Young Americans Center for Financial Education is proud of the amazing youth business owners who have applied for the Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars business competition! Learn more about each below. Many have online shops or websites where you can support these hard-working entrepreneurs.
2022 Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars Applicants
2022 Finalist
Anna Made
For Anna Brekken, creating and designing cards did not just highlight her passion for arts and crafts, but also her special connection with her grandmother who first introduced it to her. She enjoys creating handmade cards and exploring new ways to expand her business. In 2022, she organized a free online event for over 200 teen business owners, and she created the Teen Business Toolkit – an online course to teach other kids how to start a business. Anna donates 25% of the sales of any dog or cat themed card to Animal Rescue of the Rockies. The judges loved the personal touches that Anna adds to her work, and the incredible amount of attention she dedicates to her business.
ART FROM THE HEART
Sebby Soledad’s business is built around his passion. He is a skilled artist who sells his work on canvases. He began selling at flea markets with his grandfather and since then has expanded to multiple sized canvases and other markets. Sebby loves owning a business that feeds his passion and he enjoys learning new artistic techniques. All of the judges were blown away by Sebby’s talent, encouraging him to approach adult art galleries to display his work. They all agree that Sebby’s future in art is bright!
The AWE Shop
Noor Bokhari loves making crafts and jewelry. Through her business, The AWE Shop, Noor is able to indulge her passion while sharing her talent with others! Noor chose her business name because her products make you say “Aww Awesome!” After selling at the YouthBiz Marketplace, she is excited to keep making sales to her classmates and families. She prides herself in owning a business that is kind and friendly. The judges love the name and backstory of The AWE Shop, and were inspired by how Noor has made a business from her interests.
Bath Fizzies and More
Tai-Shan and Kaiden Barwick began their business as a new hobby during the pandemic after buying their mom a bath fizzie. Their curious minds led them to research how to make their own. Since starting their business, they also decided to make honey straws in a variety of flavors. While they want to keep bath fizzies as their main product, Tai-Shan is also interested in experimenting with body butter and scrubs. A few things they love about running a business is testing out new recipes and helping to keep their customers happy. All of the judges were impressed by how well Tai-Shan and Kaiden know their costs and how they set their pricing accordingly. Judges also loved how the business rebranded broken products to cut down on waste.
Brew Shots
Ryan Brewster created Brew Shots in order to turn his passion for photography into a viable business. He loves capturing important moments for his customers, and focuses on providing high quality, affordable photography services for teens and young people. He currently specializes in sports photography, taking photos for high school students looking to apply for sports programs and scholarships. His photography has helped several of his peers appeal to their preferred colleges, many of whom were accepted. Good photography can help people highlight their passions, skills, or services, and Ryan hopes to empower others through his photos. Our judges loved how Ryan has turned his passion into a wonderful service, and believe that he can tap into a large market of students and gyms looking for skilled photographers just like him.
Bright Side Wonders
Vivian Blessing has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, so when pandemic put the world on pause, she decided to try out an online “Kidpreneur” class, which inspired her to create her own business. Her decision to start with honey-based soaps was inspired by her father and grandfather, who both worked as beekeepers in the past. Since founding Bright Side Wonders, she has expanded to creating and selling a variety of honey-based cleansers both online and in shops in Denver, Vail, and Grand Lake. She has also used proceeds from her business to support the charity, No Kid Hungry. The judges were impressed by Vivian’s “art and business sense”, and are excited to see where her business will go from here.
Cakes by Lucy
Lucy Garn was inspired to pursue professional baking by her family, after creating delicious bundt cakes for her grandpa’s birthday. Three years later and Cakes by Lucy is going strong! Lucy bakes all sorts of delectable pastries, from cakes to cookies, and has found success selling her confectionaries at YouthBiz Marketplaces and within her community. She has also learned about graphic design from making her own flyers. Lucy loves working directly with customers to create custom desserts for birthdays and other special occasions. Our judges love the look of Lucy’s product and appreciate her desire to repay the people who make her business possible.
