Starting Something New: What Kid Entrepreneurs Do
Moziah Bridges was 9 years old when he noticed something: he loved wearing bow ties, but the ones in stores were boring. So he asked his grandmother to teach him to sew, made his own colorful bow ties, and started selling them. By age 12, his company Mo's Bows had sold over $200,000 worth of bow ties. Moziah is an entrepreneur — someone who sees a problem and creates something new to solve it.
What You'll Learn
In this lesson, you will: 1. Learn what an entrepreneur is and what they do. 2. Practice spotting problems that need solutions. 3. See how kids your age have started real businesses. 4. Start planning your very own business idea.
What Is an Entrepreneur?
An entrepreneur is a person who starts something new — usually a business. They see a problem or a need, think of a way to fix it, and then make it happen. Entrepreneurs come in all ages. You do not have to be a grown-up! An entrepreneur: - Asks: 'What does someone need that they cannot easily find?' - Thinks up a way to help. - Works hard to make their idea real. - Tries again if something does not work the first time.
Spotting a Problem to Solve
Every business starts with noticing something. Moziah noticed boring bow ties. Maybe you notice: - Your dog's water bowl keeps tipping over. - There is no good place to put your shoes by the door. - Your little sibling always loses their crayons. Those are problems! Entrepreneurs turn problems into ideas. A leash-clip bowl that cannot tip. A shoe pocket by the front door. A crayon belt. Any problem can become a business idea.
Moziah Bridges started Mo's Bows at age 9, sewing colorful bow ties he designed himself. Mikaila Ulmer started Me and the Bees Lemonade at age 4 after getting stung by bees — she learned about saving bees, added honey to her lemonade recipe, and donated part of the profits to bee conservation. Her lemonade is now sold in Whole Foods stores across America.
What is the FIRST thing an entrepreneur does when starting a business?
Making It and Sharing It
Once you have an idea, the next step is making something and sharing it with people who might want it. That could mean: - Making a product — something you can hold, like a bow tie or a jar of honey lemonade. - Offering a service — something you do, like walking dogs or teaching neighbors how to play chess. Entrepreneurs tell people about what they made. They show it, describe it, and explain why it helps. This is called marketing — getting the word out about your business.
Almost every entrepreneur fails at something first. Mikaila's first lemonade recipe was too sweet. Mo's first bow ties were a little crooked. Failing and fixing is part of the process — it is how entrepreneurs learn what really works. Keep trying!
What does 'marketing' mean for a young entrepreneur?
My Business Idea Poster
Think of one problem you have noticed at home, school, or in your neighborhood. Step 1: Draw the problem at the top of a piece of paper. Label what you see. Step 2: Draw your solution — a product or service that could fix the problem. Step 3: Give your business a name and write it on the poster in big letters. Step 4: Write or say out loud: 'My business helps people by ___.' Share your poster with your class or family and explain your idea. Listen to their questions — they might give you ideas to make your business even better!
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