Young entrepreneurs had the opportunity to showcase their businesses Saturday during the Innovators of Tomorrow Expo on the campus of Quincy University.
The event, hosted by the Two Rivers Regional Council and Miss Quincy’s Teen Olivia Martinez, featured five young entrepreneurs displaying their businesses to attendees.
The businesses ranged from cleaning services and lemon shake-up stands to scented candle makers.
In addition to promoting their businesses, the event gave participants the opportunity to make real-world connections.
“That’s why I started my initiative, was to be able to get the teens and young adults to start younger,” Martinez said. “So they weren’t in their older 30s trying to find this passion, they were able to start now. And meanwhile, these teens still work full-time or part-time jobs while running their businesses. So we have to take that into consideration of just how hard-working this generation truly is.”
The expo was part of Martinez’s community service initiative.
She said she hopes more events like this will give young people opportunities to showcase their talents.