One of the most fundamental skills an entrepreneur can posses is the ability to see a problem, want to fix it, and create a solution. That’s exactly what Lily Born, then aged 7, did. She noticed the effects Parkinson’s Disease had on her grandfather. Easily knocked over cups caused spills and messes that often cause damage to other items in the house, be it a computer or paperwork, and extra work for grandma to clean up. After a bit of experimentation, and a few prototypes, Lily created the Kangaroo cup, a durable, ceramic cup featuring three stabilizing legs. The now 16 year-old has produced and sold tens of thousands of cups around the world.
Lily’s story is not just one of innovation, but courage. Before launching her company Imagiroo, Lily was a timid and shy girl who balked at even the idea of ordering food for herself at a restaurant. Her desire to help people and inspire others to create impact in the world helped her overcome her anxieties and reach higher than she even anticipated.
Lily had such a great idea at the age of seven! It is so cool to see how by wanted to help her grandparents, Lily was able to create an entire business out of her ideas. It is also incredibly encouraging to see how she grew from her experience and gained more courage. Her passions pushed her to confront her fears straight on.
Lily’s story of both courage and empathy is an excellent example of showing how one can merge their passions with products. Her love for her grandfather and her ability to notice a common problem between her loved ones and other elderly people helped her innovate and create her own platform, something that benefited both herself and others. The fact that she was able to sell her product internationally at such a young age is both amazing and inspiring to those who want to create startup companies.