ReportWire

Tag: Health & Wellness

  • Gen X’s Retirement ‘Blind Spot’ Derails Financial Plans: Report | Entrepreneur

    As the oldest members of Gen X continue to turn 60 this year, the so-called “sandwich generation” is getting closer to the typical age for retirement (62, on average).

    Unfortunately, many Gen X professionals lack the financial resources to retire well.

    Just 54% of Gen X savers said they’re on track for retirement, the lowest percentage of any generation, according to a BlackRock report.

    Related: 25% of Boomers Face a Bleak Retirement — Are You Making the Same Mistakes?

    An annual research study from Northwestern Mutual casts the spotlight on some of Gen X‘s most pressing retirement issues as the group approaches its golden years.

    First, Gen Xers said they’d need $1.57 million to retire comfortably, or $310,000 more than the “magic number” national average, according to the research.

    More than half (56%) of Gen Xers thought they’d likely outlive their savings, while just 40% of Boomers and beyond felt the same, per the report.

    Related: The National Average Salary Is About $65,000. Here’s What Americans Are Saving for Retirement — How Do Your Stats Compare?

    Across all generations, Gen X was the least likely to report the expectation of an inheritance.

    Additionally, Gen X respondents were more concerned than millennials or Boomers about paying off their mortgage: 25% compared to 24% and 18%, respectively.

    Gen X also reported less understanding of some critical factors that could impact their retirement plans. For example, they had a looser grasp on how inflation (53%) and taxes (49%) could affect their financial plans, compared to 66% and 62% of Boomers.

    Related: Retirees Will Likely Outlive Their Savings in 5 States, Falling Short By Up to $448,000. Here’s Where They Have Better Odds.

    What’s more, 50% of Gen X admitted to a “common blindspot” when it comes to managing their finances: They said they’d prioritized building wealth without doing enough to protect their assets. Just 35% of Boomers felt the same.

    “Growth without protection can leave people vulnerable,” Jeff Sippel, chief strategy officer at Northwestern Mutual, said. “Especially as you get older, safeguarding what you’ve built is just as critical as continuing to build. A holistic plan should account for both.”

    As the oldest members of Gen X continue to turn 60 this year, the so-called “sandwich generation” is getting closer to the typical age for retirement (62, on average).

    Unfortunately, many Gen X professionals lack the financial resources to retire well.

    Just 54% of Gen X savers said they’re on track for retirement, the lowest percentage of any generation, according to a BlackRock report.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    Amanda Breen

    Source link

  • Strengthen Your Memory for a Business Edge | Entrepreneur

    Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

    Running a business is already a mental marathon—juggling meetings, client names, deadlines, and numbers that matter. And when your brain doesn’t keep up, it’s a problem.

    According to the National Institute on Aging, our memory changes as we get older, and “some people notice that they don’t remember information as well as they once did and aren’t able to recall it as quickly.” Needless to say, this natural process is not great for those trying to run a business.

    Think of memoryOS as a gym membership for your mind, offering you a pathway to the recall strength you need to stay sharp. And right now, you can grab a one-year subscription for just $74.99 (MSRP $149.99).

    Unlike generic “brain games,” memoryOS is built on scientifically proven methods, such as mnemonics and spaced repetition, the company says. It introduces a modern twist: the Virtual Mind Palace. This centuries-old technique (used by memory champions and scholars) has been digitized and gamified, making it fun and engaging to practice.

    The result? Users report an average 70% boost in memory recall, the company says.

    Imagine walking into a client meeting and remembering every name. Or recalling key figures from last quarter’s reports without flipping through notes. That’s the kind of advantage memoryOS brings to professionals—whether you’re pitching, leading a team, or negotiating at the table.

    With guidance from World Memory Champions, bite-size microlessons fit into even the busiest schedules. In just a few minutes a day, you’ll start noticing improvements in how quickly and confidently you can store and retrieve important information.

    And it’s not limited to work. From remembering speeches to never forgetting a password again, memoryOS helps cut down on those frustrating “what was that again?” moments in everyday life.

    For entrepreneurs and executives, the ability to remember more means making faster decisions, stronger connections, and ultimately, running your business with greater confidence.

    Get a 1-year subscription to the memoryOS Expert Plan while it’s on sale for just $74.99 (MSRP $149.99).

    memoryOS Expert Plan: 1-Year Subscription

    See Deal

    StackSocial prices subject to change.

    Running a business is already a mental marathon—juggling meetings, client names, deadlines, and numbers that matter. And when your brain doesn’t keep up, it’s a problem.

    According to the National Institute on Aging, our memory changes as we get older, and “some people notice that they don’t remember information as well as they once did and aren’t able to recall it as quickly.” Needless to say, this natural process is not great for those trying to run a business.

    Think of memoryOS as a gym membership for your mind, offering you a pathway to the recall strength you need to stay sharp. And right now, you can grab a one-year subscription for just $74.99 (MSRP $149.99).

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    Entrepreneur Store

    Source link

  • Using AI Gave Me Free Time — So I Turned It Into My Competitive Edge | Entrepreneur

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Artificial intelligence has changed my business entirely. The majority of my business is ecommerce-based, and AI has allowed me to automate many of the most time-consuming tasks. This shift hasn’t just saved me time; it’s made daily operations more efficient and enabled smarter, data-driven decisions that have elevated both productivity and customer satisfaction. In the early days, I spent nearly every waking hour creating products and listing them online. Every process was manual — from product descriptions to market research — and if I wasn’t actively working, nothing moved forward.

    But once I began incorporating AI into my workflow, everything changed. By automating some of the most time-consuming and repetitive tasks, I suddenly found myself with hours of free time each week. At first, it felt strange — almost unsettling — to no longer be chained to my desk for 10 hours a day. This raised a new and surprisingly tricky question: What should I do with this extra time?

    I quickly realized that I wasn’t alone in facing this dilemma. As AI and automation become more common, many entrepreneurs and business owners will find themselves in the same situation. Once your most tedious processes are handled automatically, how should you invest the hours you’ve reclaimed?

    When the time savings first hit, my instinct was to keep the momentum going by diving deeper into automation. I figured the best way to occupy myself was to learn more about artificial intelligence systems that could help automate my business even more. Meanwhile, all I was reading online was talking about how the AI revolution was occurring now, and to be successful, one must adapt and understand AI. I was constantly consuming new information, but wasn’t giving myself the mental space to process it. The quality of my learning declined, and my creativity began to plummet.

    Related: 5 Practical Ways Entrepreneurs Can Add AI to Their Toolkit Today

    It was a hard truth to swallow: You can only work so hard and absorb so much information in a day before your effectiveness starts to drop.

    At that point, I made a conscious decision to try something different. Instead of spending all my newfound time chasing more efficiencies, I decided to invest a portion of it into myself — outside the world of technology and business.

    I returned to activities that had once brought me joy but had been pushed aside by the demands of my business. I started going to the gym, which I hadn’t been doing consistently since college. I downloaded Apple Fitness and started using its guided meditations. I also started playing guitar in the evenings and making much more time for spending time with friends and family.

    The impact was immediate and unexpected. My stress levels dropped, my energy increased and I felt a sense of balance that I hadn’t experienced in years. Most surprisingly, my work performance improved dramatically.

    When I allowed myself to slow down, my productivity at work didn’t shrink; it grew. With a clearer mind and a healthier body, I was able to focus for more extended periods, think more creatively and approach challenges with a calmer, more strategic mindset.

    Simple changes made a difference:

    • Morning exercise gave me more energy throughout the day.
    • Meditation helped me approach business decisions with a clearer head.
    • Time with friends reminded me there’s more to life than my business.

    This wasn’t just about feeling better personally — it had a direct, measurable effect on my business. I made better decisions, communicated more effectively with clients and partners and spotted opportunities I might have missed when I was too buried in the grind.

    Many entrepreneurs pride themselves on living and breathing their work. That dedication can produce great results — but it can also lead to burnout, tunnel vision and declining performance over time.

    Automation offers us a rare opportunity, not just to get more done, but to create space in our lives for things that make us better humans and better leaders. Taking time to step away from constant work is not laziness — it’s a strategy for long-term success.

    Related: Are You Using AI Effectively — or Are You Wasting Its Potential? Ask Yourself These 5 Questions to Find Out

    How to manage your newfound free time

    When I started going back to the gym, meeting with friends, taking time off during lunch to take a walk outside and getting some sunlight, I felt much better and found that my creativity was coming back, as well as my ability to work with a clear head. Taking time to work on myself outside of my business has had a profoundly positive impact on me, both professionally and personally.

    Here’s the balance I’ve found works best:

    1. Dedicate part of your extra time to learning new tools, strategies or skills — but keep it intentional. Focus on areas that will directly move your business or personal goals forward.
    2. Physical and mental health is a business investment. Regular exercise, quality sleep and time outdoors will give you energy and mental clarity that directly benefit your work.
    3. Pursue your hobbies or revisit ones you used to enjoy.
    4. Creative outlets — whether that’s music, art, cooking or something else entirely — can recharge your brain and make you a more well-rounded thinker.
    5. Relationships take work and time; focus on continually growing and improving them.
    6. Strong personal connections improve resilience, reduce stress and can even lead to unexpected opportunities.

    Related: Why Smart Entrepreneurs Let AI Do the Heavy Business Lifting

    AI and automation are not just productivity tools — they are lifestyle-changing technologies. The real opportunity isn’t just in what they help you accomplish in your business, but in the freedom they give you to live better.

    The hours you reclaim are valuable. If you use them only to cram in more work, you risk missing the bigger picture. If you use them to grow as a person — in health, relationships and creativity — you may find that your business thrives as a natural byproduct.

    So, the next time automation gives you back an afternoon, ask yourself: Will I spend this making my systems faster, or making my life better? The answer you choose could change not just your business, but your life.

    Artificial intelligence has changed my business entirely. The majority of my business is ecommerce-based, and AI has allowed me to automate many of the most time-consuming tasks. This shift hasn’t just saved me time; it’s made daily operations more efficient and enabled smarter, data-driven decisions that have elevated both productivity and customer satisfaction. In the early days, I spent nearly every waking hour creating products and listing them online. Every process was manual — from product descriptions to market research — and if I wasn’t actively working, nothing moved forward.

