Social entrepreneurship is more than a passing trend. It’s a new way of life and of business. As more and more companies realize the importance of giving back, young entrepreneurs are having a major impact on the world of business. Thanks to Gen-Z, startups are becoming synonymous with community initiatives and charitable giving. Here at

In the comedy world, there’s something known as a “Tight 5.” That’s a 5-minute set of prepared jokes and stories told in a way that makes sense and keeps the audience engaged.   Young entrepreneurs can learn a lot about developing a set from comedians. Why? Because, like stand-up comics, you need to know what you’re going to say

As you develop your marketing plan, one of the things you’ll need to decide is your company’s logo. And when designing that logo – or working with a designer – consider the power of color psychology. Plainly stated, color psychology is the subtle science of triggering certain reactions in people’s brains and bodies to get

Apple. McDonald’s. Starbucks. Uber. We’re sure you know all these brands. But have you ever thought about how each of these major companies became household names? There’s a one-word answer for that: Creativity. As the world moved changed, each of these businesses adapted to it. Apple never made just computers. McDonald’s never sold just hamburgers.

Your brand is the first point of contact between potential customers and your business. Creating and building a brand is an important task for any young entrepreneur who wants to be taken seriously. It should be at the top of your marketing plan so that you can attract the customers you want as soon as you launch. 

If you’ve been reading the Kantner Foundation blog, you know that we love supporting young entrepreneurs. Since 1987, we’ve made it a point to encourage kid- and teen-preneurs to follow their passions, build their enterprises, and realize their dreams of business success across a wide spectrum of fields. As a scholarship foundation, we know that

There’s nothing like fresh air and sunshine, is there? Not every young entrepreneur is meant to stay indoors looking at a computer screen all day. Some of you prefer to feel the grass under your feet, dirt under your fingernails, and a cool breeze on your faces. These jobs will make you money while you

One of the benefits of extracurricular activities is that they look good on your college application. Colleges (and scholarship foundations!) want students who are well-rounded leaders among their peers and in their communities. But college applications aren’t the only reason young entrepreneurs should join certain extracurriculars. They can also help you network, build your business,

Influencers. They’re everywhere! Do you even remember what life was like before they were a thing? When you think about it, influencers are a type of entrepreneur. They have brands. They market. They sell. The really successful ones wind up dominating their chosen fields. Not all entrepreneurs are influencers, but nearly all influencers are entrepreneurs.

Are there enough podcasts in the world? Maybe. Can some of them help young entrepreneurs like you? Definitely! Podcasts are a fantastic way to learn a lot of information quickly and in an entertaining way.   The Kantner Foundation knows you don’t have tons of free time. We’ve sifted through the hundreds (thousands?) of podcasts out there

Becoming a millionaire before you turn 30 is an exciting goal! Thanks to unprecedented opportunities, technology, and entrepreneurship programs, that goal is not impossible. Many of the twentysomething millionaires listed below started their enterprises while still in their teens. While reading this list, notice what all these inspiring young entrepreneurs have in common. Motivation. Drive.

Entrepreneurship and leadership go hand in hand. Every young entrepreneur needs to understand the qualities of strong leadership if they want to succeed. Why? Because it’s highly unlikely you will never encounter other people while running your business. While it may not seem like leadership applies to customers and investors, trust us: it does. Leadership

Financial know-how is one of the most important aspects of entrepreneurship. It’s right up there with passion, creativity, and leadership. A good grasp of finance helps you know what kind of investment you need, how to price your product, what to do with profit, and how to keep your business from going broke.  However, financial skills don’t

Once upon a time, young people like you were expected to focus on school, go to college, major in something practical, and then get a steady job. From there you would work your way up the corporate ladder, get married, have kids, and retire at the age of 65.  We don’t need to tell YOU

As a child (not that long ago!) you might have known a young adult who made a massive difference in your life. Remember what it was like to think that teenagers were just the coolest? Remember what it was like to have someone older than you, who wasn’t an adult, give you attention? Not all

There’s never been a better time to be a young entrepreneur! You and your generation are shaking things up, disrupting the status quo, and changing the way business gets done. With your energy and positive attitude, the Kantner Foundation believes in the power of young entrepreneurs to lead the world into a better future! However,

You’ll read anything, from the latest bestseller to the ingredients on a box of cereal. You’re on a first-name basis with your local librarian. You finish school-assigned reading overnight and then read five more books before the end of the week. You write book reports for fun. You’re a bookworm, and you’re proud of it.