Celestica
Angel Soto has enjoyed drawing since a young age, creating her own characters in the art styles she enjoyed watching in anime and other animated media. Over time, she has grown her repertoire of styles to include realistic portraits, which allowed her to be accepted into art shows during high school. She now uses digital tools to create commissioned pieces and custom prints, and has been commissioned by businesses for logo and brand design. She plans to attend an art school after high school to further improve her craft, and grow her business. Judges loved seeing how Angel has turned her passion into a business, and are interested to see how she expands her business across social media and online platforms.
2022 Finalist
Denver Snkrs, LLC
Garrett Eisenman has loved sneakers since he was 11, and appreciates the artistry and work it takes to design a good looking athletic shoe. A few years ago, he realized he could turn his passion into a business by finding and reselling limited edition collectible athletic sneakers, and Denver Snkrs LLC was born. There is a massive community of sneakerheads around the globe, and Garrett works with that community to find and acquire hard to find sneakers. He then resells them to collectors at a competitive rate. As part of his business plan, Garrett is currently looking to partner with non-profit organizations to help provide good, high-quality shoes to disadvantaged families. Judges were very impressed with Garrett’s business plan and his recognition of ideal target markets. They believe he has the foundation for a successful, long-term business.
Earrings by Evie
Once Evie Staff gained traction from giving her earrings away to family and friends, she saw that she had a business opportunity. Evie signed up to attend her first craft fair and has been designing earrings since. Since that first fair, Evie has donated $1 from the sale of every pair of earrings to a charitable organization. Evie loves this aspect of her business along with the creativity of coming up with new designs. She has now learned more techniques and adjusted her prices accordingly. Judges were not only inspired by her charitable component but by her creativity and her smart choices to update and adjust the products she sells.
Eco Cup
The idea for Eco Cup stemmed from a high school entrepreneurship class. The idea was to create an eco-friendly alternative to single use plastic cups, which can later be used as an easy, compostable planter for non-invasive plant species. Paula Bostelman, Camryn Somerville, Abigail Hanna were encouraged to submit their idea to their school’s FBLA competition, leading to a first place finish in their district, and propelling them to a national competition in June 2022. Eco Cup’s team deeply cares about eco-friendly initiatives, and hopes that their product can help people be good stewards for the environment in their own communities. The judges appreciated the focus on using eco-conscious materials, and thought that Eco Cup could tap into a large market of businesses looking to “go green”.
Eli’s Digital Art
Elija Morgan has been artistic since he was a little kid, and loves the idea of turning his passion into a viable business. He first started creating digital art when he was 9, and has gone on to create digital prints, calendars, screensavers, and much more for his customers. He has sold his work at several YouthBiz Marketplaces and is looking to expand to art shows around Denver. The judges enjoyed seeing Elijah’s unique style, and hope to see his business find a greater audience.
Evan Hoing Woodworking
For Evan, woodworking started as a hobby, but after honing his skills he began selling some of his pieces. Evan appreciates the support and help his parents provide when needed, but Evan is an independent entrepreneur who has worked hard to develop the skills of this craft. Evan loves being able to work for himself, with his own hours, and he hopes to begin making bigger pieces and expand his presence at fairs and markets. Judges appreciated Evan taking the time to truly develop his skill in a difficult craft and create a business with long-term potential.
Farmer Gavin & Sister’s Bakery
Years ago, when Peyton and Gavin’s chickens began to lay more eggs than they could have imagined, Peyton realized this was a business opportunity! But Peyton wanted to expand the business, so she quickly learned how to bake new from-scratch items each week and even took the steps to run a Cottage Foods business in her home. Peyton Ruhs shares the responsibilities of owning a business with siblings Gavin and Ragan, each doing their part to make it successful. Aside from wanting a profitable business, Peyton says they work hard to continue learning how to run the business efficiently and effectively, and strive to make meaningful connections in their community. The judges were amazed by their teamwork and drive to reach their next goal.
