Teens to Start 13 New Businesses in Lincoln Square

Two seventh-graders are starting a perfume business whose products can be seen at craft fairs over the summer and hopefully at Merz Apothecary in the near future. 

Alanis Gonzales and her business partner, Chloe Hasmonek, both attend St. Matthias Elementary School. Using essential oils, the two made their own recipes to create better-smelling perfume for women, called Crossed Vines.

“We really wanted something that smelled more natural that we could mass produce,” Gonzales said.

The two students started their business through the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), a 30-week program that teaches kids how to develop and market a business plan. The 20 participants created 13 business plans. Each student had to interview for the program, turn in transcripts, write two essays, and ask for teacher recommendations.

“It’s been amazing to watch,” said Co-Director Melissa Flynn. “They were shy around each other at first and it’s been so much fun to watch them change and gain confidence.”

The YEA! Program started out of New York 8 years ago with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. As the former Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce director, Flynn heard about the program and decided to bring it to the neighborhood.

“What better way to get local businesses in our neighborhood than to start a new entrepreneurial base?” she said.

A partial grant helped start the program through the nonprofit Lincoln Square Foundation, but businesses were the main supporters. Two instructors—Jared Saunders from Brew Camp and Carlos Becerra from BEC Tutoring—taught the students about everything from marketing and design to insurance.

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Over the 30 week program, the future entrepreneurs will go on six field trips and hear from nine different guest speakers. And 20 weeks in, they had to present their business plan to four local business owners.

That presentation was Wednesday, where the Queen of Angels Voss Center became a Shark Tank.  Each group, made up of one to three students, presented a business plan and asked for funding. Four local business owners—from Brew Camp, Himmel’s, VerifyValid and Profitecture—donated $1,000 to fund the ideas.

Each of the 13 projects received between $40 and $500 to start their businesses. Local owners also tossed in free business cards and a year of web hosting.

Through the program, one student was also selected for the Saunders Scholarship.

Eddie McCarthy will travel to New York City for a chance to win a $30,000 scholarship.  The panel selected McCarthy because of his business, “Allergy Business Cards.”

With a younger brother who has severe food allergies, McCarthy made business cards that define what someone can and can’t eat. At restaurants, the person hands the card to a server, who can make communication easier with the kitchen.

After receiving the award, McCarthy was overcome with gratefulness: “I just want to thank my parents and family … I’m so proud of everyone here today.”

Flynn said she’s already starting working on the program for next year; businesses that are interested in getting involved can read more here.