In an issue of SUCCESS Dedicated to hustling, chasing something more, making no excuses and making dreams come true, no matter how small, it made sense to unveil the magazine's first-ever 30 under 30 list. br />This diverse group of people, each 30 years of age or younger, is the ultimate testament to the YouEconomy's New American Dream. Those in their 30s and under 30s not only create personal wealth or financial stability, but even more importantly, individual meaning, connection, influence and contribution to their communities and the world at large. They are fiercely independent, each driven by an internalized mission and living towards it with the total dedication of their skills, passions and motivations.
As you meet each of these incredible young people and learn about their incredibly unique and original pursuits, consider the qualities and values that unite them. Time and time again, 30s and under 30s exemplify the fundamentals of success in business, life, and personal growth.
Brennan Agranoff, 19
Founder of HoopSwagg , an athletic sock company
When Agranoff was 12, he bought super colorful socks on Instagram. His friends were immediately jealous and an idea was born.
“All my friends and the kids at school wanted to know how to get their hands on a pair. I saw the demand for them, so I started researching how to make similar socks myself. Nine months later, after extensive research, I started developing samples and proved that the model would work by selling them on eBay.
Now HoopSwagg makes over $1 million in sales every year.
Hector Lopez, 29 + Eddy Homez, 29 + Omar Arambula, 29
Co-founders of Instasize , a photo editing application
This trio of college friends created Instasize in 2012 to help consumers resize photos from their rectangular format to a square format for Instagram. Last year, Instasize hit $14 million in revenue and 12 million monthly users.
How do you define success?
Lopez:Success is a direct result of overcoming failure .
Homez:Success and gratitude go hand in hand. We often forget to recognize and celebrate what we've accomplished because we're already chasing the next goal or line item. I have found that taking the time to practice gratitude every day helps put things into perspective.
Arambula:Do I like what I do? Am I creating something of value? If I can answer yes to both of those questions, that's the definition of success for me.
Will Ahmed, 29 years old
Founder and CEO of CRI , a sports performance company
WHOOP creates wearable technology for elite athletes and fitness enthusiasts to help them improve their performance by measuring things like recovery, sleep, and blood pressure.
“I was always in sports and exercise. I was captain of the Harvard squash team and competed as a varsity athlete, but I felt like I didn't know what I was doing to my body when I was training. I was someone who over-trained, and I was surrounded by other athletes who got injured or misinterpreted peaks in fitness. As a result, I became very interested in physiology and eventually read 500 medical papers during my studies. »
LaForce Baker, 29
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Moon Meals, Inc . , a healthy take-out meal service
“I came into this line of work following a personal journey to take control of my health. I grew up without much access to healthy meals in South Chicago, so I got really fat. I taught myself how to make healthier versions of my favorite foods in order to lose weight and finish a marathon. »
Numbers Game
Moon Meals has 10 employees serving 187 locations.
Lisa Barnett, 29 years old
Co-founder and CMO of Little Spoon , an organic baby food company
Prior to co-founding Little Spoon, Barnett worked in maternity venture capital. There, she learned that the first two years of a child's nutrition affect their health for the rest of their life.
“I have a niece, Adalyn, and that's my world. I would give anything for his well-being. When my sister told me the baby food was older than my niece, I couldn't believe it! At that time, my co-founders approached me with the idea of making fresh, nutritious food available to parents everywhere, and I immediately knew I had to be part of that mission. »
Matt Hyder, 26 years old
Creator of Recoup Fitness , which creates hot and cold therapy products
“I barely graduated from high school with a 1.9 GPA. My high school counselor told me I wouldn't represent anything. I keep these words and others with me. I wrote them down. Every time I feel like quitting, I read these words and they light a fire under me. I'd rather die than look at these people and tell them they're right. I will continue to prove them wrong. »
Jeff Cayley, 29 years old
Founder and CEO of Cycling Worldwide , a high-end custom mountain bike company
Cayley's definition of success involves doing things that bring him joy. So what exactly are these things? It says they include, but are not limited to:
Playing the business game
Riding a bike
Adrenaline rush
Helping and supporting the people he loves
Doing something important with his valuable time planet a better place somehow
“There are a lot of boxes I want to tick, and I continue to strive to tick them all and smile while doing so.”
Ben Cogan, 29 years old
Co-founder of Hubble , a contact lens subscription service
Hubble, a company founded by Ben Cogan and Jesse Horwitz, cuts out the middleman by selling daily contact lenses directly to the consumer. Their model works through a $30 per month subscription service.
how do you define success?
My personal definition of success is achieving a problem solved that comes from both inspiration and perseverance.
