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Archive for Kids

Cassidy Crowley & “The Baby Toon”

Posted by fiscuseg21

· Sunday, October 29th, 2023

· 1 Comment

Cassidy Crowley was only 7 years old when she identified a problem that sparked the beginnings of her company, “The Baby Toon.” She had entered a Science and Engineering Fair at her school and needed to find a problem in order to enter the fair. At home, she noticed that her baby sister had a tendency of chewing on the hard back end of her spoon. This would always concern her mother; she didn’t want the baby to choke or hurt herself.

To solve this problem, Cassidy came up with “The Baby Toon,” a 2-in-1 baby spoon and teething toy made of soft FDA silicone and designed to eliminate the long, hard spoon back. Instead, The Baby Toon comes in a variety of animal shapes with rounded corners and edges, making it safe for babies to chew on as well as a helpful teething device. This newly-patented shape also allows parents and/or younger siblings to easily hold the spoon and feed the baby without the spoon accidentally going too far into the baby’s mouth.

Cassidy notes that The Baby Toon is also educational for babies, as it comes in a variety of colors (blue, pink, and green), shapes (rectangle, square, and circle), and animals (elephant, alligator, and koala). The Baby Toon is a new, fun, safe baby spoon and teething toy with various benefits.

At age 10, Cassidy appeared on season 11 of Shark Tank (2019) to pitch her business idea. She received a deal with Lori Greiner for $50,000 and 50% equity. Today, “The Baby Toon” has grown into a successful company with around $1 million in revenue each year. The Baby Toon is now sold through several major retailers, including Munchkin, Target, Walmart, and Amazon.

Cassidy Crowley’s entrepreneurship story is truly astounding, especially given that she started her business and appeared on Shark Tank at such a young age. Cassidy should be a reminder to all young entrepreneurs that the key to a successful business is finding a problem or need in an extremely niche area, and then solving the problem in a way no one else has before while providing several benefits.

1 Comment

Categories : Babies, Kids, parent, Shark Tank, Toys

Debbie Sterling & “GoldieBlox”

Posted by fiscuseg21

· Saturday, September 30th, 2023

· 2 Comments

Debbie Sterling (now 40) started her business “GoldieBlox,” at age 29 in 2012. GoldieBlox creates toys that introduce children (especially girls) to STEM at a young age. Their website includes categories of toys targeted at various ages ranging from 0-10 years.

As an engineering student at Stanford, Sterling couldn’t help but notice that she was one of the only girls in the department. Even worse, when it came to the hands-on part of her engineering classes, she struggled a lot more than the men did. Sterling realized the problem: boys grow up playing with hands-on, STEM-like toys (such as construction toys), but girls don’t. So, Sterling wanted to find a way to introduce young girls to STEM.

To solve this problem, Sterling created the first-ever girl engineering character: GoldieBlox. The “GoldieBlox” toy included a girl-targeted construction kit paired with a book that told a story about Goldie while guiding in the use of the toy.

Early on, Sterling faced rejection of her “GoldieBlox” toy at the International Toy Fair in NYC. Many people told her that girls “only want to play with princesses;” a STEM-related toy wouldn’t sell. However, Sterling truly believed in her idea, so she posted it on Kickstarter–and it was met with huge support. GoldieBlox received large amounts of funding and media coverage.

As GoldieBlox gained more sales and popularity, it received astounding recognition. GoldieBlox had a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, won a free Super Bowl commercial, and was honored by the President.

Debbie Sterling is an incredible example of a young entrepreneur. She encountered a true problem and realized that it doesn’t just affect her, but also all little girls everywhere. Then, she applied a unique solution that no one else had discovered. Even after facing initial rejection, Sterling didn’t give up; she stayed true to herself and persevered, as all young entrepreneurs often have to.

2 Comments

Categories : Education, Engineering, Female Empowerment, Kids, STEM, Toys

Mr. Cory’s Cookies

Posted by welkersg21

· Wednesday, November 30th, 2022

· 1 Comment

Cory Nieves is a young entrepreneur who’s business aims to make the world better for everyone he knows through treats! This business started because Cory told his mother Lisa that he was tired of taking the bus to school; he wanted to buy a car. He began selling hot cocoa to raise money in his town Englewood, New Jersey. Once his mother saw his dedication to his new business, she encouraged Cory to continue selling hot cocoa to save money for college. To raise this money, Cory began selling lemonade and cookies to expand his options for his customers. Cory and Lisa have spent months creating original cookie recipes and learning how to bake. Cory’s Cookies are made with all natural ingredients. Cory has expanded his line from the original Chocolate Chip Cookie to Double Dark, Oatmeal Raisin, and Sugar. Cory has been able to work with some of the nation’s leading companies and brands. Some of these brands include, Aetna, Barney’s, Bloomingdales, Citibank, J.Crew, Macy’s, Whole Foods, and more. Cory has also worked with nonprofits like Bergen’s Promise in Rochelle Park, New Jersey, and Children’s Aid Society in New York City.

