Young Moziah “Mo” Bridges was extremely disappointed with the variety and creativity he saw in the bow ties available for him to buy. In his disappointment, he wondered whether or not other people recognized a similar problem. As someone who simply enjoyed dressing nicely, he sought to determine a solution to this issue. With the help of his grandmother, 9-year-old Mo learned how to sew custom-made, trendy bowties that he could wear himself and sell to others.
At first, Mo began selling his bowties on Etsy, but in a short period of time, his bowties began to be picked up by boutiques and retail stores. By the time he turned 15, Mo’s business had become wildly popular and successful. He had reached an agreement with the NBA to feature the logos of professional basketball teams on his bowties while also appearing on the popular TV show Shark Tank.
It’s inspiring to see someone at such a young age develop a product that he is so passionate about. We are encouraged in class to dive into our interests to search for new ideas and niches, and this is what Mo did. He also recognized a problem that had no foreseeable, creative solution.
I love bow ties, great article Fry. This is an amazing story!
It seems so much easier to kids to automatically create a solution when they see a problem. For some reason, as you get older, you start to think more “rationally,” and start to accept some problems or just complain. I love that Mo didn’t even hesitate – he jumped right in and solved his problem! In doing this, he’s also produced wealth for so many other people. Great example.
What an interesting, creative solution to a problem that Mo found! I watched the show when he was on Shark Tank and I thought he had a great idea. I especially appreciate his NBA bow ties and I think that was an awesome idea. Finding a niche can definitely be a good way to start a business as an entrepreneur.
I remember seeing this kid on Shark Tank and how impressive it was that he was able to come up with the general broad idea and goals, while his his family helped him with the details. I think it goes to show that lots of kids and produce great ideas with the right support.
This is such a great story! Its hard to believe that someone only nine years old could have such a large impact on the world. I think that its awesome that he was able to reach an agreement with NBA and make an appearance on Shark Tank. It takes a lot of confidence in yourself to meet with some of those big names.