Three High School Students Launch Successful Businesses While Balancing School and Academics

Square1, a Northern Kentucky–based nonprofit focused on empowering student entrepreneurs, is getting ready for our annual Innovation Summit on March 12th. This pitch competition gives local high school students the opportunity to share their innovations, learn from industry experts, and network with local professio

nals, all while competing for cash prizes. But for many of our students, the journey doesn’t end there. Since winning our X-Squared Pitch Competition, high schoolers Brooke Sweene (9th grade), Youssef Elkhalili (12th grade), and Tommy Wall (12th grade) have each launched and grown their own ventures, proving that successful entrepreneurship isn’t limited by age.

 

Student Spotlight #1: Brooke (Oats Elevated)

Brooke Sweeney, a 14-year-old freshman at Notre Dame Academy in Park Hills, Kentucky, founded Oats Elevated after noticing that many “healthy” breakfast options were filled with artificial ingredients, seed oils, and excess sugar.

Oats Elevated specializes in clean, high-protein overnight oats made with simple organic ingredients and premium Momentous® whey, delivering 18 grams of protein per serving without compromising taste. Since launching in May 2025, the company has generated over $7,000 in revenue, sold more than 1,300 packets, and achieved a 57% gross margin while maintaining strict ingredient and cost standards.

Customer satisfaction has been especially encouraging. Nearly 30% of non-event customers have reordered, and repeat customers average nearly four orders each. Up to 60% of non-event revenue has come from returning buyers, signaling strong early product-market fit.

“What inspired me to start was realizing I didn’t want to choose between something that tasted good and something that was actually good for you,” Brooke reflects. “I wanted to create a breakfast that felt elevated: clean ingredients, strong nutrition, and flavors people genuinely crave.”

Balancing school and entrepreneurship has required discipline and focus. “Time management has been my biggest challenge,” she adds. “But building something real has made me more organized and more confident.” Brooke also plays lacrosse, adding practices and games to an already full schedule. “Starting lacrosse season means my time is even more structured,” she says. “I plan my weeks in advance so school, sports, and the business all stay a priority. Athletics actually helps me stay disciplined and focused.”

Brooke credits mentors, pitch competitions, and the local entrepreneurial community for accelerating her growth. “Opportunities like Square1 events have pushed me to think bigger and present with confidence. The feedback and exposure have helped me refine both the product and the business model.”

After graduation, Brooke plans to pursue higher education in business while continuing to grow Oats Elevated into a scalable consumer brand. “I don’t see entrepreneurship as something you wait to start after college. I’m building real-world experience now, and I plan to keep growing the company while continuing my education.” Oats Elevated is currently sold at farmers’ markets, fitness studio pop-ups, and online at OatsElevated.com, but Brooke plans to expand to include retail partnerships while strengthening subscription growth, launching new seasonal flavors, and scaling production while preserving product quality and margins.

Her message to other students?

“You don’t need permission or the perfect plan to begin. If you see a problem and care enough to solve it, start small and improve as you go.”

 

Student Spotlight #2: Youssef (Akhi) 

Growing up Arab-American, Youssef Elkhalili’s entrepreneurship journey began with a personal disconnect caused by the lack of brands that reflected both his cultural identity and modern lifestyle. What started as a desire to feel represented turned into a passion for building and self-improvement.

His company, Akhi, is a modern fragrance brand specializing in high quality, alcohol-free fragrance oils. Products bridge the gap between Arab culture and western values, incorporating scents like vanilla, jasmine, amber, and saffron. Akhi has already launched their first hero product “SAMAR” and have started shipping out orders in the Midwest.

“I realized there was a need for an Arab cultural house that focused on quality and identity, something that makes people feel confident without overpaying for a name,” said Youssef. He continues, “One of the biggest lessons learned has been discipline and resilience. Balancing school, content creation, product development, order fulfillment and work to bootstrapping the business required me to embark on a self-improvement journey, becoming 1% better than the founder I was yesterday. Every sale, every pitch, every rejection has made me a sharper and better founder. The biggest return on investment hasn’t been revenue; it’s been who I’ve become in the process.”