1 Comment

Categories : Baking, Cookies, Kids, Young Entrepreneur, Youngest Entrepreneurs

Kiki’s Kindness Project

Posted by KunkelmannPL21

· Sunday, October 30th, 2022

· No Comments

Katelynn Hardee was just five years old in 2019 when the idea for her now very successful non-profit business came to her. One day Katelynn and her mom were talking, and she discovered that her school in the Vista Unified School District had well over six hundred dollars of school lunch money debt and because of this some kids had parents that were unable to pay for school lunches, so their kids had to skip going to lunch at school. The thought of this upset Katelynn so she decided she was going to do something about it and the idea for Kiki’s Kindness Project was born. Katelynn first decided she was going to try and raise money to pay off the school lunch debt by selling coco and cookies around her town. Eventually by the time she had turned eight she had raised over seven thousand dollars; her goal was reached, and she was able to pay off all the lunch debt for her entire school district! Katelynn did not just stop there she wanted to continue fundraising projects to help people in her community. Since the beginning of her fundraising journey Kiki’s Kindness Project has raised over twenty-five thousand dollars for her community! Katelynn and her story have been featured on CBS Evening News, CNN, The Todays Show, The San Diego Union Tribune, Spectrum News, Kusi News, The List, and Good Morning America. Katelynn is also the recipient of the 2022 Women of Impact Award as well as the Hormel Foods 10 under 20 Food Heros award. Katelynn and her mom have also worked together to write a book called Make Your Own Sunshine. Their intent for writing this book was to brighten readers’ days by telling stories about the kindness of others. Katelynn also speaks on a podcast called Little Kids Big Heart where she encourages listeners to make “Little ripples in their community” and it can end up having a large impact. Katelynn’s main mission is “To inspire people to choose kindness and bring communities together.” Now if you’re wondering ways that you can help your community Katelynn encourages you to Build a small library if you are able, pick-up trash, or just do something nice for others. You can also make donations to your favorite local charities and nonprofits and become a volunteer!

No Comments

Categories : Banking, Kids, kindness

Mia Monzidelis: Power Pony (posted by Rebecca Svendsen)

Posted by SvendsenRK22

· Friday, October 21st, 2022

· 2 Comments

Wanting a pony is very typical for little kids, yet not every one of them can have a pony, especially those that live in urban and suburban areas. Therefore, when a young, five year old girl named Mia Monzidelis asked for a pony and received no as an answer, she refused to give up on her dream and instead started up a business that sold big, interactive toy ponies. The business is called Power Pony and in addition to the pony toys, there is also an interactive iOS app. The toy ponies (and unicorns!) could even travel around any area while the child using it was in the saddle, riding it. Her father also helped her with this idea by exploring other toy ponies with her until they got an idea of what they wanted to do.

Source: https://www.investopedia.com/10-successful-young-entrepreneurs-4773310

Mia on her pony

2 Comments

Categories : Horses/ponies, Kids, Toys

Tags : kid entrepreneurs, Kids, Toys

Kenan Pala – Kids4Community

Posted by petschkeRA22

· Monday, October 17th, 2022

· No Comments

Kenan Pala is the child of two Turkish immigrants (as of 1998) and was only 11 when he got an idea for a business. On a run at the beach with his father, Kenan saw passerbys trying to help a stranded seal. When he was being driven home, Kenan saw a poverty-stricken person asking for help. No one stopped to help. Struck by the comparison, Kenan researched homelessness in his home city San Diego and found it was #4 in the nation for highest homelessness rates. Kenan wanted to do something.

His opportunity arose in 2016 when he and his friends broke the Guiness World Record for the largest cardboard mosaic to raise awareness for local homelessness. Empowered by his success, Kenan created his charity Kids4Community in 2017.

Kids4Community is a charity that seeks to aid the homeless. Volunteers do things such as make meals for shelters and create programs which educate people of all ages about homelessness and the dangers of substance abuse. Kids4Community also aided hurricane and natural disaster victims with hygiene kids, as well as sending 400 low-income elementary school kids backpacks with school supplies. The charity is also responsible for organizing the cleaning of Mission Bay and supplying a local homeless shelter with 2,000 stockings in December 2017.

Due to this, Kenan was named one of the top 10 youth volunteers in the country in 2017 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Additionally, in 2018, the mayor of San Diego named January 23rd “Kenan Pala day.”

On top of his charity and accolades, Kenan is a fantastic runner who is not easily fazed by success. In 2018, he ran in the San Diego Rock ’n’ Roll Half Marathon, winning the boys 15-17 age division with a mile average of 5:57. Kenan runs a shocking 40-70 miles a week, often waking up at 4:30 AM to get started. Since he loves running, it’s no surprise he would use it to fundraise for his charity. Kenan hosted a 5k event to raise money to a housing program. He hopes to raise money for Kids4Community by running in the future, as well as run for Stanford University. Kenan even hopes that one day he might run in the Olympics in the 5,000 meters.

