring them to build and create from a young age.  At just 29 years old, Sterling decided to use her entrepreneurial mind to design products that could inspire girls in the same way.

Like most young entrepreneurs, Sterling experienced several criticisms when first starting Goldieblox.  She was constantly told that while her cause was noble, the products wouldn’t sell.  Despite setbacks, she was determined to accomplish her dream of inspiring young girls in STEM.

GoldieBlox | Mohawk Valley Library SystemNot only has she been successful in inspiring young girls, but she has also created a profitable business.  Goldieblox has sold over 1 million toys all over the world and has over 1 million app downloads.  Additionally, the company has received several honors and awards.  Goldieblox has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies and was The Toy Industry Association’s Toy of the Year.  Additionally, Debbie Sterling was inducted as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship by former President Obama.