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Few groups faced more criticism last year than Gen Z. Stereotyped as difficult to cooperate with and lacking ambition, young people fell victim to the same smear campaigns as previous Millennials, minus the avocado toast.
However, the statistics tell a different story. Gen Z is more likely to be self-employed than previous generations. Meanwhile, a proliferation of student-led startups is creating hundreds of jobs.
Against this backdrop, Gen Z is trying to dispel the myth that mothers know best. They enter the workforce triumphantly, smartphone in hand, ready to challenge what it means to work and run a business.
Our Young Entrepreneur Awards give you a front row seat to the UK’s most exciting young business minds. Each year, we recognize the top founders under 25 in our Startups 100 Index and celebrate their unwavering commitment to making a difference.
Together with Startups 100 guest judge Eloise Skinner, a successful young entrepreneur herself, we selected the top baby-faced founders who are poised for greatness in the coming years. Prepare to feel surprised, empowered, and maybe even a little jealous.
Ms. Skinner is herself a young entrepreneurial success story, as well as a published author, teacher, and therapist. Additionally, she has founded two successful businesses: the consulting firm The Purpose Workshop and the educational resource platform One Typical Day.
Winner – Brent Oldfield (Voltric Mobility Technologies)
We recognize talented young innovators aged 25 and under who come together to solve the next generation’s challenges with inspiring business ideas.
Learn more about Voltric
Brent Oldfield has been hustling since college. Growing up in Guernsey, he couldn’t access his student loans, so he took matters into his own hands and launched his first business, Upcycle His Lamps, to help fund his studies. The team he chose as his degree in Entrepreneurship (TE) proved to be a strategic choice, providing him with the tools to navigate the business world while juggling his studies.
In 2019, Mr. Oldfield’s entrepreneurial talents reached new heights when he co-founded Voltric while in college. Voltric’s comprehensive monthly or annual subscriptions take the hassle out of EV ownership and make the transition to electric vehicle as smooth as driving a Tesla.
Despite being required to study full-time, Oldfield’s achievements have gone unnoticed. He was shortlisted for the UWE Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2020 and Beauhurst recognized him as one of the UK’s Top 11 Student Founders of 2020.
Mr Oldfield is still active as a mentor to TE students and Mr Bortrick has successfully raised nearly £500,000. He believes Voltric is a catalyst for change, shaping the future of mobility and transport and making the UK a greener place for future generations.
What did Eloise Skinner say?
“In addition to the incredible amount of funding and investor interest, I really enjoyed hearing about the founders’ passion for giving back to the student entrepreneur community,” Skinner says. “Brent clearly has a passion for supporting others.”
Candidate – Alyssa Ottley Auer (Froebel)
When most kids were busy with comics and coloring books, Alyssa Ottley Auer was already demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit. When she was six years old, she noticed a clear gap in the world of dolls and dress up. The problem was that there was a lack of characters who reflected the beauty of Afro hair.
Not wanting to settle for sub-par representation, Alyssa teamed up with co-founder and mother Yvonne to create Frobelles, the UK’s first Afro hair dress-up game. This wasn’t just a casual after-school project. Alyssa poured her heart and soul into the game, spending hours designing characters, hairstyles, textures, and clothing. She lent her voice to all the characters, instructions, and expressions, and had the great idea to add an educational section to the game that provides valuable information about Afro hair care and maintenance.
With Yvonne’s guidance and shared vision, Alyssa (now 11 years old) has left an indelible mark on the gaming world. She proves that her age is just a number when it comes to making a difference. Skinner admires Alyssa’s motivation to break through her barriers. “Froebel is a very important and meaningful business,” she praises.
Candidate – Abisola Bright (PolishPad)
Abisola Bright decided to become a nail artist while studying at the University of Essex. But instead of doing a mani and pedi, she found herself drowning in a sea of messages trying to manage her busy schedule. This experience gave rise to the idea for her PolishPad base coat, an all-in-one management tool for manicurists.
In 2019, Bright pitched her venture at the Essex Startups Summer Bootcamp, where her infectious passion and well-crafted pitch secured her a £200 investment (funded by Santander University). This was the first step in her entrepreneurial journey.
Since then, Bright has secured investments from companies like SKY & BEO, participated in the prestigious Microsoft for Startups program, and appeared on stage as a panelist at Enterprise Nation’s Next Gen Fest, sharing his wisdom with aspiring young entrepreneurs. shared.
Skinner praised PolishPad’s goal of elevating the nail field by addressing challenges faced by underserved nail artists and independent contractors. “I love the community aspect. PolishPad has a very clear and effective product-market fit,” she enthuses.
Will 2024 be the year of young entrepreneurs?
More than Warren Buffett. In today’s technology-driven world, it is clear that age is no longer a barrier to success. From Alexandr Wang, who founded Scale AI at the age of 25, to Frobelle’s 11-year-old tech whiz, Alyssa Ottley-Awuah, the startup world has become a world of young entrepreneurs looking to rewrite the business rulebook. It is full of home and student entrepreneurs.
It was also on time. In 2024, we face a unique confluence of challenges that require new perspectives and bold solutions.
AI is taking us into uncharted territory, creating new markets and transforming industries. Changes in society, such as the evolving nature of work, are creating opportunities for young people to disrupt traditional models. Meanwhile, the fight against climate change must rapidly accelerate to protect the planet for future generations.
Together, the shortlisted founders demonstrate the limitless potential of young people to shape the world we live in. Motivated by social missions such as sustainability, diversity, and community, each person’s story serves as a call to arms for other aspiring entrepreneurs.
“The diversity of ages and backgrounds in this year’s finalist list shows that entrepreneurship is thriving among young people, and the future is certainly bright for those who want to build a business,” Skinner he told Startups.
“Ultimately, these finalists demonstrate that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ age to jump into entrepreneurship. With an idea, passion, and determination, these finalists show that you can make your vision a reality. ”
This year’s Young Entrepreneur nominees show that the entrepreneurial world is ready for change. It’s time for Britain’s bright young people to take the reins.
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