Nine young people. Nine very different ideas.
They didn't start with business plans. They started with something they noticed—something frustrating, something missing, someone they wanted to help, or simply an idea they couldn't stop thinking about.
Ayo designed fidgets to help people stay calm and focused in classrooms and meetings without distractions.
I often get into trouble in class for fidgeting and I thought it would be nice to have a fidget that looks like a stationery that would help me stay calm and focused in class
Lolu built an insert for the gap between couch cushions and beside car seats — the place where keys, phones, and toys disappear. For Market Day, he made 12 prototype units and sold all 12.
Have you ever tried to find the tv remote or a lost key only to realize it's been living in your couch for weeks? I aim to fix that problem with my product - Limit Space
Eliana's activity book was the standout at her booth. It also taught her one of the toughest business lessons of the summer: loving a product isn't enough — the numbers have to work.
When I was 5 years old, I had to stay in the car while my mum ran errands. I remember how bored I was and that's why I came up with Toys of America.
Six-year-old Jojo was inspired by Mikaila's (Me and the Bees Lemonade) founder story and set up her own lemonade stand on Market Day to serve refreshing lemonade to attendees.
I like Mikaila and I want to make my own lemonades.
Sharon developed an idea for a comforting baby product and shaped how she would explain it to visitors. Because products for babies require extra safety attention, she did not manufacture the concept for Market Day. Instead, she sold commercially made pacifiers while pitching her own idea.
It bothers me when babies cry and I believe pacifiers and squishies can help soothe them.
Dara believes every item needs a personal touch to make it special and memorable. Cutify Me is a brand that specializes in making boring everyday items yours.
There are about 8 billion people in the world with many different personalities. You cannot create items that capture 8 billion people, that's where Cutify Me comes in.
Eri makes homemade lip glosses and pays close attention to what goes into them, choosing her ingredients with young skin in mind.
Imagine asking your parents for skincare products but they say no because they don't want harmful chemicals damaging your skin. That's why I'm making homemade skincare products that are safe for your skin.
Ethan cares about how people treat one another. His Anti-Hating friendship bracelets include words of affirmation meant to help people feel better about themselves.
I want to help people feel better about themselves whenever they look at my bracelets.
Idunnu wants to support her community by donating a portion of her profits from knitted stuffies to local causes.
I can help make a difference in my community by donating a portion of every sale to local causes.