Archive for Millennial Entrepreneurs

Isiah Nichols – From True Crime to Bible Thoery

Isiah Markin is a 25 year old entrepreneur and Youtuber. He started his Youtube career back in 2019, and saw explosive results and now is sitting at close to 4 million subscribers. His content was a massive hit, with his highest viewing video surpassing over sixteen million views. But what is it that allowed Isiah to see such massive and stable growth so quickly? Most youtubers take nearly decades to achieve an audience as large and passionate as his, so what did he do differently? 

Isiah approached the platform with next to no expectations, but soon found that his take on unique niche content, looking at and regarding the supernatural and true crime, found an audience quickly. From out of pocket one liners and an entertaining presentation of the t stories, his audience grew quickly. However, of everything that brought him the fame that he has achieved in such a short amount of time, his quippy one liners allowed him to see massive success and growth from people clipping and sharing the lines across the internet. One of his most famous lines was “If I look up into the night sky and see a McDonalds ad, I’m becoming a terrorist.” Comments like these as well as entertaining stories that he genuinely has a passion for saw some massive growth and welcoming form his audience. 

However it wasn’t all luck. Isiah at heart is an entrepreneur and As mentioned, his one liners and out of context sayings propelled him to the top of the leaderboards at an unprecedented speed. However this was by design. Exposure and the first 5 second interactions with a person can sway them to click on your content or learn more about you, and when there are clips and compilations of all the absurd and out of context things that bring a genuine laugh to the audience, the recipe was foolproof. 5 years later, Isiah is now working with many different companies managing his own personal brand and merch, as well as working with GSC Game World film studio on their most recent production S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow of the Zone. It will be very interesting seeing where this young entrepreneur goes in the next couple of years!

Shark Tank – Ring Doorbell

The journey of Ring is one of enterprise and grit. Founded in 2013 by Jamie Siminoff, Ring started off with this one potent idea-to create a smart doorbell that would make homeowners more secure by helping them see and talk to visitors through their smartphones. The felt need for this security adjustment and convenience-one that was getting increasingly prepared well for the product to be received by tech-savvy customers-was there in this case.

Despite the revolutionary idea, Siminoff struggled a great deal to find investors. Shark Tank in 2013 proved to be a turning point. He did not land a deal with the Sharks; however, the show proved priceless exposure. The exposure on a national scale set Ring into motion and attracted investors outside of the show. It was really about overcoming that first significant hurdle: his conviction in the product, and that he could change course on a dime.

And boy, did persistence pay off for Ring. The company continued to grow, and in 2018, Amazon bought Ring for a reported $1 billion. More than the validation of Siminoff’s vision, the acquisition epitomized resilience and adaptability-part of the very tenets of entrepreneurship. This story of Ring reminds one that the setbacks become the steppingstones to success, and with will and innovation, entrepreneurs can turn their dreams into reality.

 

https://www.geekwire.com/2019/shark-tanks-billion-dollar-blunder-startup-ring-went-tv-rejection-amazon-acquisition/

https://ring.com/products/battery-doorbell

Battery Doorbell - Satin Nickel

 

 

Reagan Thomas

Wise Pocket – Sofia Overton

Sofia Overton noticed at just 13 years old a common problem: many clothes for children and women lacked pockets. She came up with an idea to solve this problem, socks with built in pockets. With the help and support of her family and friends she turned this idea into a business and started selling them. Deciding to go on shark tank was one of the best choices she ever made. She rigorously prepared and made a massive effort to improve her presentation skills. The Sharks were impressed by her pitch, and they offered her a deal. The deal was $35,000 for 25% equity in wise pocket products. After this win, her company grew through new problems and challenges. The company started to use social media to grab interest in their products and carved out a unique space in the fashion world. The socks come in fun colors and patterns and in many stylish choices.

10 Interesting Facts About Sofi Overton You Do Not Wish to Miss Out

Sofia’s business endeavors serve as a great example to young people today who have a dream of starting a business. Not only did she find a problem with a unique market, but she competed on shark tank and earned a deal. This deal launched her business into a new level of success. While navigating new problems and challenges the business grew into different areas of interest for a unique market.

