Sponsor Spotlight: Innovation Powered by Comcast

Lauryn, the 12-year-old owner of Lauryn’s Chicks, sells her products at a YouthBiz Marketplace held at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children. Comcast supports entrepreneurs like Lauryn through a $20,000 grant awarded in 2018.

Lauryn is just 12 years old, and she’s already been in business for three years. “Or maybe four?  I can’t even remember!” giggles Lauryn from behind a collection of tiny and adorable potted plants and a sign that reads, “Lauryn’s Chicks.”  A few years ago, Lauryn’s mother was gifted a collection of 35 hens and chicks which she planted in their garden.  Lauryn now sells the descendants of that gift at Marketplaces like the one held at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children on February 13.

Owning her own business has taught Lauryn quite a bit. She’s learned to balance her time to complete both her school work and business work on time.  With the help of her parents, Lauryn has learned to keep track of her income and expenses.  She’s also learned how to communicate with customers to market her products. “Before, I was really shy,” says Lauryn. “Being an entrepreneur has helped me open up and learn how to talk to people.”

Lauryn has also learned innovation.  Over the course of her time in business, Lauryn has experimented with different products, vessels, displays, and prices.  “Besides my hens and chicks, I’ve just recently started selling marimo balls which are really neat because they can live up to 200 years!” says Lauryn, holding up a small jar.  The jar resembles a small fish tank with white pebbles on the bottom.  Water covers a quarter-size marimo ball, which looks like a green ball of moss.

This kind of youth business innovation is made possible by support from Comcast, a year-round partner of Young Americans Center for Financial Education, which provided a $20,000 grant to YouthBiz in 2018. This grant reflects Comcast’s commitment to empowering innovators and entrepreneurs, and helping individuals build the skills needed to fully participate in the digital economy. Last year, Comcast contributed more than $14 Million in financial and in-kind resources to community programs across Colorado.

Inside the new YouthBiz Lab, presented by Comcast Foundation, young entrepreneurs like Lauryn can explore business ownership, meet with a business mentor, try out a new product, and gain inspiration from their peers and from adult business leaders.  “We believe success starts with opportunity,” says Mary Spillane, Director of Community Impact for Comcast’s Mountain West Region. “We value investing in programs like YouthBiz that help young entrepreneurs gain the skills needed to compete in the 21st-century economy and propel their success in life.”

What does the future hold for Lauryn?  “I love business, and I hope to be an entrepreneur when I grow up,” says Lauryn with a smile.  Lauryn, you already are!

Learn more about Lauryn’s Chicks: Lauryn is a young entrepreneur, growing and creating beautiful, easy, and fun chick and hen/succulent terrariums.  You can order her products by sending her a message through her Facebook page.

Learn more about Comcast’s Community Impact here and keep up with the latest local Comcast Colorado news by visiting https://colorado.comcast.com/.