You’re never too young to start a business, or at least that’s what our partner program Catapult Greater Pittsburgh thinks—and we couldn’t agree more. With the launch of their Kidpreneurship Training Program earlier this year, Catapult is on a mission to inspire, educate, and promote young people on the benefits of financial sustainability and community empowerment through entrepreneurship.
Catapult Kids is a six-month business incubation program for minority youth ages 12-17. The participants are placed in a supportive cohort learning environment where they gain an understanding of personal SMART goal setting, starting a business, marketing, sales, and retail business operations from entrepreneurial consultant Debra Titus.
Below, hear from one of the young entrepreneurs using Catapult Kids to grow their business and achieve their dreams.
What’s your name and how old are you?
My name is TyLynn Gault, and I am a 16-year-old entrepreneur.
What is your business? How did you come up with the idea for it?
I am the owner and operator of The Chosen 1 Apparel and Chosen 1 Customs. With the same message for both businesses, I am aiming to spread awareness and emphasize that everyone is chosen in their own way! I came up with the idea to start a business when I took a business class at the Pittsburgh Gifted Center. I saw how some people felt when they didn’t feel like they were good at something, and I wanted to make sure everyone knows they are chosen in their own way.
How did you get involved with Catapult?
I got involved with Catapult after someone I knew told me about the program and I met people who benefited from it.
Why are you motivated to run a business?
What motivates me to keep my business running is how much adversity I’ve overcome already as an African American youth entrepreneur.
What are your dreams for the future?
My dream in the future is to become a serial entrepreneur, helping each and every person gain self-confidence and awareness.
What have you learned through Catapult so far?
So far through Catapult, I’ve learned to create relationships and build a network—that way no matter where I am in life, I’ll always have a network standing behind me. Seeing each entrepreneur climb their way to the top with the help of others gives me confidence that our small businesses will soon be global.
Seeing each entrepreneur climb their way to the top with the help of others gives me confidence that our small businesses will soon be global.
How can people support your business?
To support a small business, anything helps. A like, share, or comment on social media can help spread our messages and keep our businesses running. If you’d like to support me in any way, here’s the information to do so:
Facebook: The Chosen 1 Apparel
Instagram: @thechosen1apparel_
Website: www.thechosen1apparel.com/