It’s inspiring to see someone take an idea and run with it. We can learn from Sofia and learn to take risks and grow through great opportunities. Her developing story goes to show that there’s no substitute for following a dream with passion.

Hailey Hardenbrook – JoyPins

Hailey Hardenbrook is a young girl who decided she wanted to start a business where she could use her creativity and spread joy to those around her. This is what led her to JoyPins. The business started out with just her and her mom, creating beautiful pins to sell to friends and family, but then the response to these pins was much greater than they were expecting. Over time, the business has grown into a larger operation, with multiple of Hailey’s friends working as “employees.” On top of the usual business orders, Hailey carried out a whole fundraising effort to provide pins and handwritten notes to kids at their local hospital.

Hailey had a drive to do something that would impact the people around her, which is an incredibly important thing for an entrepreneur to have. Something she believed in was that every time you fail you learn something new, so you should keep trying. This is a simple way of explaining prototyping, which is another very important thing for entrepreneurs.

Overall, Hailey is a beautiful example of a young entrepreneur and JoyPins succeeded in doing exactly what she wanted it to; inspire creativity and joy in others.

 

Chris Bumstead: Bodybuilding Redefined

(LEFT SIDE – Arnold Schwarzenegger, RIGHT SIDE – Chris Bumstead)

Born in 1995, Chris Bumstead, better known as “CBum,” is a Canadian bodybuilder and social media influencer who has quickly become one of the most recognized figures in the fitness world. Best known for winning the Mr. Olympia Classic Physique title four consecutive times (2019–2023), Bumstead has solidified his position at the top of the bodybuilding elite. Starting his competitive journey at just 19, his natural talent and relentless dedication quickly set him apart, earning him comparisons to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Like Arnold, however, CBum’s influence extends far beyond the bodybuilding stage.

Fitness is a notoriously difficult industry to breakthrough. The competition is high with established and professional athletes with pre-existing followings. Specialized diets, supplements, training programs, and competition fees can create financial barriers for aspiring bodybuilders. Slow physical progress, hormonal fluctuations, and mental barriers can all hinder one’s success. Bumstead has overcome all this and more. Not only has he attained a physique to be desired by sedentary and active people alike, but he’s also successfully translated his fame into multiple entrepreneurial ventures. He launched Bum Energy, a sports and energy drink company, and co-founded Raw Nutrition, a supplement brand focused on high-quality performance and recovery products. His partnerships with popular brands like Gymshark, Vaughn’s Treats, and Revive MD reflect his hands-on approach, ensuring that the products he endorses align with his values of transparency and quality in fitness.

In addition to his business endeavors, CBum is also a massive force on social media. With nearly 5 million followers on TikTok and over 24 million on Instagram, he’s one of the most influential fitness personalities online. He connects with his audience by sharing workout routines, nutrition advice, and personal insights into his life. Bumstead has been open about his struggles with mental health and his battle with IgA nephropathy, an autoimmune disease, further endearing him to fans for his vulnerability and authenticity. Bumstead’s combination of physical achievements, business ventures, and online transparency has made him a fitness icon. By redefining what it means to be a bodybuilder in today’s world, Chris Bumstead has inspired millions to pursue fitness.

Moziah Bridges-Mo’s Bows

Moziah Bridges loved to dress to his best even at nine years old. Now he believes that a well-dressed man says a lot about them. At nine years old Moziah wanted to make his own fashion company with help from his grandma he moved how to sow his first bowtie. After a while of perfecting his craft, his company started to catch wind after an appearance on Shark Tank. In the six years since creation Mo’s Bows surged in popularity. Moziah even signed a deal with the NBA to supply every team with bow ties. His mother is his business manager that helps him every step of the way. Moziah is very frugal with his money, and often donates to numerous charities. He broke the mold for fashion designers as being a 15-year-old kid and continues to grow his brand up with the greats like Neiman Marcus.  Mo’s Bows: Meet Moziah Bridges, the teenage king of bow ties who just inked an NBA deal – CBS News

