YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS SHOW SUCCESS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY AGE

Saturday’s Young Entrepreneurs Presentation, a family-oriented session of Dallas Startup Week, gave the stage to two teams of budding culinary entrepreneurs.

Four giggling boys in neon yellow T-shirts and baseball caps stepped up first to speak about their award-winning lemonade stand, Launching Lemons.

Young entrepreneurs include brothers who co-founded a lemonade stand

The stand was co-founded by brothers Daryl and Drake Moss, ages 10 and 5, after their grandmother read about the national children’s entrepreneur event Lemonade Day.

The boys set up an electric blue stand adorned with spaceships at their local Kroger in Frisco. Their unique formula, containing chia seeds, tea and honey, attracted health-conscious customers.

Eventually, the boys nabbed the award for Best Tasting Original Lemonade at the 2015 Lemonade Day.

Their formula impressed fellow child entrepreneur and Lemonade Day judge Mikaila Ulmer, the founder of BeeSweet Lemonade. Ulmer has appeared on the ABC television show Shark Tank, and currently sells her product in Whole Foods Market stores.

Launching Lemons donates to the SPCA, Daryl Moss’s favorite charity.

Young entrepreneur makes a healthier granola

The second presentation was from charismatic Sunny Kim, a 17-year-old from Rockwall who launched a vegan snack company, Bright Snacks, after struggling to find a satisfying yet nourishing granola bar.

“I don’t want to eat something that tastes like grass or dirt,” she said. “I want to eat something that tastes good.”

When Kim’s mother gave her a choice last summer to either get a job or start her own company, Kim jumped at the chance to do the latter. She spent each day perfecting her recipes, and now sells four varieties of bars: Blueberry Bliss, Cinnamon Almond, Chocolate Chip Pecan, and Cranberry Cashew.

“I don’t want to eat something that tastes like grass or dirt.”
– Sunny Kim

Kim created a recipe with an innovative Super Trio of hemp protein, flax seeds, and chia seeds. She says this recipe sets her apart from big-brand competitors, as does her commitment to healthy, organic ingredients and no preservatives. Kim cooks and packages each bar at home, then even delivers to local customers in Rockwall.

Her Bright Bars are sold at the Dallas Farmers Market and online.

Kim answered a flurry of questions from a curious audience, including plans to expand her product line; desires to franchise her products; and her five-year plan and elevator pitch.

“Self-motivation is the most important quality for a business owner,” Kim said. She hopes to see her products in Whole Foods within the next few years, and will continue her business through college to help pay for it.

Other young entrepreneurs will pitch and share product samples at this year’s Lemonade Stand on May 7.

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