The Next Generation of World Changing Entrepreneurs
According to Entrepreneur.com’s article: Entrepreneurship Programs Are Preparing Students to Become Pioneers, there are two after-school programs that are teaching entrepreneurship and STEAM skills to their members to become the next legendary entrepreneurs:
“After-school programs like Chicago's Rocket Club Academy and Elon Musk’s Ad Astra are paving the way for young minds to accomplish greatness by teaching and gamifying entrepreneurship, engineering, networking and other professional skills that aren't emphasized in the traditional school system.”
Later in this article we will dig into some young entrepreneurs from Chicago's Rocket Club Academy that are training to be the next group of legendary entrepreneurs.
Why Is It Important To Start a Business, Learn to Code, and Build Robotics as a Child?
Before and during adolescence, the neurons, or nerve cells, in the brain are constantly forming new connections. The brain absorbs every experience like a sponge and adapts accordingly. Studies have found that before the prefrontal cortex is fully developed, children are less inhibited and are more likely to take risks, leading to rapid learning potential and creativity. Starting a business and learning STEAM skills like coding or robotics are like learning a new language, and between the ages of 7 to 14 a child’s brain is primed for rapid language acquisition.
Famous Entrepreneurs Who Started Businesses When They Were Young
We have interviewed hundreds of successful entrepreneurs, and they have one thing in common: they all started their first business when they were children. There are countless examples of famous entrepreneurs that started businesses when they were younger and speak about how getting a head start was key to their success. Below are just a few examples:
Jeff Bezos
Founder of Amazon
Became a Childpreneur at Age 12
Bezos wanted a $20 “Infinity Cube” but did not have enough money to buy it. Instead, he purchased mirrors and other parts with what money he had and constructed his own reflecting cube that he was able to sell at a discounted price to others. He built other inventions at a young age, including amateur robots.
Susan Wojcicki
Founder of 23andme & CEO of Youtube
Became a Childpreneur at Age 11
Before offering DNA testing with the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown, Wojcicki's first business was selling "spice ropes" door-to-door. She focused on the basics: revenues, expenses, and profit and believes this business helped shape who she has become as an entrepreneur.
Bill Gates
Founder of Microsoft
Became a Childpreneur at Age 13
Gates wrote his first software program at 13 and started his first business Traf-O-Data to make and sell traffic counters based on the Intel 8008 processor. He is a prime example of someone who learned STEAM and entrepreneurship from an early age.
Beyonce Knowles
Singer, Actress, Entrepreneur
Became a Childpreneur at Age 8
Before becoming worth over $500 million, Beyonce, got her start at just 8 years-old as a Co-Founder of the the band Girls' Tyme. Like many famous entrepreneurs, Knowles attended a Montessori school, which like Rocket Club and Ad Astra, focuses on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play.
Rocket Club Members That Are Following in these Legendary Entrepreneurs' Footsteps
Maxfield, Julianne, Zachary, Mark
Co-Founders of Astronade
Became Childpreneurs at Age 8
These 4 brilliant young entrepreneurs built a business-to-business lemonade company, partnered with international BBQ chain Mighty Quinns, and received an investment from the Co-Founder of Netflix in just 1.5 years!
Ebele, Ethan, Hudson, Alexis, Oliver, Mario, Alejandro, Milyon, Trenton, Will, Maxwell, Ronen, Kai, Layza, Josiah, Jocelyn, Cyrine
Co-Creators of the Chicago RC NFT
Became a Childpreneurs at Age 7-14
The members used software platforms Canva, Rarible, and OpenSea to mint & sell their NFTs and donated over $5,000 to Chicago schools
Annabelle
Founder of Stop & Love
Became a Childpreneur at Age 7
She founded a stop motion company that has done work for cosmetics legend Bobbi Brown, Scandanavian luxury blanket company Gooselings, and Startup Squad to name a few.
Kayden
Founder of Growinlow Hydroponics
Became a Childpreneur at Age 11
Kayden Jones leverages his knowledge of hydroponic farming and grows and sells small batch basil. He is the winner of the 2019 Propelify STEM Leaders to Watch Award.
Learn More About
This is the form for Rocket Club Academy in Chicago from their website:
Rocket Club Academy in Chicago- https://lincolnparkareamoms.com/award-winning-robotics-coding-and-entrepreneurship-after-school-program-opening-in-lincoln-park/
All Rocket Club Academy Startups https://rocketclub.com/current-member-startups
Learning Languages at a Young Age - https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20181024-the-best-age-to-learn-a-foreign-language
Ad Astra - https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/385257
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