    But once I began incorporating AI into my workflow, everything changed. By automating some of the most time-consuming and repetitive tasks, I suddenly found myself with hours of free time each week. At first, it felt strange — almost unsettling — to no longer be chained to my desk for 10 hours a day. This raised a new and surprisingly tricky question: What should I do with this extra time?

    I quickly realized that I wasn’t alone in facing this dilemma. As AI and automation become more common, many entrepreneurs and business owners will find themselves in the same situation. Once your most tedious processes are handled automatically, how should you invest the hours you’ve reclaimed?

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    David Peterson

    Source link

  • I Looked Successful, But Inside I Was Falling Apart — This Trifecta Method Took Me From Rock Bottom to Peak Performance | Entrepreneur

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Five years ago, I hit rock bottom.

    From the outside, my life looked like a highlight reel: scaling social enterprises, writing bestsellers, sharing stages with world-famous leaders. But behind the curtain, I was exhausted, angry, and disconnected. My health was crumbling under chronic pain, brain fog and a complete loss of purpose.

    The hard truth about burnout is this: you can look like you’re winning while you’re falling apart. I had pushed so hard, for so long, that I hollowed out from the inside. It wasn’t just overwork. It was a disconnection from what mattered — physically, mentally, spiritually.

    That collapse became a turning point. Out of desperation, I started exploring a new path anchored in science and self-awareness. What I discovered was a trifecta: biohacking, longevity medicine and fulfillment. Together, they restored my energy and clarity.

    In this article, I’ll focus on biohacking — because it was the gateway that reconnected me at the cellular level and gave me the foundation to rebuild.

    Rediscovering energy

    Biohacking is often misunderstood as a fringe obsession with gadgets and supplements. But at its core, it’s simple: creating the conditions for your body and mind to function at their best. Think of it as working on the smallest unit of life — your cells and microbiome — so they can repair damage, fight disease and fuel growth.

    My journey started with the basics: sleep, nutrition and movement.

    Years of neglect had left me with inflammation, lingering injuries and brain fog. Traditional medicine had no answers.

    Everything shifted when I met Dave Asprey, the founder of the modern biohacking movement. His philosophy was simple: change your environment — inside and out — and you can change your life.

    Dave’s story mirrored my own. At 28, despite outward success, he faced arthritis, prediabetes, cognitive decline and the biochemistry of someone twice his age. Determined to reverse it, he lost over 100 pounds, regained his energy and boosted his IQ. His journey sparked the creation of The Bulletproof Diet and the global biohacking community.

    Related: Why Smart Entrepreneurs Are Betting Big on Biohacking

    Rebuilding from the ground up

    I began experimenting with practices that seemed too simple to be transformative: cold plunges, infrared light, grounding in nature, fasting, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and a complete diet reset. Slowly, my energy returned.

    When I sought treatment for an old rugby injury that left me limping for years, I turned to regenerative medicine: stem-cell therapy and plasma exchanges. For the first time in decades, I walked without pain.

    But the biggest breakthrough wasn’t physical. With energy came clarity. With clarity came purpose. For the first time in years, I could hear the quiet voice of what mattered most.

    Lessons for entrepreneurs

    So what does this have to do with building a company? Everything.

    Entrepreneurs pride themselves on outworking everyone else. But exhaustion is not a strategy. Your body is your most undervalued asset, and when you neglect it, your business pays the price.

    Here are five practices that changed my life — and can change the way you lead:

    1. Own your mornings
      I used to wake up and dive into email. Now I guard the first hours of the day for myself: meditation, movement, and cold exposure. These rituals anchor me before the world demands my attention.

    2. Treat recovery as fuel, not weakness
      Sleep, downtime, and therapies like hyperbaric oxygen aren’t indulgences. They’re performance multipliers. Recovery is what sustains high output.

    3. Align biology with purpose
      Energy without direction accelerates burnout. Energy with purpose drives innovation, collaboration, and fulfillment.

    4. Use stress as a tool
      Cold plunges, fasting, and breathwork are forms of “hormetic stress” — controlled challenges that build resilience. When you train your body to handle stress, you lead better under pressure.

    5. Build rituals, not resolutions
      Change doesn’t come from hacks you try once. It comes from rituals you repeat daily. My 4:15 a.m. wake-up, morning oxygen sessions, and meditation aren’t experiments — they’re anchors.

    Related: I Biohacked My Way to Better Mood, Sleep and Job Performance — and You Can, Too. Here’s How.

    From burned out to fueled up

    Looking back, burnout was the best thing that ever happened to me. It forced me to confront the unsustainable way I was living and leading.

    It took all three pillars — biohacking, longevity medicine and fulfillment — to rebuild my health. Biohacking gave me a reset at the cellular level. Longevity medicine created a long-term plan. Fulfillment reconnected me to purpose.

    Today, I lead with presence and energy. I show up better for my family. And I build from a place of alignment, not exhaustion.

    The lesson is simple: when you restore yourself, you don’t just lead better. You live better.

    Five years ago, I hit rock bottom.

    From the outside, my life looked like a highlight reel: scaling social enterprises, writing bestsellers, sharing stages with world-famous leaders. But behind the curtain, I was exhausted, angry, and disconnected. My health was crumbling under chronic pain, brain fog and a complete loss of purpose.

    The hard truth about burnout is this: you can look like you’re winning while you’re falling apart. I had pushed so hard, for so long, that I hollowed out from the inside. It wasn’t just overwork. It was a disconnection from what mattered — physically, mentally, spiritually.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    Marc Kielburger

    Source link

  • 29-Year-Old’s Salty Side Hustle Hit $10 Million Last Year | Entrepreneur

    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features New York City-based entrepreneur Seth Goldstein, 29. Goldstein is co-founder with Steven Rofrano of Ancient Crunch, a company behind the chip brands MASA and Vandy, which launched in 2022. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Ancient Crunch

    Want to read more stories like this? Subscribe to Money Makers, our free newsletter packed with creative side hustle ideas and successful strategies. Sign up here.

    What was your day job or primary occupation when you started your side hustle?
    I was a vice president at a private equity fund focused on fast-growing healthcare businesses.

    When did you start your side hustle, and where did you find the inspiration for it?
    My co-founder, Steven, made fun of me for eating Tostitos while we were hanging out in Miami. I didn’t know what a seed oil even was at the time, but that conversation snowballed into a side project, which became MASA Chips.

    Related: This Mom’s Garage Side Hustle for Kids Became a Business With $1 Billion Revenue

    What were some of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the ground? How much money/investment did it take to launch?
    Steven and I put in about $250,000 of our own money. I had saved a bit working in finance, and Steven had made some money (accidentally) timing the market perfectly on Florida real estate during Covid. We have raised about $14 million since then.

    If you could go back in your business journey and change one process or approach, what would it be, and how do you wish you’d done it differently?
    We have always known that happy customers make a strong business, but we didn’t appreciate how much “latent demand” there is. We are primarily an online business, and we didn’t think email marketing made any sense until we tried it. Subscriptions seemed weird for chips, and now they are half of our business. If we knew then what we know now, Ancient Crunch would be about five times bigger.

    When it comes to this specific business, what is something you’ve found particularly challenging and/or surprising that people who get into this type of work should be prepared for, but likely aren’t?
    Most consumer packaged goods businesses are really just marketing companies. They hire a factory, slap their sticker on the bag and sell it for a markup. Because we fry our chips in beef tallow, we couldn’t find a factory, so we built our own. Turns out, that’s fairly challenging. The other major dynamic is that you always need more money than you think. We have said we are done raising money countless times in the past three years.

    Related: This Mom’s Creative Side Hustle Started As a Hobby With Less Than $100 — Then Grew Into a Business Averaging $570,000 a Month: ‘It’s Crazy’

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Ancient Crunch

    Can you recall a specific instance when something went very wrong? How did you fix it?
    Just recently, we had the good fortune of Vandy Crisps (our potato chip line) selling too well. Due to our in-house manufacturing, this meant that we had to go out of stock for about three weeks. While this doesn’t sound like a huge deal, it is very frustrating for customers to wait longer than expected (especially in the age of Amazon), and in the meantime, we can’t go market to new customers because we don’t have the inventory to sell them. We started working longer hours, got new fryers and are now back on track.

    How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue? How much did the side hustle earn?
    We saw fairly consistent monthly revenue basically from day one. We were not profitable, but we had a product that people loved, and it sold pretty well right from the start. We were doing about $30,000 per month in the early days.

    Related: After College, She Spent $800 to Start a Side Hustle That Became a ‘Monster’ Business Making $35 Million a Year: ‘I Set Intense Sales Targets’

    What does growth and revenue look like now?
    We are very focused on growth. Last year, we did just under $10 million in revenue. Next year, we plan to do about $250 million.

    What does a typical day or week of work look like for you?
    I work about 50 hours per week these days. I have calls in a block from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and am working through emails the rest of the time. When you own the business, your job is whatever the biggest fire is. Often, that has been fundraising. Some days, that’s signing celebrity deals. Other days, it’s optimizing landing page conversions while trying to convince the next retailer to put you on the shelf. Founders always wear a lot of hats.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Ancient Crunch

    What do you enjoy most about running this business?
    It’s awesome seeing your product gain cultural standing. When we started, this was a side project that most of my friends politely told me was a waste of time. Now, we have something like 100,000 people eating our products every month, and we are a bestselling product at several major retailers, including Erewhon and Citarella.

    Related: These 31-Year-Old Best Friends Started a Side Hustle to Solve a Workout Struggle — And It’s On Track to Hit $10 Million Annual Revenue This Year

    What is your best piece of specific, actionable business advice?
    Make something that people want, then put it in front of 100 million people as fast as you can. Don’t start with, “I want to start a business.” Start with, “This thing should exist” or “This problem can be solved.”

    This article is part of our ongoing Young Entrepreneur® series highlighting the stories, challenges and triumphs of being a young business owner.

    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features New York City-based entrepreneur Seth Goldstein, 29. Goldstein is co-founder with Steven Rofrano of Ancient Crunch, a company behind the chip brands MASA and Vandy, which launched in 2022. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Ancient Crunch

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    Amanda Breen

    Source link

  • Over Half of Workers Tell Employers This Expensive Lie | Entrepreneur

    The truth is out of office for some employees.