Youssef’s days can be extremely busy managing his various responsibilities. “A typical day for me looks like school during the day, work from 4:00 till about 10:00 p.m., and then building Akhi at night. That might mean fulfilling orders, creating content or refining strategies.I’ve learned that if you stay disciplined, you can build while still being a student.” In addition, Yousseff also supports other students through his participation in entrepreneurial programs including Square1 NEXT and Business Professionals of America.

After graduation, Youssef plans to focus on Akhi full-time, scaling it into a national presence and building a multi product ecosystem for all consumers to enjoy a rich culture. His goal is to turn Akhi into a household name in the fragrance industry while continuing to launch future ventures. According to him, “My vision is to build Akhi into more than just a fragrance company. I want it to be a brand that represents confidence, culture and brotherhood.” Youssef plans to continue 

His advice to fellow students?

“Don’t wait for permission, if you have an idea, start building. You’ll learn more from taking action than from sitting on the sidelines. The earlier you start, the further you’ll go and stop worrying about failing, failing isn’t embarrassing staying comfortable is. If you’re scared to try because of what people might think you will never be able to grow but if you are willing to risk being uncomfortable that’s where the magic happens.”

 

Student Spotlight #3: Tommy (AdmitOdds)

At age 17, Tommy Wall has already founded and owns AdmitOdds, a business specializing in AI-powered college admissions consulting that gives students honest assessments of their chances at over 500 universities.

Launched in 2025, the company has grown to over 150 users with paying subscribers, and is targeting $10K in monthly recurring revenue. “I started this business because I saw how stressful and opaque the college admissions process is,” Tommy explains. “Students deserve honest, data-driven answers about where they stand, not vague reassurances.”

Like many entrepreneurs, Tommy has faced challenges, including building the entire technical platform from scratch as a solo founder while simultaneously applying to colleges himself. “I’ve been building businesses since I was 14,” he says. “The one thing every single one taught me is that the first version is never the last one, you just have to keep shipping.”

Tommy also cites his experience with sports as helping him build the skills he needs to succeed as an entrepreneur. He is a four-year member of the St. Xavier football team. “The discipline I got from football is the reason AdmitOdds exists,” he explains. “You learn to show up every single day whether you feel like it or not, and that’s 90% of building a company.” Tommy is also a Career ConneXtions Student Leader, Phonathon Senior Chairman, Entrepreneurship Club member, community service volunteer, and a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, helping raise over $40,000.

After graduation, Tommy plans to attend Miami University’s Farmer School of Business, majoring in Finance and Entrepreneurship, while continuing to grow AdmitOdds full-time alongside his studies. “I’m not choosing between school and business, I’m doing both,” he elaborates. “College is where I sharpen the skills, and AdmitOdds is where I apply them in real time.” Currently, Tommy is working on scaling AdmitOdds through SEO optimization, influencer partnerships, and TikTok/Instagram content creation, while expanding platform features like Common App PDF parsing, essay scoring tools, and scholarship estimates.

His advice?

“Don’t wait until you have a degree or permission to start. I launched my first business at 14 with a pressure washer. The best time to start is before you feel ready.”

 

About Our Entrepreneurs

Brooke Sweeney: Brooke placed 1st in Division 2 of the X-Squared Pitch Competition and was elected to student council during her freshman year at Notre Dame Academy. She was recognized as Freshman of the First Quarter for her work ethic and leadership, reflecting the same discipline she brings to building Oats Elevated (oatselevated.com). Outside the classroom, Brooke has played competitive lacrosse for the past four years and continues to balance athletics with entrepreneurship.

Youssef Elkhalili: Youssef placed 2nd at the D1 level of the X-Squared Pitch Competition, winning $1,000 for Akhi and advancing against some of the region’s strongest student entrepreneurs. Supporters can explore the collection and order directly at forakhis.com, helping back a student-founded brand built through discipline, vision, and entrepreneurial drive.

Tommy Wall: Tommy placed 3rd in the D1 division of the X-Squared Pitch Competition, has been on the Honor Roll for all 4 years, helped raise over $40,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, volunteered as a tutor at Winton Hills Academy, participated in home construction in Belize, and runs his business at admitodds.com.