Ryan Hickman-Founder of Ryan’s Recycling

Ryan Hickman fell in love with recycling at just 3 and a half years old when his father took him. He wanted to continue to do it, and eventually created his own company called “Ryan’s Recycling.” He spends most weekends as CEO of the company with his father picking up materials needed to be recycled from residents and taking them to the recycling centers. He has collected over 1.6 million bottles and cans since being in business.  All of the money earned from this recycling company is going towards his recycling fund, but he plans to have this business as a career long after his college graduation. Apart from the commercial enterprise Ryan has started a nonprofit called “Project 3r.”He uses from donations to promote beach cleanups and environmental education. Ryan also makes hats and t-shirts that the profits go to the Pacific Marine Mammal center. Through his company he has promoted environmental efforts that even got attention from Ellen DeGeneres and Jennifer Aniston. This young entrepreneur has clearly made a large impact on his community and environment by doing what he loves.  Ryan’s Recycling Has Recycled 1.6 Million Bottles, With 12-Year-Old CEO (greenmatters.com)

Fraser Doherty- Creator of SuperJam

At fifteen-years-old Fraser Doherty loved to cook jam from one of his grandmother’s old recipes. He began to sell local to neighbors and such. His infant company soon began to grow too large for neighbors, and Fraser set his sights on bigger objectives. He borrowed his father’s suit, and he set his mission to pitching his idea to a well-known supermarket in his local area. They rejected Fraser, but that did not kill his spirit. He took improved upon their critiques, and searched his country for a factory that would take a chance on him. All but one said no. Fraser came back the next year with all of his improvements, and he got the deal to distribute his product across all the supermarket’s stores. His company blew up from there. He quickly increased his production to over 20,000 units of jelly. Everyone can take note of his dedication and persistence to never give up on his entrepreneurial goals. The Story of SuperJam: How Fraser Doherty Built a Multimillion-Dollar Jelly Empire (web.com)

Matthew Mullenweg: Founder of the WordPress

Matt Mullenweg was born in Houston, Texas. Matt went to a performing arts highschool where he studied Jazz saxophone. He later went on to attended Houston University majoring in political scientce. He later dropped out to pursue a job at  CNET. In 2003 Matt and his friend Mike started the beggining of wordpress. At the time matt was just 19 years old. After Matt took the CNET job he designed a brand called automattic. Now Automattic has around 1,100 employees working from more then 67 countries. Automattic is a company that works with the web so it can be done from all around the world. This company was the bases of many brand sincluding wordpress.

Word press  is now used by over 40% of the web. WordPress is a company that created a way for people to build their own blog websites with little to no experience. This was a big deal because back in the day creating a website would take a ton of time and skills like coding and designing. Now with WordPress many more people can blog on their own website. Matt’s story teaches us alot about following your dreams and pursuing them. Matt was so into Blogs and websites that he dropped out of school to pursue his job. And in doing that he created a massive company from his own hands. To think that only 19 years old Matt thought of an idea this complex is truly increadible.

Adelle Archer: Eterneva

Through researching young entrepreneurs, I came across Adelle Archers. Archers is the CEO and co-founder of Eterneva. This start up company helps honor the lives of loved ones by turning their cremated ashes into diamonds. On top of being a CEO and co-founder at the age of twenty three, Archers has been featured on Shark Tank, was named the Consumer Startup of the Year in 2019, and was featured on Forbes coveted ’30 Under ’30 list. Archers also earned her MBA in Entrepreneurship from Acton School on Business. She was the valedictorian of her class, graduating at age twenty three. Archers idea for this product came to her when she lost her close friend to cancer. After their passing, she realized that there are not a lot of good options for memorials when you lose a loved one. That typical urns, caskets and funeral homes “fell uninspiring and morose.” She also came to the realization that ashes don’t last long and are often thrown out after a generation or two. Her company allows for loved ones ashes to be passed down from generation to generation and celebrate and remember their lives. The market for this business is very large and growing as 50% of the United States chooses cremation. Eterneva’s goal is to change the way that thinks about grieving and to create more lines of communication in times of loss. Eterneva has provided its customers with a to feel close to their loved ones that they other wise would not have.