Category: YES Story

YES! Mentor David Fingerote on the Power of Purposeful Mentorship blog cover
Educational Blog
Wayne Veldsman

Why Feedback, Failure, and Follow-Through Build Real Leaders | BizWorld Mentor, David Fingerote

“These young entrepreneurs are doing real things. They’re fast, focused, and fearless. And that kind of energy—it’s contagious.” – David Fingerote, YES! Mentor, Educator, Coach A Mentor With a Global Mindset When David Fingerote began teaching overseas nearly two decades ago, he didn’t imagine he’d one day be mentoring teen entrepreneurs from across the globe. A lifelong educator with roots in Southern California, David has built his career working with learners of all ages—from university students in Tokyo to startup founders in the edtech space. But when he joined BizWorld’s YES! Program, something clicked. “I had been consulting with education tech companies, but many of them were tech-heavy and education-light,” David explains. “BizWorld stood out immediately—it was focused on real learning, not just flashy tools.” What started as curiosity turned into commitment. Now a mentor to multiple YES! cohorts—including Japan-based teams—David brings a unique blend of perspective, patience, and purpose to every student he meets. Why Mentorship Matters For David, mentorship isn’t about giving instructions—it’s about offering insight. “You’re not there to tell them what to do,” he says. “You’re there to reflect, to provide perspective, and to help them process the decisions they’re already making.” That philosophy has made him a favorite among YES! entrepreneurs. One student—already running a successful clothing brand—emailed David months after their last session, sharing how meaningful their time together had been. Inspired by the message, David later looped that same student into a future cohort to provide marketing advice to another participant. “That was a full-circle moment. It reminded me just how deep the ripple effect of this program can go.” A Lesson From the Court (and the Classroom) David is also a certified tennis coach and ski instructor—and he sees clear parallels between athletics and entrepreneurship. “Both require communication, confidence, and the ability to take imperfect action,” he says. “You can’t build the perfect product in your head. You have to test, fail, adjust. That’s where the learning happens.” It’s this mindset—of learning through doing—that makes BizWorld so effective. And for mentors like David, it’s just as much a growth opportunity for them as it is for the youth. “You’ll develop skills you didn’t expect. You’ll listen to yourself offering advice and realize it applies to your own life too. That reflection—it’s powerful.” Why This Work Deserves Support When asked what he’d say to a potential donor, David doesn’t hesitate: “I’ve lived and taught in places where the idea of youth entrepreneurship is nonexistent. In those places, kids are trained only to work for someone else. Programs like YES! are necessary—not just to empower students, but to build a better future for all of us.” He adds: “If young people aren’t given the space to create new ideas, then only old, worn-out ones keep circulating. And that’s a dangerous place for society to be.” The Final Word: Just Show Up At the end of the day, what matters most to David is simple. “They show up. The YES! program young entrepreneurs wake up early or stay up late just to meet with me across time zones. They work hard. They follow through. Their commitment alone makes my involvement worth every minute.” Whether it’s mentoring through a pitch deck, troubleshooting a business model, or just listening—David is there. And thanks to mentors like him, the next generation of entrepreneurs isn’t just dreaming. They’re doing. Want to Support the Next Generation of Leaders? While mentors like David generously volunteer their time, your support powers everything else—from curriculum and coordination to tech platforms and global access. Help us continue to provide these life-changing opportunities for youth around the world. 🔗 Learn how you can get involved or give at https://bizworld.org/supporter/

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YES to $500K _ The Story of BizWorld YES alumni StudyStash
Case Studies
Wayne Veldsman

A Week in the Life of a YES! Founder: How Jonathan Graham and StudyStash Are Bridging the Learning Gap