    As workers increasingly resist the 40-hour work week, some of them even bend the facts to get their time back.

    A new report from online resume builder Kickresume, which surveyed nearly 2,000 employees worldwide, found that only 18% of them work the full 7-8 hours expected of them — unbeknownst to their managers.

    Related: Are You Leaving Work Before 5 P.M.? You’re Not Alone, the Workday Is Actually Getting Shorter, According to a New Report.

    Instead, nearly 60% of employees surveyed admitted they’re not fully honest on their timesheets. Most (44%) said they round up every now and then; 12% said they sometimes stretch the truth a little bit. A much smaller group (3%) said they regularly over-report their hours.

    Disengaged employees contributed to an estimated $438 billion in lost productivity in 2024, per Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report.

    There’s also a generational divide when it comes to lying about hours worked, according to Kickresume’s research.

    Related: Gen Z Is Changing the Workplace — Here Are 4 Trends Employers Can’t Ignore

    Gen Z employees were the most likely to admit to rounding up (49%) and stretching the truth (13%). Thirty-five percent of Gen Z workers claimed perfect honesty in timesheet reporting.

    Gen X employees, on the other hand, were most likely (46%) to claim total honesty when filling out their timesheets; 40% admitted to rounding up occasionally.

    Millennial workers came in close behind for claims of complete honesty at 43%, and 42% admitted to rounding up their hours from time to time.

    Related: This Is the Biggest Lie People Put on Their Resume

    Additionally, Gen X and millennial employees reported being equally likely (12%) to sometimes stretch the truth on their hours.

    Across all generations, just 7% of employees said they never take any unofficial breaks during the work day, per Kickresume’s research.

    Among the majority of workers who do give themselves some leeway, coffee or snack breaks emerged as the most popular way to spend time away from work (58%), the survey found.

    The truth is out of office for some employees.

    As workers increasingly resist the 40-hour work week, some of them even bend the facts to get their time back.

    A new report from online resume builder Kickresume, which surveyed nearly 2,000 employees worldwide, found that only 18% of them work the full 7-8 hours expected of them — unbeknownst to their managers.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    Amanda Breen

    Source link

  • Why Lewis Hamilton Is Racing Into the $1.3+ Trillion Non-Alcoholic Beverage Market | Entrepreneur

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    I’ve written several articles about the rise of non-alcoholic (NA) beverages, from Dry January to the “sober curious” movement that’s gone from niche to mainstream. While I still enjoy a craft cocktail with my husband once in a while, alcohol rarely fits into my routine.

    I enjoy alternatives that feel intentional, functional and are crafted with purpose. What I don’t enjoy is paying $15 for a mocktail that turns out to be little more than lemonade in a fancy glass.

    That’s why brands like Almave stand out to me. The NA space isn’t just about abstaining anymore; it’s about reimagining the social ritual of drinking with authenticity, culture and innovation. Almave, a premium non-alcoholic agave spirit co-founded by seven-time Formula 1 champion Sir Lewis Hamilton, is a fascinating new product in this market.

    As the most decorated Formula One driver in history, Lewis Hamilton stopped drinking alcohol in 2023 to better align his health with the demands of his rigorous training schedule. The 40-year-old racer said that alcohol distracted him from operating at his full athletic and mental potential, often leaving him to “suffer for several days” after a big night out.

    That decision was not about missing out — it was about showing up stronger. It’s also exactly what paved the way for Almave: a spirit that honors the ritual without compromising performance.

    Related: Embrace a Healthier Summer With These Non-Alcoholic Beverages

    Hamilton had long enjoyed tequila in social settings, but once alcohol was off the table, he felt limited by the lack of premium, authentic NA alternatives.

    “Ordering a ginger beer felt underwhelming,” he said. He envisioned a non-alcoholic tequila that respected the craft of Mexico’s agave tradition, and that idea eventually led him to Casa Lumbre, a Mexico-based spirits house known for its innovation.

    He flew to Mexico City to meet Master Distiller Iván Saldaña, a biochemist and agave expert. Hamilton immersed himself in the fields and distilleries of Jalisco, learning the cultivation and distillation process firsthand.

    Together, they created Almave: a line of spirits made from blue agave, distilled with tradition and expertise, but free of alcohol. Hamilton explained to me during an interview that he admired the commitment and authenticity of Saldaña. “I knew I wanted to be a part of this and I wanted to learn from Iván and really be a part of the process.”

    Image Credit: Almave

    Today, Almave offers Ambar, Blanco and its latest release, Almave Humo, a smoky, mezcal-inspired NA spirit that brings complexity and depth to cocktails. I recently tried Humo and while I wouldn’t tell my friends that it tastes like mezcal, I would use it for a refreshing mocktail.

    Hamilton insists that Almave isn’t a celebrity vanity project. “We respect the craft and traditions of Mexico, using time-honored methods perfected over generations,” he said. That authenticity has resonated.

    • Almave has grown 35,000 Instagram followers since June 2024.
    • It sees an 8.3% engagement rate on TikTok – double the industry average.
    • Its launch reels have topped 10 million organic views.
    • Returning customers, though just 17% of the base, generate more than a third of total revenue.

    In a crowded NA space, those numbers speak to both curiosity and loyalty.

    Almave is only one part of Hamilton’s expanding entrepreneurial portfolio. His ventures consistently reflect purpose, lifestyle and innovation. Hamilton had been linked to Neat Burger, a global vegan burger chain (backed by Leonardo DiCaprio) that focused on sustainability but recently voluntarily liquidated.

    He also joined the ownership group of the Denver Broncos in 2022, and has a production company, Dawn Apollo Films, with Brad Pitt, under which they recently co-produced the F1 movie starring Brad Pitt. Hamilton also recently became a global Lululemon ambassador. Authenticity, innovation and values that align with his personal brand are woven throughout these ventures and Almave was the natural next step.

    Related: I Work Nearly 50+ Hours a Week and Rarely Feel Tired

    I relate to Hamilton’s pivot. I live and breathe health and wellness, but not in an extreme way. For me, the fundamentals — nutrition, hydration, sleep, movement and community — are what matter most. Everything else, from supplements to wearables to biohacks, are simply tools to help optimize and refine wellbeing.

    From a growth and economic viewpoint, Hamilton isn’t the only celebrity leaning into this trend. Bella Hadid co-founded Kin Euphorics, Katy Perry launched De Soi and Blake Lively created Betty Buzz and Betty Booze. Each brings its own twist, but what unites them is a recognition that consumers want sophisticated, intentional options when they’re not drinking. The global NA beverage market is projected to surpass $30 billion by 2030, fueled by younger consumers, health-conscious professionals and savvier audiences who desire both performance and pleasure.

    Related: Dry January? His Non-Alcoholic Side Hustle Made $50 Million+

    From integrating adaptogens to promoting healthier habits, I appreciate when brands in the NA space deliver more than just sugar in a sleek bottle. Almave feels elevated, authentic and celebratory. It acknowledges that rituals matter, but more important, that wellness matters. With Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel, Almave is proving to be a brand with speed, authenticity and staying power.

    Almave Blanco shines in a spicy mezcal margarita. Here’s my go-to recipe:

    Almave Spicy Mezcal Margarita

    • 2 oz Almave Humo
    • 1 oz fresh lime juice
    • 0.5 oz agave syrup (or less to taste)
    • 2 slices jalapeño
    • Tajín for rim

    I’ve written several articles about the rise of non-alcoholic (NA) beverages, from Dry January to the “sober curious” movement that’s gone from niche to mainstream. While I still enjoy a craft cocktail with my husband once in a while, alcohol rarely fits into my routine.

    I enjoy alternatives that feel intentional, functional and are crafted with purpose. What I don’t enjoy is paying $15 for a mocktail that turns out to be little more than lemonade in a fancy glass.

    That’s why brands like Almave stand out to me. The NA space isn’t just about abstaining anymore; it’s about reimagining the social ritual of drinking with authenticity, culture and innovation. Almave, a premium non-alcoholic agave spirit co-founded by seven-time Formula 1 champion Sir Lewis Hamilton, is a fascinating new product in this market.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    Elisette Carlson

    Source link

  • Don’t Just Disrupt Your Industry — Transform It | Entrepreneur

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    More than a decade ago, business gurus were quick to label any idea or development that was mildly novel as “disruptive innovation.” Originally coined by American academic and business consultant Clayton Christensen in his 1997 book The Innovator’s Dilemma, it was used largely to describe how small businesses could challenge larger players within a market, often entering at the low end and moving upmarket and disrupting established competitors’ core business.

    But in the mid-2010s, gone were the days of the so-called disruptors, as critics began noting how the term had become a business buzzword rather than a term that was describing meaningful change. Jill Lepore, a professor of history at Harvard, wrote an article for The New Yorker about how “disruptive innovation” is being used inaccurately in the business world, stating that many companies described as “disruptive” never succeeded in displacing incumbents. Her critique sparked a major rethinking in business circles, which made way for terms like “transformative innovation” in the 2020s.

    Furthermore, when compared with “disruptive,” the word “transformational” helps you visualize positive systemic change. The effects caused by transformational innovation are incremental and long-lasting, and frankly, quite relevant in the age of systemic shifts, such as climate change, ESG and sustainability factors, AI technologies and other major global innovations. Here are five reasons why entrepreneurs today need to focus on transformational innovation instead.

    Related: To Achieve Sustainable Success, You Need to Stop Focusing on Disruption. Here’s Why — and What You Must Focus on Instead.

    1. This is where technology creates social impact

    Entrepreneurs can be transformational innovators who creatively use technological solutions to create meaningful change, which leads to increased economic impact, which in turn creates lasting social impact. This is an area of entrepreneurship that focuses on the “grand challenges” that societies need to address, from poverty reduction to environmental action to good health and well-being, as listed under the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. High-growth technology entrepreneurs in particular have the potential to leverage unique opportunities to create social value, for instance by utilising open-source collaboration for problem solving, using social media platforms for advocacy campaigns and activism and unlocking data analytics to personalise lifestyle changes and improve healthcare solutions. It is generally understood that technology is the lifeblood of transformational innovation.

