In this article, you will get acquainted with business ideas suitable for young entrepreneurs and meet 10 inspiring founders who launched their businesses while still students.
Marketers are desperately trying to attract a new generation of young consumers with buying power — they are working to identify trends favored by Generation Z, understand their habits, and align themselves with them. But for the new generation of young entrepreneurs, this is second nature.
Children, teenagers, and students are busy starting businesses in large numbers; they are acquiring valuable life skills and selling their products to their peers. These young entrepreneurs are the founders of the businesses of the future.
Although starting a business at this age comes with challenges, such as gaining parental approval or managing academic schedules, young people are in the best position to meet the needs of consumers in their generation.
Below, you will find ideas for young people to start businesses and meet 10 inspiring entrepreneurs who began their entrepreneurial journeys while still in school.
- Simone Hoffana
Simone launched her brand while still in college with the goal of increasing the presence and representation of women of color in society. Her coloring books introduce young girls to inspiring women who have helped her learn to love herself. She says, “I had two younger sisters, so I felt responsible. If the education system isn’t doing it, if the media isn’t doing it, then why shouldn’t I do it?”
In 2017, Simone launched the ColorHerstory brand and won the BEASTMODE-A-Business competition for young entrepreneurs hosted by Shopify. She hopes to take her brand global one day — mostly for the benefits of international travel!
- Yelissa Jean Charles
Yelissa Jean Charles grew up in a world where media and toy companies presented beauty ideals as white, blonde, and blue-eyed. She says, “I slowly started distancing myself from anything that could relate me to being Black.” It took years for Yelissa to confront her identity and its connection with her.
While studying art at the Rhode Island School of Design, a class project focused on this very subject — and eventually became a brand. Yelissa launched Healthy Roots Dolls in 2014, leveraging university resources and networks for its development. Since then, the company has raised $1.5 million in funding, partnered with Procter & Gamble, and secured a collaboration with Target.
- Ryan Terhan
In September 2017, Ryan Terhan was a student-athlete at Texas A&M University. Alongside his studies, Ryan launched his own water bottle brand and posted running videos on his YouTube channel, naturally featuring his product in the content. This method helped him quickly gain tens of thousands of followers. However, this success brought trouble. The NCAA, which regulates student-athlete earnings, warned Ryan: either stay at Texas A&M or become a YouTuber.
Ryan decided to take the risk and leave college — a decision that paid off quickly. His channel now has over 11 million followers, and he has become a prominent figure in the new generation of the creative economy.
- Matthew Galloway
Today, Matthew Galloway is a college graduate and a professional in the job market, but he began his adult life with skills beyond his years. At 16, Matthew participated in Shopify’s BEASTMODE-A-Business competition and launched LOTTA WORLDWIDE — a motivational clothing brand that pays homage to his cultural roots.
He says, “Every morning I ask myself: What’s my mission? What’s my goal? When I saw how hard my parents worked, I truly understood the struggles they faced, and I decided to go a different path. This brand is my way of building a better future for myself and my family.”
- Katie Carson
Katie Carson started her business while still in high school. After taking a soap-making course and launching her brand on social media, she began producing video content to connect with an online community. Her first videos were reviews of other people’s soaps, but when she started posting behind-the-scenes content and DIY tutorials, she attracted new audiences.
Katie says, “The growth of the channel was really fast, much faster than I expected. It was such an interesting and amazing experience.” Now, over a decade later, Katie still runs Royalty Soaps and creates the same popular YouTube content — this time for nearly one million followers.
- Angelina Lee
Angelina Lee was only 14 when she realized the slime trend was expanding. Inspired by this, she began making her own handmade slimes and shared her passion on social media. As her followers grew on Instagram and TikTok, she began receiving requests to purchase her products. Angelina launched Fireflyslime and, over the past five years, her business has seen significant growth.
Today, Angelina manages her business full-time — formulating new slimes, growing her social media presence, and packaging orders — all while studying business full-time at university.
- Sydney and Toni Low
In 2013, Sydney and Toni Low launched their business, Poketti, while still in middle school. Inspired by an entrepreneurship class, the sisters designed a soft doll with a functional pocket for holding a phone. They successfully raised funds through Kickstarter and have since expanded their business beyond expectations.
Since their launch, Sydney and Toni have won numerous awards, been featured in the media multiple times, and managed to secure Walmart as one of their wholesale clients.
- Robert Felder
Robert Felder came up with the idea for his business while still in high school. A trip to Bangladesh introduced him to the realities of the clothing manufacturing industry and inspired him to make a change. Two years later, he launched Bearbottom — a sustainable apparel company dedicated to selling ethically produced men’s clothing.
Although Robert went to college after high school, he never applied for other jobs. His business was doing well, so he decided to make it his full-time career. To date, the brand has remained committed to charitable activities, donating over 700,000 meals and 100,000 pairs of shorts to partner communities.
- Moziah Bridges
Moziah Bridges started his handmade bowtie business, Mo’s Bows, at just 9 years old. More than a decade later, the brand is still thriving, and Moziah is at the helm. Over the years, he’s become a published author, won multiple awards, and appeared in media outlets such as GQ and Shark Tank.
- Megan Cox
Megan Cox launched her skincare brand from her dorm room while studying biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and invested all of her savings into it. After a local news report caught the attention of major media outlets, she woke up the next day to $10,000 in sales.
In the following years, Megan turned her brand into a multi-hundred-thousand-dollar business, with products like eyelash serums and facial oils regularly selling out. Eventually, she sold the brand and shifted her focus to starting a new business: Genie Supply, a private-label skincare manufacturing lab that helps beauty entrepreneurs launch their businesses.
The Future Belongs to the Young Generation
Young entrepreneurs are in the best position to meet the needs of consumers in their generation. Consumer trends show that Generation Z and Generation Alpha — two demographic groups with high purchasing power — have different needs from previous generations. Today’s young entrepreneurs, using innovative methods, are reaching their audiences and will shape the future of business.