When most college students are prepping for exams or squeezing in a part-time job, Jonathan Graham is launching a business that’s already changing the way universities help students succeed. As a recent Demo Day funded company in BizWorld’s YES! Program, StudyStash (and it’s founders Jonathan Graham and Ben Ward) are proof of what’s possible when young innovators have access to the right support, mentorship, and a community that believes in their big ideas. Meet StudyStash: Turning Neuroscience Into Real Student Success “It was our own experience—being completely overwhelmed by hundreds of pages of slides and readings—that made us realize: something has to change,” Jonathan shares. StudyStash was born out of the frustration that so many university students feel: too much information, too little guidance. With a product that uses neuroscience to help students learn faster and more confidently, StudyStash bridges the gap between teaching and learning—empowering students, professors, and entire institutions. And it’s working. StudyStash’s platform helps students zero in on their most challenging concepts, gives professors actionable insights, and helps universities save millions by reducing dropout rates. Behind the Scenes: A Week in the Life of a YES! Participant Being a young founder isn’t all pitch decks and high-fives—it’s late nights, endless to-do lists, and juggling an academic life most adults would find exhausting. Here’s what a typical week looked like for Jonathan during the YES! cohort: What Makes YES! Different: Community, Mentorship, Real Results Jonathan is quick to credit the YES! Program for helping him and his co-founder transform a promising product into a scalable business. “Every week, BizWorld brought in people from industry who were the real deal—founders, investors, people scaling companies to hundreds of millions. The advice was actionable. Our mentor Yasmina, who had been at Alphabet, gave us feedback that directly shaped our investment pitch and business plan.” The impact isn’t just felt in advice. YES! alumni outcomes speak volumes: This is the power of community: “Founding a startup can be lonely, but in YES! we found other young entrepreneurs facing the same challenges. We learned as much from our peers as we did from the mentors.” From YES! to a Half-Million Dollar Investment StudyStash’s leap from a promising student startup to a globally ambitious, venture-backed company was no accident. “The YES! program didn’t just teach us business basics—it pushed us to think globally and equipped us with the tools, skills and networking opportunities to impress investors,” Jonathan explains. With the polish and confidence developed during YES!, StudyStash was able to raise $500,000 in their first investment round—a milestone Jonathan directly attributes to the experience and network built through the program. Why YES! Matters—For Today’s Students and Tomorrow’s Innovators In Jonathan’s words, “There’s just not enough encouragement for entrepreneurship in the school system—at least in Europe. YES! made us think bigger. We moved beyond just the UK and now have pilots in Texas, Amsterdam, and across the UK. Our $5,000 YES! funding is helping us set up a US base, cover legal and visa costs, and keep growing.” But the benefits go deeper than business growth: A Message to Future YES! Founders If you’re a young entrepreneur—or you know one—Jonathan’s advice is simple: “Just go ahead and apply for YES!. There’s no wrong stage to be at. Whether you just have an idea, or you’re already raising funding, YES! will help you get to the next level. And the network, especially in Silicon Valley, is something you just can’t find anywhere else.” Why We Need Supporters and Mentors—Now More Than Ever Jonathan’s story wouldn’t be possible without people who give their time, expertise, or financial support. “Programs like YES! are what make entrepreneurship possible for young people. Sometimes all it takes is 20 minutes with a mentor to unlock a breakthrough.” Here’s how you can help: What’s Next? As the new YES! Summer Cohort launches on June 19th—with applications closed and participants being selected—now is the perfect time to step up as a mentor or donor. Your support doesn’t just fund a business; it builds a legacy of innovation, confidence, and positive change. When you say “YES!” to supporting young entrepreneurs, you’re unleashing potential that will ripple out for years to come. Thank you for being part of the BizWorld community. Interested in bringing StudyStash to your university? Visit studystash.com.