2022 Finalist
Funny Balloons
To Marisa Beck’s surprise, creating balloon animals was easier than she thought. She began watching tutorials and quickly became skilled in making a variety balloon creations. Marisa loves being able to express her talents through her business. She has expanded her business to not only making balloon animals but also teaching classes to others about how to make fun balloon creations. Marisa enjoys selling her balloons at birthday parties but is also interested in selling at larger markets or festivals. All of the judges loved how unique Marisa’s business concept is, and believe she has a real opportunity to emerge as a market leader.
2022 Finalist
Goods By Gwen
Gwendolyn Plue has been a creative, artistic person her whole life, so when the pandemic put a pause on her plans, she looked for ways to express her creativity by starting a business. A family member introduced her to laser-cut art, and Goods by Gwen was born. Gwendolyn produces wooden artwork which is cut and engraved via laser, allowing for precise, intricate, and customizable designs for her customers. She has used proceeds from her work to support a summer camp for kids, and collegiate scholarships for other high-school age students. The judges loved the flexibility of her business plan, being able to mass-produce pieces or focus on customized art, and look forward to seeing how she uses her creativity to expand her business in the future.
Jewelry by Adly
As a young entrepreneur, Adly Hughes doesn’t let her age get in the way of pursuing her dreams! Adly enjoys being independent and running her business. She first got into jewelry-making when she received a kit as a gift and loved exploring different patterns. Now, Adly sells her handmade jewelry at various parties. Judges were impressed by Adly’s confidence and ambition, telling her to “GO FOR IT!”
Katie’s Crafts
After crocheting animals for herself, Katie Spangler thought that maybe people would love them as much as she does. Katie takes pride in adding many details to each crochet project, and she wants to continue brainstorming other products to add to her business so she can be ready for marketplaces to come! Katie loves being able to interact with her customers, share her story and receive feedback to make her animals even better! The judges love how passionate Katie is about her business and her willingness to keep growing as an entrepreneur.
2022 Finalist
Kutie’s Create
As the owner of Kutie’s Create, Jocelyn Eccles holds all of the responsibilities that come with running a business. After researching and attending YouthBiz workshops, Jocelyn began her business by making and selling loom jewelry at her first YouthBiz Marketplace. She now sells both a variety of loom jewelry and body scrubs. One thing she loves about owning a business is being able to experiment. She hopes to build her customer base so her business can be more recognizable. Jocelyn also hopes to teach other young people about becoming entrepreneurs and owning their own business. Judges appreciated Jocelyn’s entrepreneurial spirit and praised her expansion goals.
Kwynn’s Koop
Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, Kwynn-Ann Burke quickly learned the skills to become a young entrepreneur herself! When her family moved onto their ranch, Kwynn instantly fell in love with baby chicks and learned how to properly care for them and their eggs. Her business, Kywnn’s Koop, began with selling eggs, then expanded to include a variety of chicken art and egg cartoons too. Kwynn is thankful for local ranchers who spread the word about her business and are her loyal customers. Judges love how eager Kwynn is to meet her customers so they can see how young and ambitious she is!
The Lawn Rangers
Logan Singer has been shoveling snow for years, but when he teamed up with sister Ava, they started making some money. That’s when they both got excited about not only starting a business, but with helping others too. Logan likes to keep his prices affordable and ensure his customers have a well-kept yard. He is also focused on using eco-friendly equipment and hopes to keep contributing to both his college fund as well as Sacred Heart House of Denver, which provides transitional housing assistance to women and children. The judges applauded Logan’s ability to provide his niche target market with a needed service while keeping his prices affordable.
Lightner Designs
Hayden Hopkins began selling custom bookmarks at school, and, in 2018, after receiving birthday funds to start her business, Lightner Designs was born. Hayden now sells hand drawn and painted note cards, which can be purchased at markets or from her Etsy store. Hayden’s custom artwork really sets her apart from her competitors, and she wants to continue improving her business by introducing new designs. The judges admire her artistic talents and creativity, and appreciate that her cards are not limited to a single occasion.
