From E-fabrics and clocks crafted from recycled materials to pet backscratchers and vegan soaps, local teen entrepreneurs are learning to build and brand unique businesses, and thanks to Startable Pittsburgh, they are accessing opportunities and expertise they might otherwise never have.
“Our goal is to provide access to resources while encouraging more young people, especially those traditionally underrepresented in the field, to consider starting a business and/or pursuing a career in skilled trades,” said Program Coordinator Jackie Shimshoni.
Now beginning its fourth year, Startable Pittsburgh is a free eight-week summer program developed by Innovation Works for teens aged 16-18 to learn entrepreneurship and maker skills, in order to start their own businesses.
The program mentors students to develop, design, prototype, build, brand, market and sell products of their own creation by partnering with local retailers. Students earn a program stipend and keep all profits from the sale of their products. While anyone is welcome to apply, it prioritizes minority and female applicants.
And just in time for the Jan. 1 opening of its 2017 application season, Startable Pittsburgh has received a $150,000 grant from the BYN Mellon Foundation of Southwestern PA to sustain and grow its programming.
In addition to Innovation Works, the program also partners with its hardware-based startup accelerator AlphaLab Gear; TechShop Pittsburgh, which provides access to its 16,000 square-foot workshop and prototyping studio, and City of Play, which invents new ways for play to impact people, communities, businesses, and classrooms.
The 2017 program, which runs from June 26 through Aug. 18, has 36 slots available. During the first three weeks, students go through a daily “boot camp” where they undergo an intensive design thinking process to come up with a product, and learn the skill such as screen printing, welding woodworking, sewing and computer drafting needed to make a prototype.
They also learn principles of entrepreneurship and business, and how to pitch their product to investors. During the final five weeks, student actually build their businesses and products.
“The program has seen great success,” said Shimshoni. “While the program currently takes place in the summer, alumni engage year-round, taking advantage of community markets and networking opportunities offered through the program.”
Those interested can apply beginning Jan. 1 at startablepittsburgh.org.
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