    2. It’s people-focused

    You must first understand consumer behaviour before you try and change it for the better. Therefore, transformational innovation is an exercise of using people’s adaptability to drive significant and lasting change. To innovate this way, one needs to be accepted by the wider population, and this often requires entrepreneurs to understand diverse groups of people instead of having a silo mentality. For your venture to succeed, you need people to trust what you do and commit to your process to derive value.

    3. It is driven by the $8 trillion global longevity market

    In its July 2025 report, Swiss banking giant UBS announced that transformational innovation is where investors should expect attractive returns from in the years ahead, and that longevity is one of the leading industries driving valuable growth in this space, next to AI, power and resources.

    The longevity market is expected to grow from $5.3 trillion in 2023 to $8 trillion by 2030, which will surpass AI industries which are only estimated to reach $1.16 trillion by 2027. The longevity market is transforming the global economy, according to UBS, which says that the change is being fuelled by increasing life expectancy and ageing populations worldwide.

    4. Transformational innovation industries are stable

    Innovation is a key driver of long-term equity performance. According to UBS, transformational innovation industries offer “durable, secular growth” that the bank believes can withstand short-term market volatility. The Swiss bank also suggests that if there are potential market dips in these industries, they are likely to be short-term and would act as useful entry points for long-term investors.

    Related: The Surprising Strategy Smart Leaders Use to Outpace Disruption

    5. It’s a brave new world

    While disruptive innovation is largely about creating cheaper alternatives, transformative innovation is about creating whole new market spaces with completely different frameworks to what already exists. For entrepreneurs, working within these industries can help them experiment with newer and better business models. It’s all about exploring the untapped potential.

    All in all, to embrace transformational innovation, an entrepreneur must be prepared to embrace change. It requires one to be proactive and have the ability to anticipate future trends that will come with it. To remain at the forefront of this entrepreneurial revolution, entrepreneurs must develop a multi-pronged innovation strategy through planning and in-depth research.

    Most importantly, entrepreneurs should develop a culture of innovation in their businesses, where entrepreneurs, managers, CEOs, employees, consumers and clients all collaborate to form a cohesive creative force. Leaders should inspire others to be bold, intellectually brave and challenge existing paradigms. Entrepreneurs should have a vision, forge strategic partnerships and create meaningful industry-level changes, even if they own a small business with limited resources. To remain competitive and to lead industry trends, entrepreneurs today must engage with the concept of transformational innovation.

    We are now in the year 2025 — it’s time to change the game.

    More than a decade ago, business gurus were quick to label any idea or development that was mildly novel as “disruptive innovation.” Originally coined by American academic and business consultant Clayton Christensen in his 1997 book The Innovator’s Dilemma, it was used largely to describe how small businesses could challenge larger players within a market, often entering at the low end and moving upmarket and disrupting established competitors’ core business.

    But in the mid-2010s, gone were the days of the so-called disruptors, as critics began noting how the term had become a business buzzword rather than a term that was describing meaningful change. Jill Lepore, a professor of history at Harvard, wrote an article for The New Yorker about how “disruptive innovation” is being used inaccurately in the business world, stating that many companies described as “disruptive” never succeeded in displacing incumbents. Her critique sparked a major rethinking in business circles, which made way for terms like “transformative innovation” in the 2020s.

    Furthermore, when compared with “disruptive,” the word “transformational” helps you visualize positive systemic change. The effects caused by transformational innovation are incremental and long-lasting, and frankly, quite relevant in the age of systemic shifts, such as climate change, ESG and sustainability factors, AI technologies and other major global innovations. Here are five reasons why entrepreneurs today need to focus on transformational innovation instead.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    Allen Law

    Source link

  • Parasite sickened 15 who drank natural spring water in NH, officials say

    At least 15 people were sickened by a parasite after drinking from a natural spring in New Hampshire, which also tested positive for E. coli, health officials said Thursday.

    Giardia had been suspected at the spring in Bethlehem, and testing confirmed the parasite’s presence in the water, which comes out on Old Franconia Road, the Department of Health and Human Services said.

    They urged anyone with water collected from the spring, which flows from a white pipe into a roadside bowl, to get rid of it or, if they plan on using it for anything, boiling it first.

    Initially, five cases of giardia dating to late August were identified, and health officials urged anyone who drank from the spring in Bethlehem, to look out for symptoms of the sickness that giardia can cause: diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, gas and dehydration.

    The owner of the Bethlehem property where the spring has been under investigation shut off the water proactively, officials said.

    They also noted that springs aren’t concerned potable in general, since they have the potential for harboring germs.

    “Water from these natural sources might look clean, but it could still be unsafe,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said last week. “The safest option is to avoid drinking from natural springs and other water sources that may be untreated.”

    Asher Klein

    Source link

  • Why Steve Aoki is Backing Brain-Boosting Gum Brand | Entrepreneur

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    For the world’s busiest DJ, staying energized is essential. That’s why Grammy-nominated artist Steve Aoki partnered with Neuro, a functional gum and mints company founded in 2015 that helps boost energy, focus, calm and even sleep.

    For Aoki, Neuro has been a game-changer, offering a more natural alternative to endless shots of espresso.

    “It’s about being mindful of staying healthy while still maximizing my output, especially when I’m in my creative zone,” Aoki tells Entrepreneur. “You want to bring high energy so you can create high impact in whatever you do. If you’re moving through the day like a zombie, just giving the bare minimum, it’s embarrassing when you look back on it.”

    He continues, “Nobody wants to give a weak interview, a half-hearted answer or put out a song they didn’t fully commit to. You have to give 1000%. That’s why I believe the highest quality of life is tied to your energy level.”

    Related: How This Grammy-Nominated DJ and Entrepreneur Draws Inspiration from Every Day Life

    Potential in a plastic bag

    Aoki first met the Neuro founders nearly a decade before he started working with them.

    “I still remember when they came into the office and presented this caffeine gum to me”, he recalls. “They brought it in a plain plastic bag — no branding, no packaging. Just, ‘here’s this stuff that works.’

    He laughs. “You look at it and think, what is this, some kind of drug?“

    Luckily for Neuro, Aoki loved it.

    “It’s more exciting for me to see indie startups with brilliant ideas than something incubated by a big company with a huge team behind it,” he shares. ” I’d rather see two guys in their college dorm saying, ‘Hey, this is a great idea that could really help people or become something a lot of people will actually use.’”

    Still, the shrewd DJ wasn’t ready to commit right away. He and his team took their time with due diligence while keeping a friendly relationship with the founders.

    “It’s important for me to see that this works before I get involved,” Aoki explains.

    For Neuro, working means giving consumers the caffeine boost they need without triggering their anxiety — or their bladders.

    “I’m a big coffee drinker, and I love energy drinks,” Aoki admits. “But you can’t be pounding beverages all the time.”

    Neuro products, on the other hand, are designed for consistent use throughout the day and are formulated to mitigate side effects while providing a crucial boost.

    “Over the years, it’s become one of my staples,” Aoki professes. “I always have it in my pocket or backpack. If I’m doing a long set, it’s right there with my earplugs. After a couple of hours, if I start to feel tired, I just pop a piece, and I get that little boost I need.”

    Related: Elon Musk Lost His World’s Richest Title, But Only for a Few Hours. Here’s Who Took His Spot.

    Every drop needs a story

    Steve Aoki has never been the type to just slap his name on something and walk away. He throws himself into every project, obsessing over the details until it feels true to him. He had a hand in everything with Neuro. He helped pick out flavors, shape the vibe of the brand and even found a way to work in one of his personal passions, HiROQUEST, the trading card project he’s been building.

    Instead of a standard product launch, Aoki wanted it to feel like an experience. That’s why certain Neuro releases come with collectible cards, turning an everyday item into something fans can get excited about.

    “I’m a card guy,” Aoki says. “I love ripping open packs, chasing the rare hit. I wanted to bring that same feeling to something you’d never expect — like a tin of Neuro mints.”

    By adding in HiROQUEST, Aoki boosts awareness for his own brand and adds an experiential layer to the Neuro collaboration. This has long been central to his success.

    “I’m always thinking about how we can create a better, more unique experience,” Aoki says. “Something that gets people excited for the next drop or the next collaboration, and helps build the story within the world we’re creating. That’s why I love caking people. Whether you’re the one getting cake in your face or watching it happen, you’ll never forget that moment.”

    For the world’s busiest DJ, staying energized is essential. That’s why Grammy-nominated artist Steve Aoki partnered with Neuro, a functional gum and mints company founded in 2015 that helps boost energy, focus, calm and even sleep.

    For Aoki, Neuro has been a game-changer, offering a more natural alternative to endless shots of espresso.

    “It’s about being mindful of staying healthy while still maximizing my output, especially when I’m in my creative zone,” Aoki tells Entrepreneur. “You want to bring high energy so you can create high impact in whatever you do. If you’re moving through the day like a zombie, just giving the bare minimum, it’s embarrassing when you look back on it.”

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    Leo Zevin

    Source link

  • Want to Retire One Day? Avoid 3 Common Retirement Mistakes | Entrepreneur

    Retirement remains a far-off — and in some cases, unattainable — goal for many Americans.

    About one in four adults over age 50 said they expect to never retire, according to an AARP survey. That’s perhaps not surprising given that Americans believe they’ll need $1.26 million to retire comfortably, per Northwestern Mutual.

    Related: Are You on Track for Your Age? Here’s When You Should Save for Retirement, Make 6 Figures and Buy a Home, According to a New Survey.

    In a new report from Bank of America, 68% of employees said that saving for retirement is their No. 1 financial goal, though working toward it often comes with significant challenges.

    The research, which surveyed nearly 1,000 full-time employees who participate in 401(k) plans and 800 employers who offer a 401(k) plan, revealed that the average employee doesn’t start saving for retirement until age 30 and wishes they had more retirement education (33%).

    Employees’ top expected sources of retirement income were as follows, per the survey: 401(k) or 403(b) (85%), Social Security (75%), checking or savings account 53%), IRA (38%), taxable brokerage or investment account (24%).

    Related: How Much Money Do You Need to Retire Comfortably in Your State? Here’s the Breakdown.

    Baby Boomers are retiring at a rapid rate, setting a record number of retirees in 2024 that allowed Gen X to outnumber them in the workforce for the first time, GOBankingRates reported.