Little Friends
Although her products are miniature, Alia Bokhari’s imagination and determination are anything but. Alia’s business, Little Friends, was inspired by her younger sister complaining that “her stuffed animals didn’t have stuffed animals of their own”. At first, Little Friends featured miniature felt animals, but has since expanded to include miniature felt plants, and cooking miniature desserts, including cakes, pies, and pastries. Alia’s focus has always been on making life easier for disadvantaged families, and she donates a portion of her sales to various charities and non-profits. Our judges enjoyed learning about the story behind Little Friends, and can’t wait to see how Alia’s business grows.
Little Sistas Treats
Char’Les and Zyaire Hawkins combine traditional and innovative sweet treats in their business. Char’Les had always wanted her own food truck, so she decided to join forces with her sister and get baking! Since introducing their tasty treats, the sisters have gained local, national and international attention. They love being involved in the community and encouraging others to follow their dreams. Their goal is to open a storefront one day, but for now you can find Little Sistas at many local events and pop-up shops. Judges appreciated their marketing strategies and loved these sisters’ tenacity!
MVP Inc.
Michael Flores knows the power of a tasty, sweet treat! When he was learning how to bake these treats, he would send them to family members. Soon, his family started sending money back to help pay for his ingredients. Michael always wanted to start a business and he says this began to feel like one, so M.V.P Inc. was born and he began putting his new business name on all his orders. Michael now sells a variety of treats as well as keychains and bookmarks. M.V.P. Inc. appeals to sweet treat lovers and to those looking for a special accessory! All of the judges adored the way Michael has turned his passion into his business, and commented on how delicious and appetizing his baked goods look!
Mimi’s Minis
When Amelia Moore used her sewing skills to create a stuffed animal for her dad, she realized she could sell these little creations, and Mimi’s Minis was born. Amelia now sells miniature stuffed animals, finger puppets and cat toys. Since her business began, Amelia has donated half of her profits to animal shelters and sanctuaries. She recently started adding personality tags to each of her mini animals, with a fun description and name. This fun feature helps to set her business apart from her competitors. Amelia has also started collaborating with her friend Ashley, in making stationary card sets. The judges were impressed by Amelia’s eagerness to get her product on store shelves and her willingness to begin collaborating with other businesses.
Morris’ Yard Cleanup
Morris Garn was interested in making money so he started doing some yard work. He quickly realized two things: he’s quite skilled at this AND he can make good money, too. After posting flyers around his neighborhood, he rapidly got booked up for work! Morris enjoys making money, but he also really enjoys helping his customers to ensure their yard looks better than before he got there. He does yard work year-round and hopes to expand his business by making and installing planter boxes for peoples’ gardens. Judges appreciated how Morris offers year-round services to his customers, and applauded his great work ethic.
Nettle Crochet
Helen Reichert learned to crochet from her grandmother and once she gained some experience, she decided to turn her hobby into a business. Nettle Crochet sells a variety of crocheted clothing items and Helen and Amelia Winterling hope to develop a new product line as well. Their main audience is teens, and they have found a following from LGBTQ+ youth. Helen and Amelia love taking part in celebrations, markets and other fairs and they hope to find even more in the future. They want to keep growing their business so they can begin donating to the Delores project, which is a shelter for homeless and trans individuals. The judges appreciated their insights about their niche target market and the expressiveness of their products.
2022 Finalist
One Tidy Day
Julia Diaz’s goal in creating One Tidy Day was to help customers “become and stay organized with products that don’t sacrifice style”! While she has created and sold homemade greeting cards since 2020, her desire to create stylish notepads, journals, daily planners, and more was inspired by a podcast all about organization. Julia has found great success promoting her business through social media, and attributes part of her success to understanding her primary market – other busy teen girls. She creates products that she would enjoy using, which gives her the confidence to market these products to her peers. Judges appreciated how Julia has found her ideal target market, and can’t wait to see what new products and services she introduces next.
