Young entrepreneurs worldwide are proving that age doesn’t need to be a barrier to business and financial success. Generation Z, known for its innovation and modernity, is making waves in various industries. Many of these innovative young minds have gained recognition in Forbes’ prestigious 30 under 30 lists, underscoring their determination to make a difference in the world even before completing their college education.
These remarkable individuals are challenging the conventional notion that you must wait until your 20s to leave your mark. Forbes’ 30-under-30 roster is teeming with the names of young entrepreneurs, athletes, and performers who are redefining the expectations associated with being a teenager.
A group of young visionaries are proving that they have the potential to compete with their older counterparts, ensuring that the cycle of innovation doesn’t end when figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk eventually step back from their active day-to-day roles as CEOs.
Henry Burner
Hailing from Redmond, Washington, Henry Burner was a mere 14 years old when he earned a spot on Forbes’ 30-under-30 Honoree list in 2018. His entrepreneurial journey began with Buttonsmith, Inc., a project he initiated during the fourth grade. Initially crafting pinback buttons to sell to classmates, Burner soon expanded his market to local farmers’ markets during summer vacations. In 2014, he took his business online, leveraging platforms like Amazon and his dedicated product website. Over time, Burner’s product range expanded to include buttons, magnets, lanyards, fixed-top badge reels, and innovative offerings such as Tinker Reels and badge reels with swappable tops. By this point, the teenager had nine adult employees working under him.
Lach Black
A promising young entrepreneur who is a likely candidate for the Forbes 30-under-30 list is Lach Black. At the age of 17, he founded Clearblow, an artificial-intelligence-driven technology startup specializing in innovative solutions for respiratory health in individuals with chronic lung diseases. Black embarked on this entrepreneurial journey in 2021, when he was just 15, driven by a vision to bring a smarter pocket spirometer to the market that would facilitate improved respiratory well-being management for chronic lung sufferers.
Gabriel Mesa
Gabriel Mesa, a resident of Canton, Connecticut, secured his place in Forbes’ 30-under-30 list at the age of 17 in 2017. Experimenting in his kitchen, Mesa devised a motion-powered device featuring a carbon backup battery and an insole that harnessed wearer-generated electricity to treat nerve damage affecting 70% of diabetics. This groundbreaking innovation drew inspiration from piezoelectrics. At the time of Forbes recognition, Mesa was a high school junior actively commercializing his invention.
Annie Ostojic
Annie Ostojic joined the Forbes Honoree list of 30 under 30 at the age of 15 in 2018. While still a high school student, she created an improved microwave oven and a system for collecting solar power from indoor lighting to charge batteries, subsequently powering electric appliances. Her innovation earned her the honor of meeting former President Barack Obama on two occasions, where her inventive prowess was commended. Presently studying electrical engineering at Stanford University, Ostojic has also collaborated with several prominent organizations, including Arrow Electronics, Operational Test and Evaluation in the Department of Defense, Pentagon, and the Center for Implantable Devices at Purdue University. She is currently exploring her entrepreneurial side, focusing on a startup. Ostojic began receiving national and international recognition at the tender age of nine while attending Frank Hammond Elementary School. In 2018, she became the youngest individual in Forbes’ 30 under 30 energy category and the third youngest for the year.
