#EntrepreneursOfTomorrow @Event Santa Cruz
By Kaya Lindsay
Last weeks event showcased 13 inspiring entrepreneurs. These speakers raised $60,000 in a crowdfunding campaign, got accepted into an incubator, have photographs featured in the Sentinel, won awards, created their own successful online store, speak more than one language, and the catch? They are all under 18 (well there was that one 19 year old).
The event was held at the Children’s Museum of Discovery (MOD), and could not have been a better venue. The environment its self reflected all of the youthful and sometimes uncontrollable energy of our entrepreneurs, but at the same time revealed how complex and intriguing the entrepreneurial spirit can be.
Our speakers had all of the passion we all feel for the things we love, but none of the jadedness that comes with being a veteran entrepreneur. The talks were both refreshing in that way, and inspiring.
Seeing anyone achieve their dreams is heartwarming, but it gives the viewer even more hope when seeing the next generation take their lives into their own hands. We all hope that the next generation will have the answers to all our problems, and seeing these 13 talented, well spoken and driven teenagers makes those hopes seem not so far off.
Thank you to everyone who came by to support these individuals, the next generation of entrepreneurs are still getting their feet under them and the support from their soon-to-be peers is monumental.
Our speakers for the night were:
Zohar Wouk, Abe Jellinek, and Abe Karplus — Futuristic Lights
Matt Ruiz — Matt Ruiz Music
Alex Ferriera, Brandon Rossi, and Justin Lyle — ChangeBound
Oliver Mueller Tuescher — Musician
Sarah Rose — Singer Song Writer
Max Bowman — Designer
Courtney Laschkewitsch — Entrepreneur
Auden Heitzler — Sleepy Animal
The Sentinel also did a review of the event and you can check it out here.
And thank you so much to Adam Freidin for the photos!
As our music guest Matt Ruiz once said “Okey dokey atrichoky”