    On average, Boomers began saving for retirement at age 34; now in their 60s and 70s, one in four of them don’t feel on track to retire, according to the Bank of America survey. Additionally, only two in 10 Boomers said they completely understand their Social Security benefits.

    Rising healthcare costs in retirement present another hurdle, as only 34% of employees said they’re saving and investing for future healthcare expenses, despite current research showing that a 65-year-old couple could need as much as $428,000 in savings to cover their retirement healthcare expenses.

    Related: How to Start Thinking About Retirement Before You Plan to Retire

    Respondents said the main reason they don’t save for health care is that they can’t afford it, but many who have access to an HSA through their employer also don’t understand the tax advantages and rollover process.

    When employees across generations were asked to reflect on what they would have done differently to prepare for retirement, they cited three common mistakes: not starting to save at a younger age (49%), not taking full advantage of their employer’s 401(k) match (35%) and not paying off debt sooner (36%).

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Bank of America

    “The modern employee wants help with their broader financial goals,” Lorna Sabbia, head of workplace benefits at Bank of America, said. “Employers should consider additional resources to support their workforce in ways that bolster their long-term goals while also helping them tackle short-term challenges.”

    Amanda Breen

    Source link

  • US Drinking Rate Hits Historic Low: Report | Entrepreneur

    If Gallup’s latest look at alcohol consumption in the United States is any indication, football tailgate parties will have fewer kegs this weekend than in years past.

    Gallup has tracked Americans’ drinking habits since 1939, and its latest poll finds that Americans’ self-reported drinking has dropped to 54%, the lowest percentage in 90 years.

    The late 1970s saw the highest consumption habits, with 71% of Americans saying that they drank alcohol. In more recent years, the rate dropped from 62% in 2023 to 58% in 2024, and is now down to 54% in 2025.

    Related: Why Entrepreneurs Who Ditch Alcohol Gain More Focus and Success

    Per Gallup’s analysis, the drop-off aligns with recent research that disputes the long-held myths that alcohol has some health benefits, such as red wine being good for your heart. “Even moderate drinking may increase your risk of death and other alcohol-related harms, compared to not drinking,” declared the CDC.

    Here’s how the decline breaks down by demographic group:

    Source: Gallup

    For those who do report drinking alcohol, there has been a decline in the amount and frequency they report. Gallup says the average number of drinks consumed in a week hit an all-time low of 2.8. A year ago, it was 3.8 drinks. The highest average was 5.1 drinks per week, recorded in 2003.

    Related: Entrepreneurs Are Ditching Alcohol — Here’s Why It’s Helping Them Become More Successful

    While the legalization of recreational marijuana in many states would seem to be a part of this trend, Gallup’s researchers do not believe it is a cause in the shift. “Although marijuana use is higher today than a decade ago, it has been fairly steady over the past four years,” writes Gallup, “and thus doesn’t appear to be a factor in people choosing not to drink alcohol.”

    The overwhelming feedback tied the dropoff to the “no amount of alcohol is safe” messaging from health officials. Gallup likens it to the decline in smoking that followed the U.S. surgeon general’s warnings about the harms of tobacco in the 1960s. Reuters reports that alcohol sales numbers have been precipitously falling since the pandemic, noting that health concerns, as well as inflation and interest rates, are likely factors.

    If Gallup’s latest look at alcohol consumption in the United States is any indication, football tailgate parties will have fewer kegs this weekend than in years past.

    Gallup has tracked Americans’ drinking habits since 1939, and its latest poll finds that Americans’ self-reported drinking has dropped to 54%, the lowest percentage in 90 years.

    The late 1970s saw the highest consumption habits, with 71% of Americans saying that they drank alcohol. In more recent years, the rate dropped from 62% in 2023 to 58% in 2024, and is now down to 54% in 2025.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    David James

    Source link

  • How a Mom’s Garage Side Hustle Hit $1 Billion Revenue | Entrepreneur

    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Sandra Oh Lin, 50, of Los Altos, California. She is the founder and CEO of KiwiCo, a company that provides educational activities for kids meant to spark creativity and problem-solving through hands-on play. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo. Sandra Oh Lin.

    Want to read more stories like this? Subscribe to Money Makers, our free newsletter packed with creative side hustle ideas and successful strategies. Sign up here.

    What was your day job or primary occupation when you started your side hustle?
    I had just stepped away from seven years at eBay Inc., where I had launched PayPal Mobile and led the eBay fashion business. I was working on a new fashion-related startup idea before I ended up starting KiwiCo in 2011.

    Where did you find the inspiration for the side hustle?
    When my kids were younger, I tried to find ways for them to exercise their creativity and put their problem-solving skills to work. I wanted them to grow up to feel like they could envision and better the world around them. As an engineer by training, I saw creating and building through hands-on activities as a way to explore, discover and build creative confidence. At the same time, I was drawing on my own childhood — I have such fond memories of making and building things with my mom while I was growing up.

    Related: After College, She Spent $800 to Start a Side Hustle That Became a ‘Monster’ Business Making $35 Million a Year: ‘I Set Intense Sales Targets’

    What were some of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the ground? How much money/investment did it take to launch?
    I started by creating hands-on projects for my kids. Then, I started to share them with friends and family during playdates. The parents and kids were so enthusiastic about the activities that it gave me the confidence to take it further. I laid the groundwork to see if there was a market for a real business. Then, I leveraged my network to start conversations with investors. We raised a little more than $10 million in venture funding. From there, we were able to become profitable and cash flow positive — and fund our own growth.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo

    Are there any free or paid resources that have been especially helpful for you in starting and running this business?
    I had a strong background in product design (having worked in R&D at Procter & Gamble) and ecommerce (from time at PayPal and eBay). Yet, I didn’t have any direct experience with fulfillment, supply chain and operations. I had a lot to learn. So I made a conscious effort to surround myself with people who were true experts. One example is Mike Smith, who was the COO of Walmart. He provided invaluable guidance, and he even helped interview our VP of operations candidates when we were hiring. Advisors like Mike were so helpful to us at that time.

    If you could go back in your business journey and change one process or approach, what would it be, and how do you wish you’d done it differently?
    I had always heard people say that a strong culture is so important to define and cultivate when you build a company. That way, you can point to and reinforce the behavior and values that align. While I was able to grok that academically, I put it aside when I should have addressed it earlier. As a result, some of our hiring was off in the beginning, and we had to course correct, which was costly. It would have been helpful to have put the framework into place from the beginning.

    When it comes to this specific business, what is something you’ve found particularly challenging and/or surprising that people who get into this type of work should be prepared for, but likely aren’t?
    During the pandemic, one of our toughest challenges was sourcing enough supplies to keep up with surging demand. In the years since, we’ve seen our fair share of ups and downs on that front, but one thing has remained constant: the importance of strong, trusted relationships with our suppliers. They’ve been incredible partners through it all, and those collaborations have been key to helping us navigate post-pandemic growth with resilience and adaptability.

    Related: This Mom’s Creative Side Hustle Started As a Hobby With Less Than $100 — Then Grew Into a Business Averaging $570,000 a Month: ‘It’s Crazy’

    Can you recall a specific instance when something went very wrong? How did you fix it?
    I’ll never forget our very first alpha shipment. We had just 19 crates to send out, and it took a team of five of us the entire day to get them boxed and shipped. By the end, we were exhausted and looking at each other like, There has to be a better way. It was a wake-up call that we needed better systems and processes for fulfillment if we were going to scale. We figured it out along the way, but that moment sticks with me as a reminder of how far we’ve come.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo

    How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue?
    With our core business being subscription-based, we’ve seen consistent monthly revenue from the beginning. KiwiCo has been profitable and self-funded for many years now. What started in my garage has grown into a company that has shipped more than 50 million crates to families in over 40 countries and created more than 1,500 hands-on products and activities. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come, while still staying true to the heart of why we started: sparking creativity and confidence in kids everywhere.

    What does growth and revenue look like now?
    To date, KiwiCo has generated more than $1 billion in lifetime revenue. This is something I’m incredibly proud of, not just because of the number itself, but because it represents millions of moments of creativity and discovery for kids and families. Additionally, we launched in Target and Barnes & Noble this past year as part of building our wholesale channels.

    Related: He Spent $36 to Start a Side Hustle. Now the Business Earns 6 Figures a Year — With Just 1-2 Hours of Work a Day: ‘Freedom.’

    What do you enjoy most about running this business?
    One of my favorite parts of this journey is that my kids not only understand what I do for work but also are involved in helping shape KiwiCo’s products. My kids were the original source of inspiration for the company, and they continue to be critical testers of our products to ensure we’re creating the best hands-on activities for kids to discover and unleash their creativity and explore as they learn about the world around them.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo

    What is your best piece of specific, actionable business advice?
    Finding a community of founders can be so helpful. Sharing the challenges and the opportunities that come from building a business with others who are in the same boat can be so valuable. You can gather everything from tangible, actionable advice to empathetic ears that have been there and done that.

    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Sandra Oh Lin, 50, of Los Altos, California. She is the founder and CEO of KiwiCo, a company that provides educational activities for kids meant to spark creativity and problem-solving through hands-on play. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo. Sandra Oh Lin.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    Amanda Breen

    Source link

  • Mom’s Creative Side Hustle Grew to $570,000 a Month: Penny Linn | Entrepreneur

    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Krista LeRay, the 34-year-old founder of needlepoint store Penny Linn. She lives with her husband and two children in Westport, Connecticut. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Penny Linn. Krista LeRay.

    Want to read more stories like this? Subscribe to Money Makers, our free newsletter packed with creative side hustle ideas and successful strategies. Sign up here.

    What was your day job or primary occupation when you started your side hustle?
    Before starting Penny Linn, a new-age needlepoint store offering hand-painted canvases, accessories and more, I was a full-time influencer running my blog, Covering The Bases. I started the blog in 2013, but I only took it full-time about a year before starting Penny Linn. While managing the blog, I had a corporate career at Major League Baseball, where I worked on the social media team for over five years.

    Related: He Spent $36 to Start a Side Hustle. Now the Business Earns 6 Figures a Year — With Just 1-2 Hours of Work a Day: ‘Freedom.’

