It’s never too early for children to become entrepreneurs, just ask the founder of ToysReview, who made $22 million in one year at the age of seven.  

 

So, when West Virginia University and Enova Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation announced their first annual Forge Ahead k-12 Pitch Competition, Daniel Yearego jumped at the chance to create his own business.

 

As the only finalist from Harrison County, Yearego, a seventh grader at Bridgeport Middle School, pitched his idea via YouTube earlier this summer.  The competition was divided into three divisions for elementary, middle and high school. The Forge Ahead competition was created to encourage young entrepreneurs who found ways to improve their community, state, or society as a whole.

 

Despite being in a pandemic, students from all across the state submitted ideas virtually and then fielded questions from judges and other participants. Yearego found out about the competition through his mother, Julie Yearego, who is a business teacher at Lincoln High School. When she received the email about the competition, she forwarded it to her students and family in hopes of inspiring budding entrepreneurs. She has also had several finalists in the annual High School Business Plan Competition over the years and was able to help Daniel brainstorm for ideas for his business.

 

After helping his sister, Sarah, pet sit for area families, Daniel ultimately decided to start Daniel’s Pet Care, offering to feed, walk and care for all types of animals while owners are out of town. Throughout the competition, he learned about identifying his target market, set competitive pricing, do inventory and record keeping.  He also learned the importance of marketing a business and the steps necessary to create a small business.

 

Yearego placed third in the state for the middle school category with his business, winning $100, which he plans to invest back into his business to promote and expand it as needed.