Archive for Activism

Alinea- Eve Halimi and Anam Lakhani

Posted by Hannah Ya 
· Friday, October 25th, 2024 
· 2 Comments

Have you ever wanted to try out investing but was never taught very well, or do you want to know how to make some money passively? If you’re curious to learn more about investing, then Alinea is the solution for you! Alinea was founded by Anam Lakhani and Eve Halimi when they were only just 24 years old! They came up with the idea in class at Barnard College, Columbia University because they noticed that some of their classmates didn’t want to invest because they didn’t know a lot about it. They also realized that not knowing a lot about investing shouldn’t stop you from trying so they created Alinea, but what is Alinea? Alinea is an investing app that was created with Gen Z’s in mind to help them grow their investments. Alinea is also backed up by Harvard, Goodwater, Kima, Y Combinator and many others. Eve and Anam created this app because it can hard and tricky to understand financial markets, especially today. The internet and technology keep growing, and so do the opportunities to make money. Alinea is a great way for new investors to get more familiar with the stock market and they also offer an “inclusive community for new investors.”

In the app, there’s personalized investing recommendations and caters towards different demographics and generations. Another cool feature of the app is how users can even start investing with as little as $1 for fractional shares of stocks and EFTs. Not every investing app lets you start off with $1, and with the starting price being so low the risks are also pretty low. Alinea also has a feature called “playlists” that are groups of stocks that can be customized based on what your values or lifestyles are. There’s even the option to invest in female-founded companies and many others. Over the years, this app has $2.1 million in funding from a lot of strategic investors and even Hardvard! Alinea is SEC registered investment advisor, FINRA & SIPC Insured as a drivewealth partner, and bank-level security, and SSL & 256-bit encryption. Having all of these features makes investing safer and easier, with lower risks and a whole lot of learning without the stress! With an annual membership only being $96, you can get access to a whole lot of support and learning opportunities on how to invest! Check out their website here!

Sources:

ALINEA INVEST : FOUNDING STORY | Alinea Invest: Social Investing App for GenZ

ALINEA, NEW FEMALE-FOUNDED FINTECH AND Y COMBINATOR BACKED APP, REINVENTS CREATIVE INVESTING FOR GEN Z

2 Comments
Categories : Activism, App, App development, Education, Entrepreneurship, Female Empowerment, Investing, Software

The Sweetest Devotion: Ashley Hetherington’s Journey as a Christ-Centered Influencer

Posted by Ana Geike 
· Saturday, September 21st, 2024 
· 2 Comments

Struggling to find her footing on a path through a season of worldly pressures and broken relationships, Ashley Hetherington was a young woman on the hunt for meaning and purpose, an unconscious search for her Lord burning from a heart of confusion riddled with footholds. But now, standing on the other side of this mountain of turmoil, is an emboldened 24-year-old woman of God whose radiant passion for Christ shines through her efforts as an influencer, author, and content creator. This renewed relationship with God that grew from one of the darkest periods of Ashley’s life has lit in her a fervor for helping other young women come to terms with fighting their own battles, especially concerning faith.

Hetherington has achieved this through business initiatives that, initially, took a leap of faith to pursue wholeheartedly; graduating from Miami University with a degree in interactive media studies and journalism and thus armed to aid in the growth of other companies, she never thought her own writing and social media presence would grow into anything more than a hobby and college pastime. But keeping God central to the trajectory of her life and career has led to a fruition of and full-time devotion to this mission through many outlets.

Ashley’s simple aim has been to encourage her fellow sisters in Christ, citing Proverbs 16:24: “Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”  She orchestrates a variety of media to reach her followers, including several bestselling books and eBooks, an online blog called “The Honey Scoop”, social media channel (accessible through Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and Facebook), a podcast, and a free email subscription for weekly devotionals called “The Hive.” Additionally, Hetherington has a premium Bible study deemed “The Tree”, which includes a daily Bible reading plan, weekly devotional video, monthly group calls with women from across the globe, and access to recommended worship playlists, podcasts, and book recommendations. Ashley’s content, especially “The Tree”, reaches thousands of women from all over every year, uniting them under the purpose of growing into stronger, faith-filled daughters of Christ.

Notably, amidst this success, Hetherington always offers this glory back to Christ. She stated in an interview with Peer Magazine, “I’ll never forget that in one of the lessons [at Miami University], we were taught we are in the business of effort and God is in the business of result so it’s on us to put in the effort. To put in the work, to do the time, to be consistent, to innovate, to network, to show up every day, but God is in the business of results.” In Zero to One, Peter Theil remarks on “the guiding concepts of business”, among these principles being that “it is better to risk boldness than triviality (p. 20).” Ashley Hetherington is living a life and guiding a mission that testifies to the truth in this notion—whatever the internal struggles and external obstacles someone faces, a heart and business built on the Rock will flourish in His perfect timing for the glory of His kingdom.

