This Company Helps Girls Across the US Become CEOs (& Your Kid Could Be Next)

From the front-yard lemonade stand to selling toys at a yard sale, most kids dabble in the business world before they even really know what it is. But what if a young girl you knew–your daughter, niece, kid’s bestie–could become a CEO before they hit 8th grade? Thanks to Brian Weisfeld and The Startup Squad, it can happen sooner than you think. Read on to learn how The Startup Squad is helping young girls across the country realize their potential and learn about the contest that will help find the next girl CEO. 

photo courtesy Brian Weisfeld 

The “Start” of It All

When Brian began his business, The Startup Squad, four years ago, his goal was to help young girls find empowerment through entrepreneurship. Inspired by his own two daughters, The Startup Squad helps elementary school girls develop important life skills and the confidence to reach their dreams by offering basic business training and guidance. The end game? Girls are set up to succeed in future careers, whether they become entrepreneurs, veterinarians, moms, or whatever else they are passionate about!

photo: iStock

The Book & Contest

Now, The Startup Squad is hitting the books! In May 2019, the first of a series of The Startup Squad books for middle-grader readers will hit the stands. And your own girl CEO could be the star of it! This month Brian is launching Be the Boss: The Startup Squad Search for a Girl Who Means Business, a nationwide search for a girl CEO to feature in the first book. Open to girls ages 7-14 who have started their own business, the contest will offer girls the chance to showcase their businesses and ideas.

photo: Sara Pflug via Burst 

How to Enter

Parents in the U.S. can enter girl entrepreneurs between the ages of 7-14 (as of 12/31/18) by uploading a one-minute video about her business to www.thestartupsquad.com/contest. Videos will be accepted through August 31, 2018. Finalists will be selected from the approved entries based on highest business potential (33.3%), video presentation (33.3%), and a public vote to be held between September 10-28, 2018 (33.3%). The Grand Prize Winner will be selected from the finalists by a public vote to be held between October 8-31, 2018. For more information about The Startup Squad, to enter the contest, and for official contest rules, please visit the startupsquad.com.

photo: Joseph Gonzalez via Unsplash

What Are You Waiting For??

We asked Brian for the one thing he would tell any young girl starting a business and he said:

Failure is not what happens when you don’t succeed, failure is what happens when you don’t try. You should be failing at something every week. Failing means you are trying new things, pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone, and taking risks. What I love about entrepreneurship, especially for kids, is that it gets you used to taking risks and failing and expanding your brain and growing your skill set. What better way for a child to prepare for success in life than to establish a love of trying new things and a resilience for failure?

We couldn’t agree more. So enter now!

Learn more at startupsquad.com.