    When did you start your side hustle, and where did you find the inspiration for it?
    I initially learned to stitch from my grandma, who inspired the name of the business, and then I really got into it in college at the University of Kentucky. I picked it back up again in 2018 when I started stitching custom belts for my dad and husband, and a ring bearer pillow for my wedding in 2019. Little did I know that this would be the perfect hobby to fall back in love with as the pandemic approached.

    As I got back into stitching, I quickly stitched through my stash of canvases and was disappointed with both the in-person and online needlepoint shopping experiences. It felt antiquated; there weren’t many sites with a good user experience, a handful of the shops made you call to order, and the designs felt very mature. I found myself wishing there were more fun and better accessories and canvases, so I started making them after my search came up short.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Penny Linn

    What were some of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the ground? How much money/investment did it take to launch?
    When I started painting my own canvases, I wasn’t even in the mindset of starting a business; it was still just a hobby for me. I probably spent under $100 buying a blank canvas on Etsy and paint at Michaels, and painted the infamous Ralph’s Coffee cup for myself. When I shared it on my Instagram, I had an overwhelming number of followers ask to buy one, so I knew my followers were also interested in needlepoint.

    As I began searching for cuter accessories for myself, I found that many custom items had a 100-item minimum. At the time, I had a business bank account for my blog, so I used that money to order the inventory and knew that I could at least sell 90 of them to my followers who also needlepointed. After making a few canvases and seeing the demand, I realized I had enough ideas to launch a larger collection online. So I bought the smallest Shopify package, started sourcing needleminders and project bags, and recruited my friends and family to help paint canvases.

    All in all, I spent about $5,000 on the initial inventory for our accessories and an additional $2,000 on shipping materials, canvas tape, etc., but none of this accounted for my time painting the canvases one by one, which was the biggest investment.

    Related: These 31-Year-Old Best Friends Started a Side Hustle to Solve a Workout Struggle — And It’s On Track to Hit $10 Million Annual Revenue This Year

    If you could go back in your business journey and change one process or approach, what would it be, and how do you wish you’d done it differently?
    Looking back on how I built my business, it’s a catch-22; if I had known what I know today, I might have done it differently. However, having my hands in every aspect of the business has brought me a great deal of knowledge and appreciation that continues to shape the business.

    In the beginning, I hand-painted nearly every canvas, which took many, many hours, but it kept costs low since my labor was essentially free and gave me control over my inventory. If I had known that people outsourced painting, it would have saved me so much time and energy, but doing it myself taught me the value of a hand-painted canvas.

    Similarly, I wish I had hired people at the beginning to take more off my plate, but by doing it all, I learned valuable lessons and knew how I wanted every aspect of the business to run. I don’t think Penny Linn would be such a thoughtful and impactful brand today if I hadn’t had my fingers on every aspect of the business in the beginning.

    Related: I Interviewed 5 Entrepreneurs Generating Up to $20 Million in Revenue a Year — And They All Have the Same Regret About Starting Their Business

    When it comes to this specific business, what is something you’ve found particularly challenging and/or surprising that people who get into this type of work should be prepared for, but likely aren’t?
    The reason Penny Linn has been so successful as a business, and also in reviving the cultural love for needlepoint, is that we brought much-needed innovation to the industry. I never expected the amount of pushback from vendors and industry vets I received. Across the board, people pushed back on our ideas and how we ran our business.

    Today, we have found partners who believe in our growth and are building with us. When we launched our acrylic line in 2022, there was so much chatter online that it wasn’t innovative or unique, but today we hold a patent for the design, and it’s one of our bestselling lines. We also take a slightly smaller wholesale margin than the industry standard because I believe in making needlepoint accessible. Our wholesale partners were initially adamant that it wouldn’t be successful, but it has proven otherwise. I developed a thick skin while blogging and learned to shut out the noise, which has followed me into Penny Linn as we continue to shake up the industry.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Penny Linn

    Can you recall a specific instance when something went very wrong? How did you fix it?
    I vividly remember one of our first bag launches, which did not go as planned. It was a beautiful project bag with leather and PVC that we sold through so quickly! As I was packing them, I tested a few of the zippers and was very disappointed to find that they stuck and were difficult to open, despite the samples working perfectly. I reached out to each customer who had ordered them and let them know that the bags weren’t up to our standards. I offered them a full refund if they wanted to return the bag or a discount if they wanted to keep it.

    This became one of my biggest rules in business: When anything goes wrong, I need to take ownership and work to rectify it immediately. Our community was beyond appreciative of how proactive we were, and most ended up keeping the bags. We put the rest of the bags on clearance and now work with our team and vendors to ensure we have quality control measures in place.

    How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue? How much did the side hustle earn?
    In the first six months after we launched, the only consistent revenue was what we generated during launches. Everything would sell out so quickly that we wouldn’t have any inventory left until the next launch. We would often have a day or two without sales in between launches, which wasn’t a sustainable way to run a business. To prevent this, we started producing more inventory and introduced our Penny Linn Collective, allowing us to bring on designers who expanded our offerings. Our designer collective has been fruitful for us over the past five years, and we continue to grow it today.

    We started seeing more consistent revenue in year two, doing just over $30,000 per month. The popularity of our launches started to level out, and we could better forecast inventory to keep our income steady. It was such a big deal for us at the time to reach these numbers, but we do that in a day now. Each year has been drastically different in terms of demand, and about every six months, we reach an inflection point where we need to increase quantities even more.

    Related: This Couple’s ‘Scrappy’ Side Hustle Sold Out in 1 Weekend — It Hit $1 Million in 3 Years and Now Makes Millions Annually: ‘Lean But Powerful’

    What does growth and revenue look like now?
    It’s been really exciting that Penny Linn has doubled or tripled each year. In 2024, we did $4.4 million in revenue, and we have already surpassed that and are on track to double it in 2025. We are currently averaging $570,000 per month. Whatever I think our ceiling might be, we come in and double it each year. Our growth has been so explosive that I do expect it to start leveling out in the next year or so, but there is still so much opportunity for the business.

    My mind is always racing with new ideas for the brand as we expand our product offering, launch new designers under the Penny Linn Collective and bring new accessories to market. Our store opening in Norwalk, Connecticut, earlier this year was a huge milestone for us, and now we are exploring what more stores might look like. I don’t see our growth slowing down anytime soon.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Penny Linn

    What do you enjoy most about running this business?
    I honestly love what I do so much and find great fulfillment in it. I feel so much pride, excitement and joy thinking about what we’ve created at Penny Linn and the business I’ve built in under five years. It’s nothing I could have ever imagined as my career or what I expected Penny Linn to grow into. We haven’t seen many bumps in the road yet, and keep having success after success, which energizes me to keep going.

    I pride myself on the fact that Penny Linn is “by a stitcher for a stitcher,” and there is nothing more satisfying as a needlepointer to want something in my collection and to be able to make it. I’m privileged to have the ability to work with our vendors to create the products of my dreams, and it’s just as exciting to see how much our community loves them.

    I also find so much joy in the change we have brought to the industry and how we have been able to bring needlepoint to the forefront for a new generation. It’s crazy to sit back and think that my brand has revived a centuries-old tradition and built it into something that will continue to live on and evolve for generations to come.

    Related: These Friends Started a Side Hustle in Their Kitchens. Sales Spiked to $130,000 in 3 Days — Then 7 Figures: ‘Revenue Has Grown Consistently.’

    What’s your best business advice?
    The first is, “If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.” People are often scared to reach out because they are afraid of rejection, but my motto is always to ask, and if they don’t reply, it’s still not a no. If they don’t respond, it’s not the end of the world, but the opportunity for the answer to be yes is so much greater.

    My second is to learn the difference between constructive feedback and criticism. If someone doesn’t like you or your business, they will never have anything nice to say, and it’s not worth listening to. However, if they are a loyal fan and a frequent shopper, and they comment on how a product or process might be improved, it’s worth listening to. It’s easy to get lost in the negative feedback, but the faster you learn what is worth listening to, the better decisions you will make for your business.

    Amanda Breen

    Source link

  • ‘We Live the Brand’: Why Mark Wahlberg and Harry Arnett Built a Company That Embodies Relentless Ambition | Entrepreneur

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Municipal CEO Harry Arnett met his future co-founder in a setting familiar to many business leaders: the golf course. They bonded quickly over shared experiences — raising kids, navigating careers — and from that connection, a friendship grew. At first glance, it sounds like a typical entrepreneurial origin story.

    But in Arnett’s case, the partner by his side wasn’t another executive. It was Oscar-nominated actor and Boston icon Mark Wahlberg.

    Related: John and Hank Green Built a Company That Gives Away 100% of Its Profits — Here’s How

    Purpose over products

    “When Mark and I first discussed starting a brand, it wasn’t about the products,” Arnett tells Entrepreneur. “It was about how we could equip modern consumers with what they need to achieve their goals.”

    They, along with film and television producer Stephen Levinson, identified a major white space at the intersection of fitness and fashion. Arnett formerly served as executive vice president at Callaway Golf, where he noticed a shift in how consumers engaged with brands.

    “They were starting to seek direct relationships with brands they liked, primarily through digital media,” he explains. As EVP, he focused on revitalizing Callaway by reconnecting with consumers in a fresh, dynamic way — a strategy he calls the centerpiece of his community-building efforts.

    After years of back-and-forth, the duo finally launched Municipal in 2019.

    “The idea for Municipal was something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Wahlberg tells Entrepreneur. “It wasn’t about just attaching my name to someone else’s idea, which is often what celebrity-led brands are. Municipal is different — this is a real partnership from the ground up.”

    The launch meant Arnett had to leave Callaway. “For me, that was an aha moment,” he says. “A chance to step away from a comfortable, familiar career and start over in pursuit of the best version of myself.”

    That mentality became the ethos of Municipal, a company founded on helping modern consumers pursue excellence in all aspects of life.

    “Municipal is about creating the best products in the world for workouts, athletic pursuits and everything in between, from the office to an active weekend,” Arnett explains. “It might sound like we’re trying to be everything to everyone, but when people see our product, they get it immediately — no one makes gear like we do.”

    Related: Restaurants Are Throwing Away Billions of Gallons of Water — This Startup Said Enough

    Building tomorrow’s leaders

    Contrary to standard practices, where brands are encouraged to hone in on a focus area, Arnett positions Municipal as more than just another activewear company, calling that label too “one-dimensional.”