2 Comments
Categories : Activism, better version of yourself, Blogging, Business::Entrepreneurs, Christian, Commentary, Entrepreneurship, Female Empowerment, Influencer, Social Impact, Women Entrepreneurs

 Buzzing with Purpose: The Inspiring Journey of Mikaila Ulmer and Me & the Bees Lemonade

Posted by VahlbergCD22 
· Saturday, December 9th, 2023 
· 3 Comments

Emory freshman saves the bees, one bottle of lemonade at a time | The Emory Wheel

Don’t be discouraged by life’s little stings. Get back up and spread your wings – Mikaila Ulmer

It’s not often that our greatest adversity can become our biggest success. But that was the case for 4 year old Mikaila Ulmer. At that young age she started on a journey that would conquer her fear of bees. In the process she but also lead to the creation of a purpose-driven brand. Inspired by a serendipitous encounter with a bee sting and her great-grandmother Helen’s 1940s recipe for flaxseed lemonade, Mikaila founded Me & the Bees Lemonade. Adding honey to the mix, she not only created a delicious beverage but also initiated a mission to save the honeybees.

For over a decade, Me & the Bees Lemonade has been producing refreshing lemonades. Mikaila’s journey is not just about entrepreneurship; it’s a commitment to environmental stewardship, 10 percent of the profits dedicated to bee conservation. The company has seen remarkable growth. With a staggering 500 percent increase since its humble beginnings in Austin, Texas

Mikaila’s entrepreneurial spirit was evident from a young age. Starting with lemonade stands and entrepreneurial events she built an aptitude for buisness. The brand’s success story extends to national retailers such as Whole Foods Market, The Fresh Market, World Market, H-E-B, and Kroger. Me & the Bees Lemonade can also be found in restaurants, food trailers, and natural food delivery companies.

Mikaila Ulmer is not just a business magnate; she’s a social entrepreneur with a heart for the environment. When she’s not leading workshops on bee conservation or participating in entrepreneurship panels. Her favorite nonprohit,Healthy Hive Foundation, amplifies her mission to save pollinators.

Despite her business and speaking engagements, Mikaila remains a dedicated high school student. She juggles classes in Spanish, science, and rock climbing while actively participating in her buisness. Her commitment to education and advocacy showcases the importance of a balanced and purposeful life.

She gained national attention when she appeared on Shark Tank in 2015, securing a $60,000 investment from Daymond John. In 2016 she was invited to the White House, where she met President Barack Obama. She introduced Obama at the United State of Women Summit, earning praise as an “amazing young lady.”

Me & the Bees Lemonade has expanded its reach beyond beverages. In February 2020, the brand was available in over 1,500 stores nationwide. She is now selling throuh major retailers like Whole Foods, Cost Plus World Market, and Kroger. The product line has expanded to include lip balms made from beeswax, showcasing a commitment to sustainable products.

Mikaila’s journey is not just confined to beverages and balms; it’s now chronicled in her book, “Bee Fearless, Dream Like a Kid.” The book delves into her adventures as a social entrepreneur. She offers insights into her purpose-driven brand and the lessons learned along the way.

Me & the Bees Lemonade | LinkedInFrom a bee-sting-inspired idea to a nationally recognized brand, Mikaila Ulmer’s journey is a testament to the impact of a young mind. Her dedication to saving the bees, commitment to education, and entrepreneurial success make her a true trailblazer. As Me & the Bees Lemonade continues to flourish, Mikaila’s legacy inspires us all to dream big, stay fearless, and create a buzz with purpose.

 

3 Comments
Categories : Academia, Activism, Agriculture, Bees, Beverages

Cutting a Table in Half with Plastic Knives

Posted by weavereg23 
· Tuesday, October 10th, 2023 
· 2 Comments

In the quiet town of Greenville, North Carolina, a high school kid sat down with a box of plastic knives. A couple of months ago, an idea had struck him–an idea that could potentially make millions. Cutting a table in half using only plastic knives. 

James Stephen Donaldson never really enjoyed school. Whether in the lunch room or on the basketball court, his mind was on one thing. Neither his mother nor his handful of friends could convince him to let it go; YouTube. 