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Case Studies
ADMIN@

From BizWorld YES! to $409K in Revenue: Bella Lin’s Entrepreneurial Journey

At just 17 years old, Bella Lin, a Summer 2023 BizWorld YES! Program alumna, has taken the small pet industry by storm with her company GuineaLoft. Featured recently on CNBC, Bella shared her inspiring story of turning her passion for guinea pigs into a thriving business. GuineaLoft, which sells products for small pets including cages, bedding, food feeders, and water bottles, has seen incredible growth. In 2024, the company is averaging roughly $71,000 per month in revenue, more than doubling last year’s average of $34,000 per month. In total, GuineaLoft brought in an impressive $409,000 in 2023. “I have always wanted to be self-employed,” said Bella. “I’m really lucky to run a company like GuineaLoft where this is my passion. I’ve had these pets forever. I love caring for them.” Bella’s entrepreneurial spirit started young, with various small businesses like hand knitting, lemonade stands, and even a slime business in middle school. But it was her own experience as a guinea pig owner that sparked the idea for GuineaLoft. Dissatisfied with store-bought cages, Bella started sketching designs for the ideal guinea pig habitat. When the first 100 units of the GuineaLoft cage sold out on Amazon, she knew she had to go all in. Despite the challenges of juggling high school and running a business, Bella’s dedication and hard work have paid off. She credits the BizWorld YES! Program for providing the foundation and inspiration to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams. Here at BizWorld we’re honored to have aided not only in Bella’s success with GuineaLoft, but also in a prior successful endeavor TLeggings, which she grew through our Winter 2021 YES! cohort. “I 100% plan on running GuineaLoft while I’m in college, and hopefully if it lasts the next four years, out of college as well. The ultimate goal that I have for GuineaLoft is to be the top recognized small pet brand.” – Bella Lin Bella’s story is a testament to the power of the entrepreneurial spirit and the impact that programs like BizWorld YES! can have on young minds. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this inspiring young entrepreneur! Learn More and Apply Now for the YES! Program

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celebrating our 2024 demo day achievers
News & PR
ADMIN@

Spotlight on Success: Celebrating Our Demo Day Achievers 2024

We kicked off May with an exhilarating display of creativity and entrepreneurship at our annual Demo Day! This pivotal event showcased the brightest ideas from participants in our YES! Program, where young minds pitched their innovative business concepts to a panel of esteemed judges. We are thrilled to announce that for the first time ever, all five companies who pitched have successfully secured funding, a testament to their outstanding presentations and the potential impact of their ideas: A heartfelt thank you to all our mentors, advisors and judges who volunteered their time and expertise to help these promising companies thrive. Your insights and feedback are invaluable to the growth and confidence of our young entrepreneurs. A special thank you to our live speaker Lomit Patel and to our judges, Casey Ellis, Amit Kumar, and Sarah Nichols. Thank you for making this event possible!

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Alumni Spotlight Joe Knopp of Ripple WATR
Case Studies
ADMIN@

Alumni Spotlight: Joe Knopp

YES! 2022 Summer Cohort alum, Joe Knopp sold his first business Ripple over this summer. Joe was a 2022 Demo Day Finalist, where he secured $8,000 in funding from BizWorld. He used that funding to decrease his laser engraving costs of the Ripple Water bottles by over 60%. According to Joe, he wasn’t super serious about selling at first. He listed Ripple just to see the interest he would get. After receiving over 100 responses, Joe found two brother-in-laws from Cleveland who are as passionate as he is about Ripple’s mission. Joe is staying on as an advisor, where he can stay focused on the mission and creating partnerships to push the mission forward. Joe’s advice for others: “The product wasn’t radically disruptive, but I talked to customers and I was able to connect communities together. That was what made me successful.” He later went on to write in a LinkedIn Post, “But here’s what I’ve since realized: growth and success reside outside of our comfort zones. Embracing uncertainty and stepping into the unknown is where true opportunities lie. So now, I’m embracing discomfort again and using it as my compass, guiding me toward growth and new opportunities. Successes are not a reason to settle but rather a foundation to reach even higher.” Joe is already working on his next venture, Mica. Mica will be an employee-centered software in the social impact and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) space. “We are so proud of Joe and the hard work he put into making Ripple a success. To see him sell his first successful business and move onto his next big idea tells us we are on the right track. Investing in young people, supporting their ideas and growth, is what we believe will make the difference in the generations to come,” said Charlene Vaca, BizWorld CEO.

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    Tax ID: 94-3280297
    344 Thomas L. Berkeley Way, Suite 111, Oakland, CA 94612

 

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344 Thomas L. Berkeley Way, Suite 111
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