Prince Ea, 30
Filmmaker, Speaker and Activist
Born as Richard Williams, Prince Ea is an artist, director and vocal activist who covers topics including climate change, racism and body image.
“I started over a decade ago simply wanting to use my words to make a difference. Personally, I was so moved by the power of words and hoped to one day have the same influence on others with my own. I knew that if I could leverage social media, my impact would be strong. ”
Big reach
The long-term goal of Prince Ea? “To help 7 billion people realize, stabilize and realize their God-given potential.”
Jordan Lee Dooley, 24
Speaker, blogger and podcast host focuses on helping women lead more intentional lives
“As entrepreneurs, it can be so easy to get caught up in the business plan and the financial results that we totally miss the mark when it comes to really connecting and understanding our market. You can have the coolest idea, the best product, or the strongest work ethic while struggling to progress because you forgot the most important thing:connection. The only reason I'm where I am today, and so early in my life, is because I really paid attention to what people were reacting to and focused on building connections before trying to create a brand. »
Ankur Jain, 29 years old
Co-founder and CEO of Kairos , a venture capital fund, and former founder and CEO of Humin
Jain is a serial entrepreneur who founded his first company, MyOnlineQuiz.com, when he was just 11 years old. He then studied at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania before founding Humin, a technology company acquired by Tinder.
Now his main focus is Kairos, a venture capital fund that helps startups dedicated to solve global problems in healthcare, education, clean water and more. Since its inception during the Jain academic years, Kairos has helped more than 100 businesses grow.
Adelaida Diaz-Roa, 27 years old
Co-founder of Nomo FOMO , a social travel platform, and Lontananza Foundation , a non-profit early childhood education in Colombia
"I like to joke that I knew I wanted to go into business from the first time I played Monopoly. I was probably 10 years old. The exchange, the uncertainty, the enthusiasm, the help, the strategy – it was so much fun for me. »
Did you know?
Diaz-Roa was also a co-founder of Villy Custom, a custom bike company that appeared on Shark Aquarium .
Laura Johnson, 27 years old
Founder of You &Yours Distilling Co. , a gin and vodka distillery in San Diego
What advice would you give to anyone looking to become an entrepreneur like you?
Entrepreneurship isn't for everyone, and that's okay. Be honest with yourself and make sure you have 1000% belief in your business idea and are willing to take whatever it takes to make it happen.
Jake Kassan, 28 years old
CEO and Co-Founder of MVMT , A brand of watches and accessories
“I dropped out of school and got into credit card debt to start [my] brand. I couldn't find a watch that I resonated with, so I decided to make my own. »
There's nothing wrong with a little failure.
Kassan had three businesses before MVMT. They all failed. But he says the experience has been crucial to MVMT's success. To date, MVMT has sold over 1.5 million watches.
Crystal Lee, 27
Host of It's SF , a local CBS television show that showcases Bay Area businesses and entrepreneurs
“One of my favorite things about solopreneurship is that having full and integral ownership of a business is a great way to learn how to make smart decisions in a short amount of time. As Yoda tells us, "Do or don't, there is no trying." Only by being fully committed to your work and your choices can the time invested be worthwhile. ”
Multiple Companies
Lee is also the co-founder of LifeSite, an online vault.
Asia Monet Ray, 13 years old
Musician and dancer
With an Instagram following in the millions, Asia Monet Ray has wowed the world with her dancing and, more recently, her singing. She was first featured on Lifetime's Dance Moms , then got his own Lifetime show, Raising Asia .
“What I love most about having my own brand/business is the creative decision-making and control over what represents me. Keeping things organic on all my [social media] platforms is very important to me. »
Emma Kozlowski, 28 years old
Creator of Emma Lyn Designs , a custom accessories company
Seven years ago, Kozlowski taught herself to sew because she wanted a pouch that could hold her phone, keys and cash. Her boldly patterned designs caught the attention of her friends and family, who suggested she sell them on Etsy. Eventually, she created her own website where consumers can create their own custom clutch.
“I love the feeling of accomplishing something I'm proud of and knowing that I did it all on my own. . For me, being a solopreneur is the true definition of the saying hard work pays off . »
Bethany Mota, 23 years old
Youtube social media personality and influencer
Originally, Mota gained attention for posting her “haul” videos on YouTube, in which she showcased her makeup and clothing purchases from various retailers for her digital audience. Her popularity skyrocketed and led to her garnering a huge following online. She caught the eye of several major retailers, who partnered with Mota to launch her own lines of clothing, fragrances, accessories and school supplies. Since then, Mota has gone on to write a book, travel the world hosting speaking engagements, and partner with several international charities.