Over a decade later, Donaldson’s mindset hasn’t changed. He sets out with the goal of making “the best possible videos” that viewers will enjoy. With laser focus and incredible self-discipline, Donaldson has pulled all sorts of stunts to obtain viewership–from giving away thousands of dollars to the homeless to spending 50 hours buried underground, Donaldson’s fast-paced, master storytelling as well as his extensive knowledge and skill with Youtube has made him one of the top creators to date. His videos often incorporate high-stakes challenges alongside goofy characters, building a fan base that’s not just thrill-seeking but fun-loving. While Donaldson has diversified his channel through physical products such as chocolate bars and burger joints, he is committed to staying focused and consistent with his content while creating interest. 

Donaldson is not only disciplined at his craft but extremely innovative. Through constant ideation and working with his carefully tailored network of employees, Donaldson is always developing and looking ahead. From his successful campaign to raise $20 million dollars to plant trees to his recreation of the popular TV show Squid Games, he is constantly seeking to grow and improve both his content, storytelling, and tools. In addition, Donaldson has created subchannels such as his gaming channel and philanthropy in order to appeal to a wider range of markets. Despite this, most of his revenue is poured into his main channel. 

While Donaldson produced videos beginning in 2012 and only had 30,000 subscribers by 2016. It wasn’t until 2017 that one of his videos reached viral status, gaining him a foothold in the YouTube algorithm that he quickly took advantage of, causing him to drop out of college and pursue YouTube full-time. Today he has 194 million subscribers and counting and is the highest-paid Youtuber with a net worth of $500 million. Despite the fact that he did not experience instant success, Donaldson’s unwavering commitment to creating the best content has led to major success with no signs of slowing down. Donaldson expressed in an interview that after all these years, he is still as obsessed with YouTube as before. This type of discipline as well as creativity, combined with Donaldson’s apparent desire to help others is an inspiration and one of the many reasons so many are familiar with MrBeast.

2 Comments
Categories : Activism, Uncategorized
Tags : ,

Josh Cliffords – FreeWater

Posted by ChristmanAJ23 
· Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 
· 2 Comments

     There are more than 800 million people who lack access to clean water worldwide. It is a major problem that has plagued society for generations, yet entrepreneur Josh Cliffords came up with a way to help solve this problem. Cliffords is the founder of FreeWater, the world’s first free beverage company. Based in Texas, FreeWater makes cartons of water with advertisements on them, allowing the company to give away free, clean drinking water. Advertisers can buy ad space on these water bottles (the cost of which is dependent on several factors of cost for the company) and present their product to customers in a non-aggressive way. Advertisers can also link QR codes to their advertisements, allowing people to receive coupons, order food, register to vote, and even download movies, music, and T.V. shows. 

     FreeWater strives to “make people happy by saving them money, saving lives and helping the environment,” according to PR Newswire, “Additionally, FreeWater advertisers get 10 times the impressions of direct mail; the company’s potential profit margins are also much higher than traditional food and beverage companies, being a media and e-commerce platform.” FreeWater also creates partnerships with non-profit organizations, such as church groups, sports programs, and schools. These organizations can buy advertising space and FreeWater will give them between  10 and 25 cents per beverage bought. The company intends to take this concept even further in the future, currently developing the world’s first free supermarket. According to the company’s website, they “have created a handful of processes that will enable the free and profitable distribution of nearly every type of product that can be purchased in COSTCO today.” You can read more about them on prnewswire.com or on their website, freewater.io.

2 Comments
Categories : Activism, Clean water

Dressember Foundation – Blythe Hill

Posted by masonaj22 
· Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022 
· 1 Comment

What started out as a personal fashion challenge to wear a dress every day the month of December, turned into an international organization and effort to combat human trafficking. Blythe Hill was deeply troubled by the rising problem of human trafficking but felt lost about how she could help without some kind of legal or social work background. Her passions included fashion, trends, and blogging, and she could not see how these skills would aide in the fight to end human trafficking. As she was asked about her fashion challenge, she began to realize the impact such choices could have. What we wear is an expression to the world and Blythe realized she could harness this to do good. Friends began to join her in the challenge and Blythe decided this was how she would get involved. Dressember was born with the goal of starting conversations to raise awareness and funds to fight human trafficking. Soon there were participants from all over the world wearing a dress every day the month of December to raise awareness about human trafficking. The organization has now raised 16 million dollars and as over a million donors and advocates.

The Dressember Foundation partners with other organizations around the world, such International Justice Mission, who use the money raised by Dressember. Blythe saw a problem in the world and used her unique interests and skill set to make a difference through a new and unconventional way.

https://www.dressember.org/

1 Comment
Categories : Activism, Entrepreneurship, Fashion, Female Empowerment