No Comments

Categories : Athletics, Charity, Education, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Kids, Male Entrepreneurs, Running, Social Entrepreneur, Social Impact, Sports, Teen Entrepreneurs, Youngest Entrepreneurs

Kenan Pala

Posted by joedeluca21

· Monday, October 10th, 2022

· 3 Comments

The young entrepreneur who I found is named Kenan Pala and he created his business called kids4community. This is a non-profit organization that works with charitable organizations that engage children who are five years or older. The purpose of this is to introduce the concept of charitable work to young kids. One thing I found interesting is how he came up with this business idea. He said in an interview that he was on a leisurely run with his dad and had an “aha moment” when he saw people aiding a baby seal who needed help but not homeless people. This sparked his passion for helping people who are in need when he saw that happen. Kenan was also very involved with volunteering for his community but noticed that it was hard to find work to do because of his young age. I thought it was a great idea because it is creating a positive impact on kid’s lives and at the same time is helping the community. This is also beneficial for parents because instead of finding a babysitter and paying money to watch your kid, you can just send them to this, and they will be busy and accounted for. This young man is very inspiring because he was very determined to make this successful. When he encountered problems at the start with having enough volunteers, he just focused on his vision of helping the homeless. His passion outweighed the conflicts he encountered which eventually led to success and growth of the business. The one question that I have is how he can expand this to other states across the country. I hope that he is able to keep his business growing so that he can have a positive impact on kids and the community.

3 Comments

Categories : Health, Kids, Male Entrepreneurs, Nonprofit, Services, Volunteer, Young Entrepreneur

TRNDSTTRS

Posted by beckta20

· Tuesday, September 27th, 2022

· No Comments

Josyah Lavina-Maldonado is the co-founder of TRNDSTTRS. Josyah is a High School student who is a part of a music group that creates rap music and videos. The group is composed of Josyah and his brothers. This group of boys have always shared an interest in music, this accompanied with their interest in having fun and spreading positivity has created something wonderful. These productions give a positive message by talking about the value of friendship and more. To me it is so interesting and fascinating that this group of boys have turned their talents into spreading a positive message for their audience. I think that this innovative way of creating music and spreading a positive message about certain values, is a fantastic way to reach and inspire younger audiences to do something similar. I think that this group of boys have received appropriate attention from companies. I think that they should continue to grow and engaged with a larger audience, especially the youth. By spreading these positive messages and reinforcing certain values, I think it will help the culture for the generations to come. I have also found myself to enjoy their songs and performances. The group is incredibly talented and very entertaining. I am very curious to see what happens with the group as they become adults and are offered even more opportunities. I wonder if they will continue with the trend of positivity or if they will change their material to something else? Regardless, I am sure that this group will continue to thrive and have a positive impact on their audience.

No Comments

Categories : Kids, Millennial Enrepreneuers, Music, Pop

Sofi Overton – Wise Pocket

Posted by dewingmb22

· Monday, September 26th, 2022

· No Comments

Have you ever found yourself wearing socks or leggings and wishing there were pockets? Sofi Overton, who founded the company Wise Pocket at the age of 11 saw this problem and the need for a solution. Sofi’s inspiration came when she saw her cousin put her phone in her boot because her leggings had no pockets. She got to work and created a sock with a pocket capable of securely holding a phone. Some of Sofi’s inspiration was that “There are lots of active kids like me that need a safe and stylish way to not only store phones but other important items like epi-pens or inhalers!”

I personally think this is a great product because I often find myself wearing clothes without pockets and in need of somewhere to put my phone/wallet. I think that Sofi’s idea is very innovative in a market where you may think there are very limited possibilities for new ideas. The wise sock is the perfect sock for active kids and any demographic with storage needs, because there is always always a safe and secure place to hold your phone, wallet, keys, or whatever else you need close. I would definitely invest in this product!

No Comments

Categories : Clothing, Kids, Socks

Kodable

Posted by einolfcb22

· Monday, September 19th, 2022

· 3 Comments

In 2012, Gretchen Huebner and Jon Mattingly co-founded Kodable, a fun way for kids to begin to learn programming ideas. She created Kodable to be an online way for kids of all backgrounds to learn to code. Now, Gretchen is a Westly Prize winner and member of the Forbes 30 under 30.

Gretchen had always been interested in design and even taught herself web design. however, she always felt she was bad with technology, and only got the chance to begin learning when she went to the University of Louisville. After focusing on design and technology in college, she was able to use these skills to support herself. Wishing she had learned these skills sooner, she got the idea for Kodable, a way kids can be exposed to technology much earlier than she was. Her co-founder, Jon Mattingly, also believed strongly in kids exposure to computers since started to teach himself at age 6.

The thing that makes this educational program stands out is its use of games and activities to teach elementary students the basics of programming at an early age so they are better equipped to use it sooner. It now has very positive reviews and is used by many U.S. schools. It advertises benefits such as “Problem Solving”, “Grit”, “Communication”, and “Creativity”.

Website: Kodable.com

3 Comments

Categories : Computers, Kids, Programming