Calling on Dan River Region youth for business ideas

Creativity, innovation and problem solving abide in the young people in the Dan River Region.

Yet, the average age of entrepreneurs developing new business concepts or ideas at the small business incubator is 47 years old, said President Linda Hutson Green of the Dan River Business Development Center.

So how can we motivate or encourage young people to become entrepreneurs?

For one, bring in a young person who blazed the trail — meaning made his first million bucks before finishing high school — to share his experiences and advice with local high school and college students.

Add a pizza party with local student bands or musicians and we have a free “Entrepreneurial Celebration.”

To top it off, have high school and college students compete for $500 and iPads.

That’s exactly what the business development center and the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce have planned from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research during Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Green hopes 600 young people from Danville and Pittsylvania and Caswell counties will come out to pick the brain of one of the most successful young entrepreneurs in the world — Roanoke native Cameron Johnson, president of Cameron Johnson Inc. and author of “You Call the Shots.”

Johnson started his first business at age 9. At age 12, he sold Beanie Babies to net $50,000. At age 15, he became an advisory board member of a Tokyo-based company and published his autobiography, which became a bestseller in Japan.

He founded and sold more than a dozen businesses and served as a consultant to several Fortune 500 companies.

Johnson also plans to speak at Nov. 17’s Career Day at the Institute, Green added.

“I hope to have (youth) consider entrepreneurship as a viable option for them … and beyond that, innovation — to start thinking about concepts and ideas on how to make the region better,” Green said.

The night will also recognize existing entrepreneurial training and efforts in local schools and colleges.

High schoolers and college students should submit business concepts or ideas to businessconcept@drbdc.com. The three top ideas will win an iPad. The best idea will get an additional $500 toward a business project or scholarship.

A college or school club can submit ideas on how to enhance profits to clubstrainentrepreneurs@drbdc.com to compete for a $500 cash prize.

Any student bands or musicians interested in performing for a $500 award, if selected, should send a YouTube clip or DVD of the music.

Aside from submitting ideas, students must register by e-mailing vvaden@drbdc.com or calling (434) 793-9100.

If you go

• Free “Entrepreneurial Celebration” with Cameron Johnson, self-made millionaire and author of “You Call the Shots”
• For high school and college students in Danville and Pittsylvania and Caswell counties
• Nov. 16 from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
• Pizza and entertainment
• For more info, call (434) 793-9100.