Featured image: Books by the Startup Squad
WIF is pleased to celebrate the recent successes of one of our most valued collaborative partners, The Startup Squad.
Founded by Brian Weisfeld, this organization’s mission is to inspire girls aged 6-16 years to open their first businesses and to empower them with an entrepreneurial mindset so they can realize their potential, whatever their passions may be.
Girls mean business at the Startup Squad
Weisfeld and co-author Nicole C. Kear have written three novels that depict a multi-racial group of girls who run their own business. The series is recommended by the American Library Association as “a diverse and inclusive read to teach young people about money.”
Weisfeld has made a point of reaching underserved girls with his books. He has raised money to donate 14,000 copies of his books to girls in New York City and kids in Appalachia. He also collaborates with existing girls’ charities such as the Girls Scouts of the USA to help them make their programs more effective. He is working on more books, charitable efforts, and other ways to reach and inspire girls as well.
Thanks to our relationship with the Startup Squad, we have collaborated with two of the organization’s Girl CEOs – Rosemary Nwaosuagwu and Ava Dorsey. Both these young ladies are achieving great things and we’re pleased to highlight them here.
Rosemary Nwaosuagwu
We met Rosemary during the first year of the pandemic and were pleased to record a video with her for the pilot of a virtual story time program. On October 9, 2020, she, Weisfeld, and Nazia Frank, Match Events Coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters Greater Houston, joined WIF founder and CEO, Dr. Monique Y. Wells for an “Ask the Entrepreneur” encounter on Zoom.
Ask an Entrepreneur
Rosemary was only six years old when she wrote her first book – Lily’s Favorite Color. She was seven years old when she wrote her second book – Come Along and Count with Lily.
Now, at the age of ten, she is a three-time author!
Rosemary Nwaosuagwu and her books
Find Rosemary’s books here: https://www.booksbyrossy.com/books
Ava Dorsey
We met Ava when she was thirteen years old. At that time, she had already been running Ava’s Pet Palace, her organic pet treat business for five years. Because she was exploring the possibility of becoming a veterinarian, we invited her to present her business via a Zoom conference organized in collaboration with Pawsibilities, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and the Startup Squad on November 16, 2020.
The Philanthropy Alliance Foundation, another treasured partner, organized a second Zoom conference on December 5, 2020 in collaboration with all the organizations that came together for the November conference.
Ava Dorsey, Girl CEO of Ava’s Pet Palace at 2020 Webinar
Ava’s business is growing rapidly, and she and Ava’s Pet Palace are gaining nationwide recognition:
- In 2020, she won the Young Entrepreneurship Award.
- In 2021, she revamped her brand, achieved USDA Organic certification for her pet treats, and began selling her treats at all 75 PetPeople stores and at 17 other retailers across the U.S.
- In 2022, she has already participated in the Global Pet Expo in Orlando, FL, retailed Ava’s Pet Palace treats in over 1,000 PetSmart stores across the country for a limited time, and donated several hundred dollars in cash and pet treats to multiple animal-focused charities.
Not even the sky is the limit for this brilliant young entrepreneur!
Ava at Global Pet Expo
Find organic pet treats made by Ava’s Pet Palace here: https://avaspetpalace.com/collections