Today’s most influential startups might seem like overnight success stories. One day no one had ever heard of Uber, the next day they’re a household name. A young entrepreneur like you might wonder what these companies did to hit such a high level of success.     Is there a secret to entrepreneurship? Something no one’s telling you? What’s the difference

Among the tools you need to become a young entrepreneur, you need a marketing plan. You may not have even heard of marketing plans. But we promise: a solid marketing plan could be the difference between your enterprise doing fine versus your enterprise blowing up the scene.   A marketing plan doesn’t have to be long,

Starting a business from scratch can intimidate the most experienced entrepreneur. Throw in your youth, inexperience, lack of connections, and lack of funding and it can seem downright terrifying.   Everyone has self-doubts. And everyone has very real obstacles they need to overcome before they find the success they deserve. Here are four struggles you could

High schoolers who know more about music than about business can still become successful young entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is so much more than selling things. Following your passion is one of the best ways to become a young entrepreneur. By doing something you love, you are more likely to get others excited about it, too. And

We know how hard you work (and play!) as a young entrepreneur. High achievers like you need to stay focused, creative, and alert for most of the day, right? When you have to balance school, family, friends, and your small business startup, you need all the energy you can get. One of the best ways

Since 1987, the Kantner Foundation has supported the dreams, drive, and determination of young entrepreneurs. We’re proud to offer college scholarships to those high school students who demonstrate a passion for free enterprise and commitment to entrepreneurship. But it’s not just our own recipients we admire. Young entrepreneurship can be found across America. As part

Just because you don’t have an M.D. after your name (yet) doesn’t mean you can’t get a head start in the medical field. National healthcare expenditure is expected to grow by about 5.4% per year through 2028. That means the best time for you to get in on the action is right now! Your dreams

You have the dream and you have the drive. You know you have what it takes to become a successful young entrepreneur. Writing a business plan doesn’t scare you. Leading a team comes naturally. You can totally picture yourself as a Young Entrepreneur to Watch in Forbes Magazine.  The entrepreneurial spirit thrives in you. There’s

For young entrepreneurs such as yourself, the summer was probably anything but lazy and carefree. We know how hard you work. You may have networked at a summer internship. Perhaps you took summer classes to prepare for college. Or, you could have juggled several jobs at once, such as camp counselor, babysitter, and company CEO.

Finding success as a young entrepreneur means being responsible for quality customer service. You may have the best product out there or offer the most in-need service. But without happy customers, you have no income.  You are the backbone of your company’s customer service practices. If you run your enterprise by yourself, then it’s all up to you. If

Who says you need to be a business major to make it as a young entrepreneur?  Are you a visual learner? Do you instinctively know exactly what colors go together? Do font choices keep you up at night?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have a future as a graphic

Social entrepreneurship is on the rise, thanks in large part to young entrepreneurs like you who want to do more than start a business just to make money. A big concern for many social entrepreneurs is climate change. Thanks to you and your generation, the business landscape is changing for the better. There are green initiatives. More environment-friendly

Yoga and meditation may seem like more self-care trends or passing fads. Maybe the idea of yoga gives you a mental picture of a fit soccer mom carrying a yoga mat to a high-end studio after dropping her kids off at school. Perhaps when you think of meditation, you think of a cross-legged, long-haired person

Of all the elements in your college and scholarship applications that can help you stand out from the crowd, an internship may be the single thing that shines the brightest. Yet they are so much more than just resume and application padding. Take a look at some of the ways the right internship can help you realize your dreams

Starting your own business can be exciting, fun, and challenging. In fact, it should be all those things! Yet even the most successful entrepreneurs in the world have dealt with setbacks and failures. Here are their words of wisdom based on what they learned. Let these quotes inspire you when you feel like giving up, or when the