    He envisions the brand inspiring a drive to succeed in any arena — athletics, academics or beyond. A key part of this approach is Municipal’s Next Gen Brand Immersion, a free, week-long program that gives young people an inside look at every aspect of building a modern, purpose-driven brand — from product design and marketing to finance and operations.

    “Too often, young people are fed the myth of overnight success and shortcuts,” Arnett says. “From our experience, those are fantasies. We saw an opportunity to use our platform to celebrate ambition, hard work, and self-belief in a way that feels ‘cool’ for kids.”

    The idea for the program didn’t originate with Arnett or Wahlberg, but with Arnett’s youngest daughter, Kerris, who has shown a keen interest in Municipal.

    “We’ve been talking about the brand since day one, and she got really passionate about it,” Arnett shares. “She said it would be amazing if more kids her age could experience these kinds of things firsthand, instead of just reading about them. I told her, ‘Karis, that’s a big idea.’”

    Building on his daughter’s suggestion, Arnett sought to replicate what brands like Nike have done with sports camps — creating a talent pipeline for Municipal while connecting the company with the next generation of potential entrepreneurs and gaining insights into the preferences of the highly coveted Gen Z audience.

    The effort culminated in a week-long, hands-on program giving ambitious 18- to 24-year-olds a real look at what it takes to build a modern, purpose-driven brand. Participants work directly with Municipal’s team across product design, marketing and operations, gaining experience in creating, launching and promoting a real collection.

    The students even designed a capsule — featuring a hoodie, pants, shorts, t-shirt and hat — that Municipal will release and help market.

    “It’s a way to engage with this group beyond just selling the best gear in the world,” Arnett explains. “These 25 students are leaders in their schools and have become rabid Municipal fans. They’ll tell their friends, and even when they go off to college, they’ll maintain a connection with us. The possibilities for extending that relationship feel practically endless.”

    Leo Zevin

    Source link

  • This Simple Practice Did More for My Business Than Any Productivity Hack | Entrepreneur

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    When it comes to entrepreneurship, picking up a new hobby probably isn’t top of mind. You’re already juggling a packed schedule — and maybe you already have hobbies you love. Still, it should come as no surprise: hobbies are good for you.

    In fact, a 2023 study published in Nature Medicine found that adults aged 65-plus who engaged in hobbies reported better health, higher life satisfaction and greater happiness. And in my own experience, embracing a musical hobby has been one of the most effective ways to improve my mental health, reduce stress and maintain a sense of balance as a business owner.

    You don’t need to be a lifelong musician to benefit. Music offers a creative outlet and a mental reset — something all entrepreneurs need more of. Whether you’re learning an instrument, singing, or simply listening more intentionally, musical hobbies can change how you show up in business and life.

    Let’s break down three key ways music can positively impact entrepreneurs.

    1. Music relieves stress — fast

    Entrepreneurship comes with constant pressure — deadlines, decisions, responsibilities. Stress builds up over time, and if left unchecked, it can lead to burnout, anxiety, trouble concentrating or even depression.

    A musical hobby can serve as a powerful stress reliever. Studies show that playing an instrument or singing can lower cortisol levels and reduce anxiety. Even listening to music intentionally — without multitasking — can focus your mind and create a sense of calm.

    Of course, not everyone has time to learn an instrument. That’s okay. For me, just putting on a record and truly listening helps me reset. Whether it’s practicing piano, jamming with friends or listening to a favorite playlist, music becomes something to look forward to — a reliable, restorative escape.

    Related: How I Turned My Hobbies Into Profitable Side Businesses With My Friends — Without Losing the Joy

    2. It builds transferable skills

    Musical hobbies don’t just relieve stress — they sharpen your mind. Actively engaging with music can improve memory, concentration, and cognitive flexibility. For entrepreneurs, that’s a powerful edge.

    Learning to play an instrument, for instance, requires self-discipline, time management and resilience — all skills that mirror the entrepreneurial journey. It challenges you to get comfortable being a beginner again, to practice patience, and to build momentum over time.

    Musical practice enhances:

    • Creativity
    • Problem-solving
    • Focus
    • Coordination
    • Confidence
    • Discipline
    • Learning agility

    And perhaps most importantly, it reminds you that growth comes from consistency — a principle that applies just as much in business as it does in music.

    Related: Every Entrepreneur Needs a Hobby Separate From the Company — Here’s Why

    3. It strengthens your brain

    Engaging with music activates multiple regions of the brain — the same areas responsible for memory, movement, emotional regulation and complex thinking.

    A 2023 study found that musical training enhances auditory processing and working memory. According to AARP, playing an instrument lights up your brain, improving functions like listening, reading, and recall — and may even help grow new neural pathways. That means better cognitive health, greater adaptability, and increased creative thinking.

    For entrepreneurs who rely on clear decision-making, creative problem-solving and rapid learning, that kind of cognitive workout is invaluable.

    Treat music as self-care, not a side project

    Musical hobbies give entrepreneurs more than just stress relief. They offer a creative space to disconnect from the daily grind, while strengthening the mental and emotional muscles that help you lead, build and grow.

    Even if you can’t commit to lessons or learning an instrument, find ways to engage with music that work for your schedule. Deep listening, group classes, or even karaoke nights can reignite joy and spark inspiration.

    Entrepreneurship demands everything from you — but that doesn’t mean you can’t take something back. A musical hobby could be exactly what you need to recharge, grow and show up better in every area of your life.

    When it comes to entrepreneurship, picking up a new hobby probably isn’t top of mind. You’re already juggling a packed schedule — and maybe you already have hobbies you love. Still, it should come as no surprise: hobbies are good for you.

    In fact, a 2023 study published in Nature Medicine found that adults aged 65-plus who engaged in hobbies reported better health, higher life satisfaction and greater happiness. And in my own experience, embracing a musical hobby has been one of the most effective ways to improve my mental health, reduce stress and maintain a sense of balance as a business owner.

    You don’t need to be a lifelong musician to benefit. Music offers a creative outlet and a mental reset — something all entrepreneurs need more of. Whether you’re learning an instrument, singing, or simply listening more intentionally, musical hobbies can change how you show up in business and life.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    Dr. Christina Rahm

    Source link

  • This Is the Leadership Trick That Even Top CEOs Swear By | Entrepreneur

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Most leaders travel alone for business. But how many leaders have intentionally taken a true solo vacation? No family, no work, no obligations. Just you, alone, facing your inner world and expanding your leadership potential.

    I recently did exactly that, spending two weeks solo in Peru and Ecuador. The impact was profound, reshaping how I approach leadership, decision-making and strategic thinking at StoneAge, the employee-owned company I run. Here’s why I believe every leader should take a solo vacation and how doing so will make you more effective and impactful.

    Solitude creates strategic clarity

    Leadership is fundamentally about making clear decisions. But how can you make smart, strategic choices if meetings, emails and daily demands constantly clutter your mind?

    Hal Gregersen wrote in a recent Harvard Business Review article, “Cultivating silence increases your chances of encountering novel ideas and information and discerning weak signals.” When you take a solo vacation, you find yourself sitting in silence, often with room to think and ideate. Bill Gates credits his famous twice-yearly “think weeks,” which are periods of intense solitude and reflection, with inspiring some of Microsoft’s most groundbreaking innovations.

    During my solo adventure, without work emails or meetings, I finally had the mental space to outline my next book, clarify my vision for StoneAge and develop new leadership frameworks. The solitude sharpened my strategic clarity and renewed my focus in ways impossible to achieve amid daily distractions.

    Related: How Taking Solo Retreats Away from Work Benefits You and Your Business

    Breaking routine enhances cognitive flexibility

    Routine is comfortable, but comfort rarely breeds innovation. Leaders often underestimate how rigid routines stifle creative thinking and limit growth.

    According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, exposure to novel and diverse experiences enhances cognitive flexibility — a crucial skill for innovative and agile leadership. During my solo trip, navigating unfamiliar places, cultures and languages forced my brain out of autopilot mode, dramatically enhancing my creative problem-solving abilities. I returned home able to view business challenges more clearly and approach them with fresh, innovative perspectives.

    Being alone strengthens self-leadership and emotional resilience

    As leaders, our external effectiveness hinges on internal strength. Self-leadership — how effectively we manage our emotions, behaviors and decisions — is the cornerstone of successful leadership.

    Traveling solo tests and develops self-leadership. When a canceled flight threatened my meticulously planned itinerary, I had to trust my instincts, solve problems quickly and stay emotionally regulated. I leaned into discomfort, managing loneliness and vulnerability without distractions. Each challenge enhanced my self-trust, emotional intelligence and resilience, qualities directly beneficial to leading my team through uncertainty and stress.

    Presence creates authentic connection

    Presence is a leader’s greatest currency. Yet, constant connectivity ironically often leaves us disconnected from those around us.

    My solo trip forced me to be present in the moment. Without phone service, I engaged fully with strangers on trains, at restaurants, in markets and had deep, authentic conversations. Each interaction reminded me of the power of presence in building genuine connections. Practicing authentic presence with strangers strengthened my ability to be more fully present with my team at StoneAge, creating deeper trust, empathy and effectiveness as a leader.

    Stillness generates breakthrough ideas

    We’ve glorified hustle culture, but true leadership insights rarely come from constant activity. Instead, they arise from stillness and quiet reflection.

    During my trip, moments of boredom and solitude gave rise to some of my most innovative ideas. Research supports this; cognitive scientists have found that boredom and stillness are crucial for creativity and innovative thinking. Leaders who embrace quiet moments cultivate deeper, more impactful insights.

    How leaders can maximize a solo vacation for strategic advantage

    1. Choose a destination that challenges you: Go somewhere that is culturally, physically or spiritually challenging. Stretching yourself boosts your cognitive flexibility and innovation capabilities.
    2. Fully disconnect from work: No emails, no meetings. Disconnecting entirely allows your brain to relax, fostering deeper strategic insights.
    3. Schedule intentional reflection: Allocate time specifically for journaling, meditation and quiet reflection. Structured reflection cultivates strategic clarity and emotional awareness.
    4. Engage with strangers to build presence: Talk to people you meet. Engaging authentically with strangers develops your emotional intelligence, presence and interpersonal skills.
    5. Observe and reflect on your inner experiences: Notice when you feel lonely, bored or uncomfortable. Reflecting on these feelings enhances self-leadership, emotional resilience and decision-making skills.

