Founder, WeThrive, an entrepreneurship program for middle school children
“Each one reach one; Each one teach one” is the phrase that comes to mind with today’s feature Daquan Oliver. A New York native Oliver founded the not-for-profit organization WeThrive, which pairs middle-school from under-resourced communities and college students together to create their own businesses with seed money. The college students mentor the younger students to turn their business idea into revenue-generating endeavors with a strong focus on teaching public speaking and financial literacy. All profits made from the business after one year are then donated to a local charity.
The idea is similar to a course offered at Babson College, the number one college for entrepreneurship in the world where Oliver earned his Bachelor’s degree in Arts/Science. The college’s course in entrepreneurship offers course also pairs its students with a mentor and provides $3000 in startup funds from them to begin a company or venture. Proceeds from these business are also donated to local charities.
Oliver has been named to other prestigious lists such as Forbes’ 30 under 30 – Social Entrepreneurs, the Boston Globe’s 21 Fresh Faces, and one of the Clinton Foundation’s Black Student Leaders to Watch. Check out his letter from Bill Clinton above!
Photos courtesy of Forbes.com & Daquan Oliver