As a bright, driven, and high-achieving young entrepreneur, you might already be aware of the symptoms of burnout.  Exhaustion  Feelings of isolation  Irritability  Loss of self-confidence  Headaches or other body aches  Lack of interest in things you normally enjoy  Poor self-care, including hygiene and nutrition  Depression  Sometimes the pressure for teens to succeed and achieve can

One of the best things about being a young entrepreneur is that you get to take something you love and make a business out of it! For those of you who love animals, starting a business can be as fun as it is rewarding and profitable.  As with their children, many adults are willing to

As the world stretches and yawns and blinks back into existence, entrepreneurs everywhere are asking themselves, “What’s next?” As the young, up-and-coming generation of startups, you have an enormous say in what the new normal will look like. Don’t forget that it has been young entrepreneurs who stepped up and made a difference in 2020.

Any young entrepreneur who has paid attention to the news recently knows that small businesses were among the hardest hit during the COVID lockdown. Sadly, not all those businesses survived. Those that did had a few things in common. They pivoted. They got creative. They saw opportunities to solve some of the new problems that

Time management is one of those skills that most people have to learn as they go along in life. Through trial and error, you develop a sense of how much time you need to complete a certain task, whether it’s finishing a paper for school or your morning routine.  For young entrepreneurs, time management is an especially

Ah, procrastination. The fine art of putting off today what can (maybe?) wait until tomorrow. We’re all guilty of it, even young entrepreneurs. Sometimes procrastinating is harmless. A project’s due in six months and you start it tomorrow instead of today. Maybe something more urgent came up and you had to set your first project

Successful teens like you know that it takes more than luck and good grades to get ahead in school. You know how hard you have to work and the hours of studying you need to put in. Here at the Kantner Foundation, we love to see bright, motivated teens become outstanding young entrepreneurs. Part of

There are certain characteristics that all young entrepreneurs have in common no matter what field they are in, what their business model looks like, or what their goals are. All young entrepreneurs want to feel confident. You want to make a difference. You want to be seen, heard, and respected. And you want to succeed.

On the surface, entrepreneurship and sports may not seem that similar. And that’s true – mostly. Look closer and you’ll see that there is tremendous overlap between sports and entrepreneurship. Both fields require focus, dedication, and persistence. Athletes often talk about the “mental” game, whether it’s strategy, pushing through “the wall,” or mental pep talks.

As a young entrepreneur, you probably want your business to be successful. And a successful business relies on customers who will spend their money to buy your product or hire your service. Therefore, it is to your benefit to make your customers happy. But who are these “customers?” And how can you know what they

Video games have come a long way since the days of Atari and Pac-Man, haven’t they? Esports is the latest Gen-Z disruption to take the world by storm. Teens and young adults are forming teams and competing professionally in gaming tournaments around the world. Gaming is much more than a form of entertainment. It’s become a way

What is an entrepreneurial mindset? It’s when you not only decide to start your own business, but you set yourself up for the success of that business. It’s the difference between teens who start a website and hope it works, versus young entrepreneurs like yourself who want to achieve something wonderful.  With an entrepreneurial mindset,

So you’re starting a business. That’s great! You have your dream, you have your investors, and you have the energy. But do you have goals? We’re not just talking about “I want to be rich,” or “I want to cure cancer.” We’re talking about realistic, achievable, and specific business goals.  Before you could run you

Ever win a prize but feel like you didn’t deserve it? Have you justified success by reducing all your preparation and perseverance? You may have what’s known as “Imposter Syndrome.” It’s quite common. Thankfully, there are ways to overcome this self-defeating thought pattern. WHAT IS “IMPOSTER SYNDROME?” Imposter syndrome, or “IS,” makes you feel like

No matter how introverted or shy you may be, chances are pretty good that at some point in your life you will have to talk to people. That is, people other than your immediate friends, family, and your teachers.  It’s true.  That’s why young entrepreneurs need to learn the art of public speaking. Effective communication is a skill that can

While it may seem obvious now that female-identified belong in every aspect of every business, this wasn’t always the case. For far too long, business was dominated by men. Women were expected to take care of the home and family. Those women who dared to enter the world of business had a hard time getting

Best friends are one of the greatest joys of life. If asked about your best friend right now, you’d probably smile, right? There are so many reasons you chose your best friend, and they chose you. The two of you have inside jokes, secret languages, and an easy way of being together that you don’t

