Sheena Lindahl and Michael Simmons
Extreme Entrepreneurship Education Corporation
New York
www.extremee.org
Ages: 24
It's a love story with an enterprising twist. A student at NYU's Steinhardt School of Education studying communications, Sheena Lindahl had been self-sufficient since she was 17 and was putting herself through college. She met Michael Simmons, a business major at the university's Stern School of Business, who had started his first business at the age of 16, by chance at a nearby coffee shop. They started dating, and launched Extreme Entrepreneurship Education Corporation in their junior year with the goal of helping young people realize the value of pursuing entrepreneurship through education and outreach.
To clarify exactly what they wanted to communicate, Lindahl and Simmons spent months interviewing mentors, entrepreneurs, and other successful people, and assembled their findings into a book called "The Student Success Manifesto," which their company published in 2003. Speaking requests started pouring in. After graduating in 2005, the couple launched the Extreme Entrepreneur Tour, a series of speaking engagements at colleges around the country, where they bring along renowned young entrepreneurs to speak to students about pursuing their passion.
Corporate sponsors are starting to come along for the ride as well, including State Farm Insurance and Credit Suisse. Lindahl estimates 2006 revenues will be around $100,000, and though she won't get into details, says next year is looking even better.
Read the story
Reader comments
Special Report: Best Entrepreneurs Under 25