Meet the Two 16-Year-Old Students Who Have Started Their Own Businesses

Harry and Jack are taking it to the moon 🚀

If you could complete your high school education and receive masterclasses on starting your own business at the same time, would you?

After all, a conventional education can only take you so far. And IDEA Academy knows that.

According to the After The ATAR II report, 68% of young people believe high school did not adequately prepare them for success in the ‘real world’.

Harry and Jack are students at IDEA Academy, a full-time program for young innovators, entrepreneurs and creatives that runs alongside WACE. At just 16 years old, they’ve launched their own businesses and found a passion for entrepreneurship that might not have been cultivated in any old typical classroom.

Student Edge caught up with them ahead of their presentations at the West Tech Fest Young Entrepreneur's Showcase on 6 December, where 25 WA high schools will be showcasing their best start-up teams.

Meet Jack, founder of Netic.

Jack’s business idea was a direct result of his life circumstances after moving to Perth last year from further down south.

“I lived down south most of my life and played cricket all my life,” Jack told us.

“Moving to Perth last October, I didn’t really know who or where to play for—it was a real struggle and ended up with me just stopping playing cricket as a whole.

“So, I had this idea—why isn’t there an app where you can link sports players together?”

Workshopping the idea at IDEA Academy, Jack refined what would come to be known as Netic.

“We’re a sport networking app, connecting teams and players. Instead of using Google or Facebook groups to find teams to play for, you can go on Netic and it’s all there for you.”

Netic recently placed third at the TechStars Startup Weekend, receiving positive feedback across the board. Being able to participate in the event was just one of the opportunities IDEA Academy provided Jack with.

“The amount of opportunities (IDEA Academy) give you is great,” Jack said. “They really, truly believe in your idea. They’ll give you networks for you to make something out of it.

When asked where he sees himself in ten years, Jack confirmed that he definitely wants to continue his path as an entrepreneur.

“Hopefully I’ll be a multi-millionaire living in Dubai!” He laughed.

Meet Harry, founder of One Click Cars.

Harry had no idea how to start a business this time last year.

“With normal school you rock up every day and it’s pretty much the same thing. But with IDEA…it feels like you’re actually learning real world skills. After a year, I’ve gone through the whole process (of starting a business),” he told us.

“One Click Cars is a service that allows people to find information and parts for their car and links them up with mechanics in the area. It allows them to ship the parts directly without having to do any research for themselves, or for the mechanics. Everyone gets a much cleaner experience.”

One Click Cars was recently sponsored by Capricorn Society Ltd to complete the Plus Eight Sprint, a pre-accelerator program in Perth.

“In ten years, if everything goes to plan,” Harry told us, “I’ll be running One Click Cars, helping everyone out with their cars, and making a bunch of money as well. But we’ll see how that goes. Fingers crossed.”

We’ve certainly got our fingers crossed for where the two boys are headed.

Visit the IDEA Academy website here, and while you’re at it, check out more of our articles on entrepreneurship.