It happens to the best of us: your brain simply won’t generate new ideas. Perhaps you’ve been drawing upon your creative juices more than usual lately because of school projects. Or maybe you’ve been forced to deal with a lot of problem-solving lately (another form of creativity). Is it finals season? Finals on top of

Brand ambassadors are to Gen-Z what celebrity endorsements were to previous generations. They’re more than a passing trend: as far back as 2017, “brand ambassadors” have been celebrated as the future of marketing. They are yet another great example of how young entrepreneurs like you are changing the face of entrepreneurship for the better.  WHY ARE THEY SO POPULAR?  > Brand ambassadors

We can probably all agree that the past year or so has been…challenging. For everyone. However, for high schoolers, the challenges of the global pandemic may have acted like a spotlight on already stressed-out teens. In fact, studies show that Gen-Z (that’s you) is more stressed out than previous generations were as teens, and more stressed out than adults right now.

Your school experience should be much more than the memorization of statistics, facts, and dates. You are at the exact perfect time in your life to learn essential skills to become a successful young entrepreneur. Besides biology and English lit, what other skills can you develop in high school? Which skills will fuel your entrepreneurial journey to the top? 

Young entrepreneurs – and teens in general – are bombarded with plenty of distractions and ways to procrastinate. The Kantner Foundation knows that you are busier than ever. School alone may take up an enormous amount of your time. Now you want to start a business (or have one going already) and make yourself an entrepreneur. We say go

Now that you have a small business up and running, what comes next?  A simple answer to that question would be to maximize your website’s SEO, or search-engine-optimization. This means carefully crafting your website to be as search-engine-friendly as possible. Potential customers will see your website come up first when they search on Google, Bing, or other

Global business is powered by the hard work and creativity of young entrepreneurs. The energy of youth keeps industries from stagnating by constantly finding new ways to disrupt the status quo. An ever-changing world demands forward-thinking solutions. Young people are perfectly suited to keep up with technology and create a future in which anyone with a dream can

Every entrepreneurial journey is unique, including yours. Yet there are a few qualities that every young entrepreneur must embrace to maximize their chances of success. These qualities have been collected from the experience of countless successful entrepreneurs of the past. And though your ideas are no doubt innovative and forward-thinking, here are a few tips

Having a great idea for a new product is the first step for teens hoping to become young entrepreneurs. The next step for those of you creating a physical product to sell (rather than a service to offer) is to make a prototype of that product, which we’ll call a widget.  A prototype is “the original or model on which something is

You may have heard the term “soft skills” before, but perhaps you aren’t sure what they are or whether you have them. Soft skills are non-technical and relate to your personality and disposition. They are how you engage with others. Even though soft skills are harder to measure than hard skills such as coding or data processing, they are just as vital

Statistics don’t lie: everyone is spending more time than ever on mobile apps. According to App Annie, in 2020 (and partly due to the pandemic – but only partly) there were:  218 BILLION new app downloads  $143 BILLION spent on app stores  4.2 hours on average spent on apps  These numbers aren’t just for Gen-Z, either. The numbers above include Millennials, Gen-X,

Stand back, everyone: Gen-Z (those born from the mid-1990s to the early 2010s) is on the rise and ready to take over the world.  And that’s a good thing. A very good thing.  Every generation has their young people who set out to change the world, from Henry Ford building the first assembly line factory to Steve Jobs bringing

There is plenty of advice out there for young entrepreneurs on developing good habits: self-care, timelines, and to-do lists are just a few examples. Good habits help you stay healthy and strong so that you can be the best version of yourself as you finish high school, apply to college, and start your entrepreneurial journey.  Yet bad

For young entrepreneurs, a scheduled email newsletter campaign is probably one of your best marketing tools. It’s free or cheap, it’s easy, and it keeps your business in front of customers’ eyeballs. Unlike social media, a newsletter allows your customers to read at their leisure and not miss something posted hours, days, or weeks ago. Newsletters don’t require likes or upvotes to

