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