By the numbers:
Instagram:5.1 million followers
Facebook:over 1.6 million fans
Twitter:5.3+ million followers
YouTube:10, 3+ million subscribers
Nanxi Liu, 29 years old
Co-founder and CFO of Nanoly Bioscience and co-founder and CEO of Brancher
Liu started two very different companies:Nanoly Bioscience, which develops polymers that eliminate vaccine refrigeration, and Enplug, an open-source software company that drives content on digital screens.
“Because I have a lot of interests, my work allows me to pursue my passions in several sectors, be it health, investment or entertainment."
Little known fact
Liu received an Emmy for his role as producer on Amazon The Bay .
Usama Riaz, 23 years old
UpWork independent software engineer and founder and CEO of Minibit , a software development company that creates mobile applications
“Freelance work is unique because it allows anyone with the right skills to work on problems of their choosing. Coupled with a bit of determination and hard work, self-employment can also be very lucrative. Freelancing allowed me to work on some really cool software that might never have been approved in a risk-averse business environment. »
Currently, Riaz's business generates around $25,000 in revenue per month.
Jeff Seid, 25
Fitness trainer, author and social media influencer
With over 3.5 million Instagram followers and over 2.5 million Facebook fans, Seid has a knack for connecting with others. He also runs a clothing company, SeidWear, and an online personal training business.
“The best thing about solopreneurship is the freedom that comes with being your own boss. I could literally travel anywhere in the world and continue my career if I have access to WiFi. It just shows the power of social media. If used correctly, it can provide all the freedom you want. »
Alina Morse, 14 years old
Zollipops CEO , an all-natural, sugar-free confectionery company that promotes oral health
Provocative girl
"I love candy and I was tired of hearing 'No, it's too much sugar' from my parents, so I decided to create a healthy candy and turn my passion for business into something delicious that could make people smile all over the world. »
Daquan Oliver, 27 years old
Founder of WeThrive , an entrepreneurial program allowing middle and high school students to create real businesses
Oliver founded WeThrive following a promise he made to himself when he was 14. He grew up in a low-income, single-parent family and witnessed firsthand the struggles many Americans face today.
“To make sure all of my mom's hard work and sacrifices don't be not in vain, I promised that I would succeed despite all the obstacles in my path, and that I would help other oppressed, under-resourced or otherwise disenfranchised people to do the same. This promise is what I measure my personal definition of success against. Running WeThrive allowed me to keep my promise. »
Kelly Belknap, 27 + Matilda Sandström, 24
Co-founders of Adventurist Backpack Co.
Belknap and Sandström create minimalist backpacks designed for travel. For every backpack sold, Adventurist provides 25 meals to families in need across the United States.
During a backpacking trip around the world in 2017, the duo witnessed something heartbreaking . Tons of families they met struggled with hunger, an issue they had heard of countless times but never seen firsthand. They decided to do something about it.
“Wanting to do what we could to help, we prepared meals each morning and filled our backpacks, distributing the meals to anyone in need throughout the daytime. After returning to the United States and knowing that there are still so many needy families in our own communities and cities, Adventurist Backpack Co. began. ”
Little Known Fact
By traveling, Belknap and Sandström were able to fit 25 meals in their backpacks, which is why they continue to provide 25 meals from every backpack sale to this day.
Marisa Sergi, 25 years old
Founder of Red head wine
Sergi is a third-generation winemaker with a degree in viticulture and enology from Cornell University. In college, she offered to create a wine label for her capstone project, and RedHead Wine was born. She worked for a winery in California for a year after graduating, then decided to cash in on her savings and officially launch her own brand.
Little Known Fact
"In my primary school memory book, when I was only 10 years old, I officially stated that I wanted to be a winemaker when I grew up. »
Kris Sanchez, 27
Founder and CEO of UberFacts , a social media brand that features interesting and random facts
Sanchez started UberFacts in 2011. He would scour the internet for any information that would delight, entertain or embarrass others. Today, her brand has over 20 million followers across multiple social media platforms.
What advice would you give to anyone who wants to become an entrepreneur like you?
Sanchez:Try everything and brainstorm a lot. I had a million bad ideas before I found one that worked, and I don't even think I found the idea. He found me.
Victor Santos, 27 years old
Co-founder and CEO of Airfox , a financial services company for underserved populations
Santos launched Airfox in 2018 with the goal of empowering millions of families around the world to take control of their finances using a simple, inexpensive mobile app. Their first target market is Brazil.
Drawing from within
“My experience growing up in Brazil, a country where the gap between rich and poor is vast, inspired me to create solutions that can empower those who are excluded from financial services traditional.”