One of the best ways for young entrepreneurial hopefuls to get started on their journey, meet like-minded peers, find mentors, and develop the necessary skills to run a business, is by completing a program specifically designed for teen entrepreneurs.  The programs listed below range from competitions to summer programs away from home. Some are free;

Young people are ideally suited to starting a new enterprise. They are naturally energetic and creative, seeing solutions to common problems that older generations might miss.  Yet, the generations of entrepreneurs who came before you had to deal with risk before they found success – and so will you. Being an entrepreneur means taking risks to achieve your dreams.  Some

The path to entrepreneurial success isn’t straightforward. There are sharp turns, detours, switchbacks, and dead ends. Knowing what type of entrepreneur you are can help you stay on track. Your type depends on what motivates you and what kind of energy you have. It’s sort of like picking electives at school based on your natural disposition, goals, and interests.   Generally speaking,

Members of Gen-Z make great entrepreneurs! Access to infinite online resources, the ability to instantly network with peers around the globe, and countless examples of successful entrepreneurship before you. Who says you have to be a fully grown adult to become an entrepreneur? Go out there and seize your dream right now!  1. You Are Eager to

While most of your business plan exists behind the scenes, your sales pitch is in the spotlight. Marketing strategy, web design, and production all exist behind the scenes; that’s for you and your team. However, your sales pitch will be one of the first things to go public, so take the time to learn and master this important craft. 

You’ve got your business idea and know it will work. You’ve created a prototype of the product, and it’s even better than you’d hoped it could be. You’ve written out your business plan and created a marketing strategy. There’s just one problem: how much are you going to ask for your product or service?  There is no easy

What is Viral Marketing?  While growing up with social media, you no doubt have seen or heard about something “going viral,” whether it’s a Tweet, a TikTok video, a meme, a hashtag, or an idea. You’ve probably helped something go viral, too, by sharing it across all your social media platforms. Sometimes going viral can be a

Launching a new enterprise can seem overwhelming, even intimidating. There is so much to think about: marketing, sales, financial management. But never fear, young entrepreneurs! We’ve assembled the six skills that are most essential to entrepreneurship. No matter where you are on your business journey, these six skills can help you rise above the competition,

You may have a wonderful business idea, but most startups require at least a little bit of money–or capital–to get off the ground. Aside from asking friends and family to invest in your business, what’s a young entrepreneur to do to raise money for things like website hosting and product production?  Here are ten simple things

Here at the Kantner Foundation, we celebrate young entrepreneurs. But what, exactly, is entrepreneurship? How can you get started? The Center for American Entrepreneurship defines entrepreneurship as: “…the process of starting and developing a company, with the aim of delivering something new or improved to the market, or by organizing the means of production in

For too many previous incarnations, running a business meant focusing on profit and growth. Social issues, community involvement, and sustainability were thought to be the exclusive purview of the non-profit sector. Thankfully, these days that is no longer the case.   While Ben & Jerry’s ice cream has been successfully balancing social initiatives with business profits

One of your most important keys to success as a young entrepreneur is marketing yourself and your business. While online ads may be outside your budget, there are a few things you can do that are inexpensive yet effective. In fact, some of these ideas cost nothing but a little time and energy – and don’t require any special training on your

Mornings are important, especially for young entrepreneurs. How you wake up and get started can set the tone for the entire rest of your day. Make sure you are prep for success by creating a regular morning routine and following it.   While it might appear that we’ve listed a lot of things to remember in the

What is a Mentor? Why Do You Need One?   Young entrepreneurs are, by their very nature, bright and ambitious go-getters. The Kantner Foundation respects all the hard work you put into everything you do: school, community, sports, and your business. However, starting an enterprise from scratch, no matter how much research you do, isn’t easy.   There are common mistakes that nearly

The world needs you! Young entrepreneurs are the future of business. There’s no better time to move forward with your startup than right now.   Before diving into the business world headfirst with your eyes closed, slow down, take a deep breath, and read the steps below. This won’t slow you down as much as you

By all accounts, 2020 was a year of seismic changes to nearly every aspect of life around the globe. Students of all ages were forced to grapple with an entirely new way of learning, and the full impact of the 2020-2021 school year has yet to be measured. For high schoolers, distance or hybrid learning has