The Outfitter
Roman Fairchild is a big fan of graphic design and 3D modeling, so he had the right skills and tools to design The Outfitter, a proprietary hanger that helps busy people put together their outfits for the day. Roman has been a business owner in the past, which gave him the confidence to create a website, logo, and slogan for his new creation. Roman has sold his product at YouthBiz Marketplaces, and he hopes to grow his business by finding more retailers to carry The Outfitter. The judges were impressed by Roman’s ingenuity in creating a new product and can’t wait to see how it takes off.
2022 Finalist
Peopl Planet
Hana Gragus had an interest in sewing and wanted to explore what a young entrepreneur could do with that skillset. Scrunchies made up the bulk of her sales initially, so she made these her main focus. One of Hana’s priorities is to understand the environmental impact of her business. To help reduce this, Hana minimizes her use of plastic, uses biodegradable tags, and uses upcycled fabrics. Hana loves that Peopl Planet reflects who she is and hopes she can continue growing her online presence as well as making connections in the community. Judges appreciated her handmade items and her focus on sustainability.
The Profit Network
Shouken Lopez has been in business since he was 12 years old. He enjoys helping other people learn how to make money and sales through his business, The Profit Network. He has taught online courses for other young entrepreneurs, and has developed a website that allows customers to easily find discounted items across the web, enabling them to resell or collect items at an affordable price. Shouken is excited to grow his business further after college and continue to empower other young entrepreneurs. Our judges appreciated the professional quality and personality of Shouken’s websites, and thought that his focus on teaching other young entrepreneurs was a great strategy.
2022 Finalist
Rescue Riders, LLC
Savannah Vermeulen is passionate about providing a strong connection between horses and their owners, so she created Rescue Riders, LLC to rescue abused and neglected horses and give them a chance at a better life. Savannah purchases horses that have had a bad life, nurses them back to health and trains them before finding them good homes. To provide a better experience for horses and their owners, she also trains client horses to feel more comfortable and better behaved when being ridden or transported by their owners. Our judges were extremely impressed with the diligence, planning, and passion present in Savannah’s business plan, and are excited to see how she expands her business to help more animals.
The Rhino and the Rabbit
The Rhino and the Rabbit was created after Rian Scheitler learned to cook for his family when everyone except him got sick. After watching YouTube videos and pulling from years watching his mom cook, Rian felt confident in his skills, and soon decided to turn cooking into a business. At his first Marketplace, Rian brought his friend, Lauren Alcamo, along to ease his nerves. Afterward, with her feedback, he made some strategic changes to menu items and prices. Rian is looking forward to finding more markets to participate in and says his business stands out because of the quality ingredients he uses in every dish. The judges were inspired by Rian’s business story, his willingness to collaborate with friends, and the creativity of the items he sells.
Rory Glory Designs
Rory Goldstein understands the importance of a good hair band, as her first creations came from the need to help hold back her “big curly hair”. Rory began her business, Rory Glory Designs, when she was nine years old, and enjoys creating colorful and creative products for her customers. In addition to scrunchies, hair accessories, and dog bandanas, Rory has also founded the non-profit Peaceful Pillow Project, in which she creates pillowcases for hospice patients around the United States. Our judges appreciate the diversity of the products Rory produces and are inspired by her non-profit work.
Scarcatering
When Scarlet Wine had to pay for a portion of a school trip, she brainstormed business ideas until she landed on Scarcatering. Scarcatering offers a variety of meal kits to make easy, delicious measl. Although Scarlet has competitors, she says Scarcatering stands out because each meal kit is personally and lovingly prepared. Scarlet hopes to expand her business into other cities and offer more meal kit options to satisfy people’s diverse palates. Judges loved that this business was created when demand was high and appreciated Scarlet’s eagerness to keep growing her business!