    Related: How to Start (and Run) a 7-Figure Business While Traveling the World

    Final leadership insights:

    • Solitude isn’t a luxury; it’s a strategic leadership advantage.
    • Breaking routine fuels innovation and creative thinking.
    • Effective leadership starts with deep self-awareness and emotional resilience.
    • Authentic presence strengthens your connections with your team.
    • True leadership breakthroughs come from stillness and reflection, not relentless hustle.

    I returned from my solo trip not only refreshed but fundamentally changed. The clarity, confidence and creativity I gained now directly enhance how I lead StoneAge and engage with my employees. A solo vacation isn’t just good for your soul; it’s a strategic imperative for effective, innovative leadership.

    Book your solo trip. Your team, your company and your future self will thank you.

    Most leaders travel alone for business. But how many leaders have intentionally taken a true solo vacation? No family, no work, no obligations. Just you, alone, facing your inner world and expanding your leadership potential.

    I recently did exactly that, spending two weeks solo in Peru and Ecuador. The impact was profound, reshaping how I approach leadership, decision-making and strategic thinking at StoneAge, the employee-owned company I run. Here’s why I believe every leader should take a solo vacation and how doing so will make you more effective and impactful.

    Solitude creates strategic clarity

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    Kerry Siggins

    Source link

  • Home From College: Jobs for Young Adults Without Work Experience | Entrepreneur

    Julia Haber, the 29-year-old co-founder of career platform Home From College, was a student at Syracuse University when she started her first business: an experiential marketing agency that brought retail pop-ups to college campuses and worked with brands like Shopify to teach students about entrepreneurship.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Home From College. Julia Haber.

    The experience gave Haber valuable insight into what the career landscape looks like for Gen Z — and just how much it had changed over the past six-plus years.

    “ This next generation is constantly looking for ways to figure out who they are by doing things,” Haber tells Entrepreneur, “and because it’s such a socially native generation, we see all these people online making money in different ways. This next gen really wants to work with brands they love as well and admire, and it’s a blend of this consumer meets career.”

    Related: Gen Z Is Redefining the Workplace — and Companies Must Adapt or Face Losing Talent

    Recognizing that many students graduate without knowing what they want to do with their lives — and often with significant debt — Haber wanted to help them build “multi-hyphenate” careers early on.

    So Haber launched the Los Angeles-based startup Home From College in 2021 alongside co-founder Kaj Zandvliet, a former banker at PineBridge Investments and financial analyst at Sony Music Entertainment.

    “We position ourselves as the translator between companies and college students.”

    Home From College provides students with an opportunity to earn their first dollars and work with the brands they love in a “flexible, student-first” environment.

    To that end, Home From College only hosts paid job opportunities, 90% of which are remote. Companies can create an account on the platform and list their “gigs,” which could be anything from a one-day project to a lengthier brand ambassador program. Students and recent graduates create their own accounts on the platform and apply for the gigs that interest them — no prior work experience required.

    Home From College is free for students to use. The platform offers four subscription tiers for companies, starting at $49 per month, plus a 20% fee on student compensation. All payments take place on the platform via Stripe.

    Related: Why Gen Z Is Ditching the Corner Office Dream — and How Businesses Can Adapt

    Students typically earn about $30 an hour, and the average ambassador program pays students roughly $1,000 a month. It’s also common for students to work two gigs at once. Some of the top earners have seen “tens of thousands of dollars in a short period of time,” Haber notes — with one dedicated student’s gigs even amounting to a $50,000 paycheck.

    “We position ourselves as the translator between companies and college students, and that really resonated,” Haber says.

    Home From College raised $1.5 million of pre-seed funding in 2022, then $5.4 million in a seed round led by GV, formerly Google Ventures, last year.

    The company is using those funds to continue building a “sustainable, fast-moving” business. Home From College has invested in high-level talent and AI to connect students and brands effectively.

    Related: Top Career Motivations of Gen Z and Reasons They Choose an Employer

    “We’ve been implementing a ton of new roles that have more of an AI bent to them.”

    Additionally, although Home From College initially focused on low- to no-skilled jobs, there’s an interesting opportunity to lean on the hard skills that Gen Z college students and recent graduates often already have — like those related to AI, Haber says.

    “We’ve been implementing a ton of new roles that have more of an AI bent to them,” Haber explains, “and helping companies catch up to the students who are already native [in AI]. So that’s been a new frontier of actually having the students be more of the experts in a topic that companies are less proficient in and helping bridge that gap.”

    Companies on the platform are also interested in students with a talent for customer success and sales at scale, Haber says.

    For example, some consumer brands look to students for help with distribution in challenging markets, like the outskirts of a college campus or the middle of the country. It’s typical for these companies to recruit students to source new locations, such as a nearby deli, to sell products.

    Related: Gen Z Talent Will Walk Away — Unless You Try These 6 Strategies

    “ So it’s creating almost a business development sales team, boots on the ground at scale, where they can hire hundreds of people for that type of role,” Haber says, “where it’s skill and labor, and then simultaneously social media and content.”

    Brands often rely on students to run their TikTok shops too, as it can be a massive undertaking for those that want to launch and scale a meaningful affiliate program, Haber notes.  

    “[Students] come in and run those programs on behalf of companies,” Haber says, “and it’s great because it helps generate revenue for their business, but simultaneously teaches [the students] marketable skills.”

    “You’re not just where you went to school. You’re a bigger version of that.”

    Above all, Haber encourages young adults launching their careers to “use your whole self as the opportunity to market who you are” and land the role you want.

    Home From College facilitates that by allowing students to share more information about themselves than a typical resume or job application might glean — for instance, having curly hair could make them “really attractive” to a shampoo brand that specializes in curls and needs a social media manager to connect with its target customer base.

    Related: Gen Z Is Losing Faith in the College Degree — Here’s 3 Reasons Why It’s Still Important for Them

    “You’re not just your major,” Haber says. “You’re not just what your GPA is. You’re not just where you went to school. You’re a bigger version of that.”

    This article is part of our ongoing series highlighting the stories, challenges and triumphs of being a Young Entrepreneur®.

    Amanda Breen

    Source link

  • 5 sickened by parasite in NH, natural spring water eyed as cause

    Several people were sickened by a parasite, New Hampshire health officials said Saturday, as they investigated whether drinking natural spring water was the cause.

    Five cases of giardia, in late August, have been identified, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services said Saturday. Four of those people reported drinking from a spring on Old Franconia Road in Bethlehem, and investigators were working to determine which spring the fifth reported drinking from.

    Officials urged anyone who drank from the spring in Bethlehem, which flows from a white pipe into a roadside bowl, to look out for symptoms of the sickness that giardia can cause: diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, gas and dehydration.

    Officials said that the owner of the Bethlehem property where the spring under investigation — water sampling was in the works — had shut off the water proactively. They noted that springs aren’t concerned potable, with the potential for harboring germs.

    “Untreated water from springs, lakes, rivers, and other naturally occurring water sources can contain Giardia and harmful bacteria,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said in a statement. “Water from these natural sources might look clean, but it could still be unsafe. The safest option is to avoid drinking from natural springs and other water sources that may be untreated.”

    Asher Klein

    Source link

  • U.S. Parents Charge Kids Interest on Loans. Here’s How Much. | Entrepreneur

    As young Americans struggle with high costs of living and salaries that haven’t kept pace with inflation, some of them rely on loans to make ends meet.

    Nearly half (46%) of Gen Z between the ages of 18 and 27 depend on financial assistance from their family, according to a 2024 report from Bank of America.

    What’s more, even though some parents are willing to help their kids out with cash, those loans don’t always come without strings attached — sometimes in the form of interest.

    Related: Gen Z Is Turning to Side Hustles to Purchase ‘the Normal Stuff’ in ‘Suburban Middle-Class America’

    Financial media company MarketBeat.com‘s new report, which surveyed more than 3,000 parents, found that an increasing number are charging their adult children interest on family loans.

    “The Bank of Mom and Dad has always been generous, but even generosity comes with boundaries,” says Matt Paulson, founder of MarketBeat.com. “What’s striking is that while most parents don’t expect repayment — and certainly not at commercial interest rates — inflation and rising costs are starting to reshape how families think about money.”

    The average interest rate charged by parents was 5.1%, according to the data. That’s still well below the costs their children might incur elsewhere: The average personal loan rate is 12.49% for customers with a 700 FICO score, $5,000 loan amount and three-year repayment term, per Bankrate.

    Related: This Stat About Gen Alpha’s Side Hustles Might Be Hard to Believe — But It Means Major Purchasing Power. Here’s What the Kids Want to Buy.

    Only 15% of parents would be comfortable with lending their kids $5,000 or more at one time, according to MarketBeat’s research.

    Family loan repayment terms can also vary significantly by location. The top five toughest state lenders based on the interest rates parents charge were Nebraska (6.8%), Oregon (6.8%), Mississippi (6.5%), Georgia (6.4%) and Arkansas (6.3%), the report found.

    Parents in Delaware and Maine tended to be the most lenient when it came to charging their children interest on loans, with 2% and 4% rates, respectively, according to the findings.

    Related: Baby Boomers Over 75 Are Getting Richer, Causing a ‘Massive’ Wealth Divide, According to a New Report

    Many parents who expect repayment also have a fast-tracked timeline in mind. Twenty-one percent anticipated seeing their loan repaid in one month, 15% within one year and just 8% more than a year later, per the survey.

    Although 59% of parents reported being happy to help their kids with money, 27% said they would only do it if necessary, and 4% admitted to feeling resentful.

    In many cases, family loans don’t just provide financial support — they’re also “emotional transactions that test trust, responsibility and family dynamics,” Paulson notes.

    As young Americans struggle with high costs of living and salaries that haven’t kept pace with inflation, some of them rely on loans to make ends meet.

    Nearly half (46%) of Gen Z between the ages of 18 and 27 depend on financial assistance from their family, according to a 2024 report from Bank of America.

    What’s more, even though some parents are willing to help their kids out with cash, those loans don’t always come without strings attached — sometimes in the form of interest.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

    Amanda Breen

    Source link