In early December 2020, the New York Times published this piece on a 1,020-year-old mochi shop in Kyoto, Japan. The shop stands out because the idea of a company staying in business for so long seems not only unlikely but impossible. Today, the average lifespan for a business is 15 years; it wouldn’t survive past 8th grade.   This is why young

Being a successful young entrepreneur will mean, at some point or other on your path, that you will lead a team. How do you become a strong and inspiring leader? Read on for advice from those who have been there. See if you can spot any common traits…  Focus on Yourself, Then You Can Focus on Others 

What is a Business Plan? Before you start your business, you’ll need a plan. In the simplest terms, a business plan is a document that contains the steps you’ll take to start a business and succeed with your idea. Think of it like a roadmap and guidebook combined: your goals, your financial plan, your marketing

You are a young entrepreneur: you are driven, energetic, bright, and passionate. At your age, you are well aware of the challenges facing the world right now. Entrepreneurs like you know how to face those challenges with grit, determination, and creativity. There is absolutely no reason why you can’t take your passion and turn it

Resilience, or mental toughness, is one of the key traits you’ll find in most successful entrepreneurs. Success doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t happen without hard work and the ability to overcome setbacks and failures. Our very own founder, Woodrow Kantner, showed amazing resilience throughout his life. Some people are born with natural resilience. Maybe

1. Plan for Health and Wellness As a young entrepreneur, you already know the importance of making a plan. You know that you need an overall goal to focus on reaching as well as micro-tasks that will help you take the necessary steps to reach that goal.Your health and well-being should be no different. Although

One hundred years ago, what did your great-great-grandparents do for a living? What about your grandparents back in the 1970s and 80s? Chances are they had a career that either no longer exists, or has changed so drastically that they wouldn’t recognize it today. According to BBC Business news, in the 1920s the average lifespan

You young entrepreneurs have the unique ability to take advantage of the extra time you have on your hands to figure out how to be successful at a startup. Here are a few tips we’ve compiled to help you on your way to becoming a successful high school entrepreneur: 1. Get comfortable taking risks. Face it—nobody

So you have a big dream and lots of energy to get started running your own business. That’s exciting! In the U.K. alone, the registration organization Companies House has seen a 35% increase in company directors aged 16-24 since 2014. It’s a great time for young people to become entrepreneurs!If you’re ready to make your

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Computer and Information Technology Occupations are expected to grow 11% by 2029. Every aspect of tech jobs will need leaders and creators, from network engineers to database administrators. Why not you? Young entrepreneurs such as yourself can make a huge impact in the tech industry, regardless of

Becoming a successful young entrepreneur doesn’t happen overnight. If you are in the middle of building your business, or even just starting out, you probably already know this. You probably also know that there are certain things all successful entrepreneurs have in common. Start doing these 12 things as soon as possible (if you aren’t

As a fulltime college student and a fledgling entrepreneur, you will encounter a unique set of challenges along the way to fulfilling your goals. You’ll want to take care to avoid overtaxing yourself but at the same time give both aspects of your life the energy and effort you need to for success. We’ve compiled

From your days of 25-cent homemade lemonade stands to offering to mow your neighbor’s lawns for a few dollars, the efforts you make as a youngster to creatively make some money are steppingstones to having your own sustainable business. Kids are natural entrepreneurs. Yet, too often, as we enter high school and schooling intensifies (AP

The choices you make on a daily basis determine how successful your business becomes. If you actively put forth the effort to take your business forward and improve your own skills, you are far more likely to get where you want to be when you want to be there. The opposite is true, too, though:

Once you’ve decided to start your own business, you might have the urge to jump right into it and make your dream a reality. It’s important to consider a few implications of having your own business, however, before you go full speed ahead. A legitimate, recognized business needs to meet a few initial legal requirements

Having been inspired to become a young entrepreneur, you’ve no doubt already started your journey of learning and self-discovery. There is so much out there for young entrepreneurs to learn! At times you probably feel completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of text out there aimed at people like you: young, hungry, and ready for

While the business world may seem like it’s full of overnight success stories, the fact is that very few, if any, famous entrepreneurs made a name for themselves by sheer luck. It takes focus, perseverance, and skill to start and maintain a new business; even more so to make that business a success. Here are