Nurturing Young Entrepreneurs: The Power of Near-Peer Mentorship

How do you help a tween boy discover his passion? Many parents find that having someone else deliver the message can make all the difference – that’s where the power of near-peer mentorship comes in. At this age, tweens are often more open to guidance from someone they see as a role model, rather than just a parent telling them what to do. They crave mentors who are relatable and cool, offering an opportunity to delve deeper beyond the typical tween vocabulary featuring one-word responses such as “things” and “stuff.”

Uncovering Passion Through Near-Peer Mentorship

At Curious Cardinals, we believe deeply in the transformative impact of mentorship, especially when it comes to nurturing young entrepreneurial spirits. Unlike traditional education programs, our approach pairs students with mentors who truly understand their experience. Take Ned, for instance.

Ned embarked on his journey with Curious Cardinals as a typical sixth grader uncertain of his interests. Initially skeptical about mentoring, Ned's perspective shifted during his first call with his mentor Alec Katz, COO and Co-Founder of Curious Cardinals. That initial introduction call, urged by his parents, unlocked a curiosity that would shape his future. Alec’s pivotal question, "What do you want to create?" ignited a spark that took Ned from blogging to addressing pressing societal issues like screen addiction through the development of an app.

Transforming Ideas into Impactful Projects

Ned’s story exemplifies the power of our learn-by-doing model. With Alec’s guidance, Ned not only honed technical skills but also cultivated resilience and learned the importance of iterative learning in entrepreneurship. Embracing no-code solutions, Ned persisted in creating a platform aimed at making a meaningful impact. His journey underscores how Curious Cardinals mentors empower students to turn their ideas into tangible solutions.

Before diving into entrepreneurship, Alec and Ned spent nearly a year launching his blog on the future of K-12 education.

Meet More Inspiring Mentors Like Alec

Our mentors, many of whom are entrepreneurs themselves, bring a blend of passion and firsthand experience to each mentoring relationship:

• Bryan (Business Administration, BS '20), University of California, Berkeley
  Bryan is currently the Chief of Staff at Forage, a startup modernizing the social safety net. Previously, as a Product Manager at Google, he helped launch Google Wallet, scaling the app to 100 million users in six months. His journey from working part-time at Taco Bell to pivotal roles at Google and Forage exemplifies resilience and entrepreneurial spirit.
• Megan (Business Administration, BS '24), University of Southern California
  Megan pursued a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Technology Entrepreneurship. She has put her degree to work by founding an education-based nonprofit and multiple cultural organizations aimed at fostering creativity and leadership skills in young minds.
• Gary (Economics, BA '24), Stanford
  Gary just graduated from Stanford University where he studied Economics. His diverse experiences include working in finance roles and business development, along with founding and operating a sports betting startup. His dedication to combining business, technology, and sports management reflects his passion for innovation and community impact.

Ready to Ignite Your Child’s Passion?

Schedule a consultation today and discover how Curious Cardinals can empower your child to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit this summer or jump-start their journey in the upcoming school year. Whether they dream of developing an app like Ned, starting a blog, or exploring a new passion, our mentors are here to support them every step of the way.