It’s hard to believe we’re taking our cues these days from young entrepreneurs. Think about the people who inspired you when you were growing up. And we’re not talking about your parents. They played their part for sure, but think about the people who paved the way for you to pursue your dreams. Times have changed since we were kids (it was a long time ago, let’s leave it at that) but one thing remains the same—it only takes the work of a few innovative individuals to inspire many to achieve success. And this Millennial generation (aka Generation Y, born between 1980 and 2000) has plenty of hardworking influencers to choose from if you’re looking to be inspired.
Millennials represent America’s largest and most racially diverse generation and more than any generation before them, they embrace the entrepreneurial spirit. According to Millennial Week, “48% consider owning their own business a top life goal.” Beyond that, they are willing to take risks and think outside the box to get there. “Millennials are realizing that starting a company, even if it crashes and burns, teaches them more in two years than sitting in a cubicle for 20 years,” explains Fred Truffle, director of Bentley’s Entrepreneurial Studies program. In other words, they are the ones to watch. Here are 14 successful young entrepreneurs who are making a big impression in the business world and beyond.
- Ankur Jain (24)
Jain is an entrepreneur using his innovations to solve global problems. He founded the nonprofit Kairos Society to promote other young entrepreneurs. He also co-founded Humin, an app that works to make your smartphone function the way you think, or to make it more human. Get it? Apparently he’s smart and clever.
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