BY STEVEN GORDON, LEMONADE DAY NATIONAL PRESIDENT

Every day is an exciting day for me and my Lemonade Day colleagues. This is an especially invigorating time for the team. September 1^st represents the official national kick off for the 2020 Lemonade Day season. Plus, we host our annual City Directors Conference right here in Houston later in September.

One of my greatest honors at the conference is the announcement of the winner(s) of the National Youth Entrepreneur of the Year award. I can’t wait to reveal who won for the 2019 Lemonade Day season! In the meantime, I wanted to share some updates on previous winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year.

Rohit Srinivasan, Trashbots –Lemonade Day Alumni

Credit: Trashbots

Now a student at the University of Texas in Austin, Rohit got a head start on entrepreneurship when he participated in Lemonade Day at the age of 10 in 2009.  Rohit credits lessons he learned through Lemonade Day for the success he and his company are achieving now.  

Rohit is the co-founder of Trashbots (www.trashbots.org), which develops low-cost science and engineering robotics kits for students. Trashbots enables kids around the world to develop problem-solving skills and enhance their creativity by building robots that are made according to a structured curriculum blended with an artistic twist: the kids make their robots from trash and other discarded materials that the students find in their own environment.   

Rohit is a solid role model for youth entrepreneurship.  Among his many accolades earned: 

• TedX speaker
• Winner 2016 and 2017 SXSWedu Business Plan Competition
• 2017 National Paradigm Challenge Award – Top 100 Finalist
• 2017 Youth Assembly at the United Nations Top 5 Finalist
• Top 10 EdTech startup in the United States
• Top 15 most influential people in Texas issued by Texas Monthly Magazine
• Winner 2016 TYE Business Plan Competition (Texas)

And check out this recent article about Rohit and his brother, Sidharth, in this month's Entrepreneur Magazine!

Rohit challenges those contemplating entrepreneurial ventures to be unique, be optimistic, be socially responsible, and be inspired.

Katie Vonder Haar & Hailey Hertzman, Ooh La Lemon – 2017 Lemonade Day National Youth Entrepreneurs of the Year

Credit: Ooh La Lemon

Hailey and Katie worked for several months to establish their first lemonade business, Tropical Tiki Hut.  They developed and tested their product, completed a business plan, established a budget, found a prime location, and marketed and promoted their product, learning basic business concepts and the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. Hailey and Katie executed their business plan to perfection. They utilized the Lemonade Day curriculum and resources, and they celebrated by spending, saving and sharing their success.

Since then, Hailey and Katie have been on a whirlwind of activities including opening an online store, Ooh La Lemon, being interviewed on numerous television programs, had countless articles written about them and even were named Treasurer for the Day by Kentucky State Treasurer, Allison Ball.

Katie and Hailey will be featured on a national morning television segment the week of September 16th for their entrepreneurial prowess. To read more about their ongoing media coverage, click here!

Mikaila Ulmer, Me & the Bees Lemonade – Lemonade Day alumni

Credit: Guildford Children's Business Fair

Mikaila is a social entrepreneur, bee ambassador, educator and student. She travels around the world leading workshops on how to save the honeybees and participating in social entrepreneurship panels. Mikaila launched her own Facebook page, where visitors can ‘Like’ interesting facts about bees, honey and Me & the Bees Lemonade. 

Here are just a few quick updates on Mikaila:

• Introduced Beeswax Lip Balm Package – 5 for $12, available online
• Publishing a book in 2020 – BeeFearless, Penguin Random House, targeted release of July 2020
• Secured a partnership with Macy’s
• https://www.meandthebees.com/blogs/press/me-the-bees-partners-with-macys
• Secured a major deal with Whole Foods Markets, HEB Texas stores, Cost Plus World Market, and Houston area Kroger grocery stores
• Mikaila will be a guest speaker for a new Women’s Entrepreneurship program at University of Texas this September 2019
• The Healthy Hive Foundation will have the support of two interns starting in September who help address the fight to save the honeybees which are facing extinction.
• Me & the Bees supports the following organizations: HEIFER INTERNATIONAL, TEXAS BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION, SUSTAINABLE FOOD CENTER of Austin

To read more about Mikaila’s ongoing endeavors, click here.

I love Lemonade Day! I love Lemonade Day season! I love the Lemonade Day kids and everyone who makes it possible for kids to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. I love wearing yellow because it draws people to me who then proceed to tell me in very specific detail about their lemonade stand or other entrepreneurial experience. Lemonade Day is magical, memorable and forever life changing.

Please share this blog with your friends, family members, and co-workers. All of us at Lemonade Day National Headquarters appreciate your support!

I welcome your comments and suggestions any time. Please email me at Steven@LemonadeDay.org.

For more information about Lemonade Day, please visit lemonadeday.org.