THE WINNERS OF MERCHANT MAVERICK’S OPPORTUNITY GRANT FOR KID ENTREPRENEURS

Our second round of grant funding for 2024 was dedicated to kid entrepreneurs and youth-owned businesses.

We were blown away by the quality of businesses that applied. Ultimately, we settled on five amazing businesses, each earning $2,000 toward growing their small business.  The winners span from California to Florida and represent a variety of industries — from farming to financial planning! But the one thing they all had in common was a dedication to improving the world through sustainable business practices.

Each company is about giving back and education. Based on what we’ve learned from our young entrepreneurs, the future is bright.

Here are your grant recipients!

I Got Bank

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, I Got Bank is a financial literacy company designed to educate and empower young people to save and understand their financial futures.

I Got Bank is on a mission to help kids and teens become financially literate through its online courses and financial management tools. Sisters Zion and Sariel believe that the biggest investment kids can make is in themselves and their financial futures, and they want to give kids a wealth-building mindset.

Through speaking engagements, webinars, and their product “The Bank Kit,” I Got Bank is educational, fun, and ready to shape how kids across America manage their money.

JL Fun Colorz

Based in Tampa, Florida, JL Fun Colorz is a brother-duo that makes and sells hypoallergenic custom crayons at local markets for all kids to enjoy safely.

Joshua and Jordan Liburd started their business, JL Fun Colorz, when they were only 9 and 11 years old. Now, five years later, they hope to expand from local markets to a thriving eCommerce shop.

Their most popular item is personalized name crayons, which spell out the customer’s name in colorful letter-shaped crayons.

Luna May’s Lemonade

Based in Tampa, Florida, Luna May’s Lemonade is a start-up food truck lemonade stand with a 100% commitment to zero food waste.

Luna started her lemonade business a few years ago but quickly realized that she needed some more time and capital to make her dreams a reality.

Now older—and off to middle school—Luna is launching her lemonade food truck in Tampa, Florida, with the mission to plant trees in her home state to combat the effects of climate change.

Luna’s Lemonade sources local farm-fresh ingredients. Customers are encouraged to plant their lemon seeds (using compost created for optimal growth) to grow their own trees.

Nate’s Chicks

Located in Madera Ranchos, California, Nate’s Chicks represents the future of sustainable farming. By using eco-friendly farming practices, Nate’s Chicks provides high-quality birds and eggs for its customers. They also partner with local restaurants to provide farm-to-table chickens.

Nate’s Chicks, a farm in California, specializes in producing top-notch, homegrown chicken meat and fresh eggs. Its products are free from GMOs, hormones, antibiotics, steroids, and are cage-free.

Owner Nathan Hutchinson believes in the “know your farmer, know your food” philosophy and is working diligently to build a farm that is eco-friendly, sustainable, and delicious.

Nate’s Chicks can be found at local farmer’s markets and fairs around the Madera Ranchos, California area.

Mia’s Treats Delight

Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Mia’s Treats Delight is a local and online bakery with a mission to give back to the community with its proceeds.

Mia’s Treats Delight is a local and online bakery that specializes in amazing cookies, brownies, and other baked goods.

The business sells at fairs, farmer’s markets, and online, but it hopes to invest in a food truck so it can take its cookies all over Missouri.

Owner Tamia Coleman-Hawkins is not only building her business, but also wants to empower other young entrepreneurs. And she wants to spread the message that small businesses should give back and dream bigger.

She commits a percentage of her earnings to combat homelessness.

What’s Next?

A huge congratulations to all our winners!

Over the next month, we will individually spotlight each business to tell you more about these amazing youth-owned small businesses and the kids/teen entrepreneurs behind them.

We will also keep readers posted on future grant opportunities.