Sew Sew Ruby
Ruby Englert enjoys sewing in her free time, so turning her passion into a business was a no-brainer, leading to the creation of Sew Sew Ruby. Ruby found great success at the YouthBiz Marketplace this past Spring, and also sells her handmade scrunchies, bracelets, bags, and more online through her Etsy store. She loves sewing cool things for other people and seeing them enjoy her products. The judges enjoyed seeing Ruby’s creativity on display on her Etsy page, and believe she has the potential to reach a wide audience.
2022 Finalist
The Slime Kings
Nicholas Gray has always been interested in slime and decided to start his own slime business. Slime Kings creates many kinds of slime with varying colors, scents, and textures. Nicholas has plans to get his slime onto the shelves of multiple local toy stores. He runs his own social media accounts to reach more customers online and he is looking forward to taking on more of the financial responsibilities of his business as well. Judges were impressed that Nicholas knows his exact target market and uses his mentor as a guide while growing his business.
Snowcones
John Cunningham believes that “anyone can enjoy a snow cone”, and he has created a business to suit that need. After his father first bought him a snow-cone machine, John decided to experiment with flavors and styles, learning that he enjoyed the process of making new products for customers to enjoy. John has found success selling his snow cones at YouthBiz Marketplaces, and is looking to expand his operation with a larger capacity machine and even more flavors. The judges love the creativity John has shown with flavor combinations and are impressed by his plans to expand his business.
Sweet Heaven
Isabella Volpe has been selling her treats for years, but once she began thinking of a business name and compiled other elements to form her business, it really came to life. Sweet Heaven now offers a variety of treats, and Isabella loves seeing her customers enjoy the goodies she makes. Isabella wants to start offering more treats and get her website up and running to reach more customers. She uses carefully selected ingredients so people with specific diets or restrictions are still able to enjoy her products. This was something the judges really appreciated.
Teen Hustl
Jack began his business, Teen Hustl, to create money-making opportunities for teens in today’s gig economy. Beginning as a food delivery service in Broomfield and Westminster, Teen Hustl pivoted to provide delivery services for buyers and sellers on Nextdoor.com, as well as Amazon customers needing to take their returns to a local drop-off location. Jack’s innovation in “last mile delivery services” helped him win the 2020 U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Dream Big Award” for Youth Entrepreneurship. Judges were impressed by how well developed his business is, and they believe it can be scaled up to serve neighborhoods across the country.
Turtle Duck Co.
Ione Larson created Turtle Duck Co. after she discovered her love of crochet and crafting – hobbies which helped her through some tough times. She taught herself how to crochet in 2020 and loves the flexibility of what can be made with yarn. That flexibility worked in her favor as she shifted from making general goods and crafts to focusing on narrower target markets. Her animal themed hats, toys, and car charms are big sellers on Etsy. The judges loved the artistry and creativity of Ione’s pieces, and think that her creation of original characters and mascots is a great idea to bring more attention to her products.
Will/YUM’s Caramels
Will/YUM’s Caramels started one day when William Hey was trying to make homemade caramel sauce. It was so delicious, William began giving away jars to family and friends and eventually began selling to a wider customer base! Will/YUM’s Caramels are for anyone who loves caramel. William has sold at marketplaces and has a goal of selling his products through local stores. William says his caramel is the best because it’s made with love and tastes great on ice cream, apples or just a spoon! All of the judges gushed over William’s clever business name, and were impressed by his knowledge of his competitors.
Willa Miette Studio
Willa Wang was interested in combining her love for wildlife and her passion for art. She decided to begin hand-printing her art on eco-conscious shirts and tote bags. Willa designs all of her art and merchandise from start to finish. One of Willa’s main focuses is to remain eco-conscious, from her products to her packaging to her charitable component, donating 10% of her profits to wildlife conservation. Willa hopes to expand her online presence as well as start taking custom orders. The judges applauded Willa’s mission and sophisticated art, and look forward to seeing Willa Miette Studio grow.
