Ideas are like sparks that can start something big. They represent chances to create new things and bring about change. Let’s look at some young people who turned their ideas into amazing projects.
Nick D’Aloisio began working on his app, Summly, when he was just 15 years old. This app lets you enter your interests and then shows you short summaries of content related to them. Instead of just a headline, Summly gives you 400 characters of information—more than a tweet but less than a full article. By the time Nick was 17, he sold Summly to Yahoo! for a reported $30 million. Pretty impressive, right?
Caine loved visiting arcades, so he decided to create his own. A filmmaker discovered Caine’s arcade and made a movie about it. After a video about Caine’s Arcade was released, nearly two million people watched it in just a few days. By the weekend, people were waiting in line for four hours to play at his arcade. Caine’s creativity and passion turned his idea into something huge.
Hi, I’m Emily Hagins, and I’m thrilled about my new movie, “My Sucky Teen Romance.” I’ve worked on many projects before, and I’m using everything I’ve learned to make this film the best it can be. It’s exciting to see how my ideas are coming to life on the big screen.
By day, Tavi Gevinson is a regular teenager, but by night, she’s a rising media star. She launched Rookie, an online magazine, which got a million views in its first week! Her fashion blog, The Style Rookie, became a popular site in the fashion world. Tavi has been invited to fashion shows and has written for famous magazines like “The New Yorker” and French “Vogue.”
From Memphis, 11-year-old Moziah Bridges is surprising everyone with his business skills and creative flair. He started a successful online bow tie business and is now getting offers to sell in stores across the country. Moziah shows us that you don’t have to wait until you’re older to follow your dreams. If you have a passion, go for it!
These young entrepreneurs prove that age is just a number when it comes to innovation and success. If you have an idea, don’t be afraid to pursue it. Who knows? You might be the next big success story!
Imagine you have a brilliant idea like Nick, Caine, Emily, Tavi, or Moziah. Write a simple business plan that outlines your idea, target audience, and how you plan to bring your idea to life. Share your plan with the class and get feedback on how to improve it.
Choose one of the young entrepreneurs from the article and design a creative poster to promote their product or project. Use colors, images, and catchy slogans to make your poster stand out. Present your poster to the class and explain your design choices.
Pair up with a classmate and take turns being an interviewer and one of the entrepreneurs from the article. Prepare questions and answers about their journey, challenges, and successes. Perform your interview for the class and discuss what you learned about entrepreneurship.
Inspired by Caine’s Arcade, use cardboard and other materials to create a simple game or arcade machine. Work in small groups to design and build your game, then host a mini arcade day where classmates can play each other’s creations.
Write a fictional short story about a young entrepreneur who comes up with a groundbreaking idea. Describe their journey, the obstacles they face, and how they achieve success. Share your story with the class and discuss the qualities that make a successful entrepreneur.
What are ideas? Ideas can spark a movement. They represent opportunities and innovation.
Nick D’Aloisio started building his app, called Summly, when he was just 15. You tell it your interests, and it shows you summarized content. Instead of just a headline, Summly provides 400 characters—more than a tweet, but less than a full article. Now, at age 17, Nick is selling it to Yahoo! for a reported $30 million.
Caine does not pass by the arcade without stopping in, so it was only natural for him to build his own arcade. A filmmaker discovered Caine’s arcade, and now it’s a movie. A video came out on Monday, and nearly two million people have watched it. By Saturday, there were four-hour lines waiting to play at Caine’s Arcade.
Hi, my name is Emily Hagins, and I’m really excited about my new movie called “My Sucky Teen Romance.” I’ve made a lot of things, and I want to take everything I’ve learned from those projects and put it towards this film to make it the best it can possibly be.
Normal teenager by day, burgeoning media mogul by night. When she launched Rookie, her online magazine, it got a million views in its first week. Tavi Gevinson’s fashion blog, The Style Rookie, became a must-see web destination in the fashion world. She has been invited to runway shows and has written for and been profiled in magazines like “The New Yorker” and French “Vogue.”
A young boy from Memphis is surprising many with his ingenuity for business and creative style. Eleven-year-old Moziah Bridges has developed a profitable online bow tie enterprise and is now receiving offers to sell in boutiques around the country. You don’t have to wait until you’re older. If you have a dream and a passion, we say go for it.
Ideas – Thoughts or suggestions about what to do or how to solve a problem. – The young entrepreneur had many ideas for starting a new theater company.
App – A software application designed to perform a specific task, often used on mobile devices. – The team developed an app to help actors memorize their lines more efficiently.
Arcade – A place with various games and entertainment machines, often used for fun and relaxation. – After the performance, the cast celebrated their success by visiting the local arcade.
Movie – A film or motion picture that tells a story through moving images and sound. – The director’s passion for storytelling was evident in every scene of the movie.
Creativity – The ability to use imagination to create new and original ideas or things. – Creativity is essential for entrepreneurs who want to develop unique products or services.
Passion – A strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something. – Her passion for dance led her to start her own performing arts school.
Online – Connected to or available through the internet. – The online platform allowed musicians to collaborate and share their work with a global audience.
Business – An organization or enterprising entity engaged in commercial, industrial, or professional activities. – Starting a business requires careful planning and a clear vision of your goals.
Success – The achievement of a goal or the attainment of wealth, position, or honors. – The actor’s success was the result of years of hard work and dedication to his craft.
Innovation – The introduction of new ideas, methods, or products. – Innovation in stage design can transform a simple play into a breathtaking experience.