Organization Builds Young Entrepreneurs

Dec. 21 - KGO (KGO) -- Silicon Valley may lead the world in innovation, but there are many students who struggle to get through school. For some, it's simply a matter of getting them to believe in their dreams.

Gilberto Soria is the CEO of his own company. The 16-year-old entrepreneur started his business with three other students from East Palo Alto High School.

Gilberto Soria, High School Entrepreneur: "They wanted lotion and I wanted soap - so we combined the idea to hand lotion."

The result is a moisturizer stick called 'Rico N' Suave'.

Laura Monje, High School Entrepreneur: "One of our phrases is, put it anywhere, take it everywhere - because it's very compact."

The product came to life at a unique business incubator for youth called Build. With offices in Menlo Park and Oakland, the program promotes learning and higher education in communities where income levels are low and drop out rates are high.

Suzanne McKechnie Klahr, Build Founder: "They might not be excited about math, but they are very excited about making money. They might not be excited about a word document, but writing a business plan for their product is exciting."

Suzanne McKechnie Klahr started Build in East Palo Alto with four students in 1999. Today the program serves more than 300 students at eight Bay Area schools.

These freshmen at Sequoia High School are taking the Build course as an elective. After creating a business and marketing plan, each team or company is creating a line of candles.

John Lund, Build student: "It costs to make your business, how much your going to get back, and how much you need to break even and stuff like that."

Desiree Tucker, Build student: "I want to go to a fashion college because I really like to design."

Carlos Romero, Build student: "I want to make my product and send it around the world."

For Build, sparking entrepreneurial goals is really just a means to an end. Build judges its success on whether students go onto college. So far, all of the graduates of it's four year program have been accepted to college and the only one not attending is serving our country in the military. Students must work hard to stay with the program and the rewards include volunteer mentors from the business community, competitions and even financial backing for budding business plans.

Jean Kovacs is a Build board member and CEO of Comergent Technologies.

Jean Kovacs, Comergent Technologies CEO: "We really feel like we have something special here that works with these kids and we want to make it as widespread as we possibly can - we want to go nationwide."

Build's innovative approach to education is funded through corporations, foundations and individuals. The result is a program that's building confidence and instilling a desire to learn and succeed.

Gilberto Soria: "Build has taught me leadership, perseverance, initiative."

Gilberto and his company say they've sold nearly a thousand lotion sticks. Gilberto is also on track to become the first member of his family to go to college.

If you want to find out more about Build or learn how to become a mentor please go to www.build.org

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