Windermere teen launches business nonprofit

In seventh grade, Windermere Prep’s Gustavo Campos decided to start a marketing agency named Malbian Digital to craft ads for businesses. 

He wasn’t able to attain any opportunities or reach clients through the agency as he only marketed himself on Instagram for five days before realizing it wasn’t going to work out. 

I’m in seventh grade; what do I know about marketing?Campos thought to himself. 

Before then, Campos had a lemonade stand for some time and even sold drawings in his neighborhood — although he admits he is not a good artist. 

He said he realized he was doing these ventures for the money and had no real experience in marketing or entrepreneurship. 

“After many failed businesses … I noticed that I had a love for (it) but that I didn’t really know what I was doing,” Campos said. “And a lot of other kids (who) were also trying to do the same thing also didn’t know what they were doing.” 

After seeing school programs dedicated to career fields such as medical and engineering, Campos hoped to find a similar program for entrepreneurs.

But that didn’t exist.

“So I sat down with my parents and I was brainstorming,” he said. “I like business, and I’ve done volunteering almost my whole life. I like helping people. How can I connect those two passions?’” 

After hours of brainstorming, Campos, now 16 years old, has started BizBuild, a nonprofit designed to help individuals like him. BizBuild aims to help children and teens learn fundamental skills to become entrepreneurs. 

Building opportunities

BizBuild offers two programs: BizLeague and BizLab. 

BizLeague is a collaborative competition emphasizing competition, creativity and strategy through case studies created by partnered-companies and BizBuild. 

To participate in the program, students can start a chapter with a minimum of four members at their schools, apply to the case study program online and get started on that month’s case study. 

“We partner with real companies — most of them in the Orlando area — and they tell us their biggest pain points (are) that they’d like a youth perspective.”

So far, BizBuild has more than 450 active students in schools such as Foundation Academy, The First Academy, Horizon High School, Windermere Preparatory School and Lake Highland Preparatory School.

The first case study is in partnership with Woof Gang Bakery, a specialty retailer of exclusive gourmet treats, pet food and supplies.

Teams will have a month to design a solution for the company on how it can increase grooming appointments made online versus over the phone. 

New case studies come out monthly, giving participating teams a month to come up with solutions to the issues presented to them. 

The team that wins the case study will meet the CEO of the company.

The other program, BizLab, is a business mentorship program that allows students to practice critical thinking, creativity and resilience as they pitch projects and receive feedback from their mentors, who are chosen through LinkedIn or through family relations. 

BizBuild also offers service initiatives such as distributing “Kobe’s Lemonade Adventure,” an intro-to-finance book for children, written by Campos and his friend, Jaiden Patel. 

“The book tells the story of a boy who opens his own lemonade stand, similar to what I did in the past,” Campos said. “It teaches the fundamental concepts of entrepreneurship through it. We have things like teamwork, supply and demand, marketing — all those things.”

More than 200 people attended a recent book-signing event for Campos and Patel’s book. There the boys were able to raise more than $5,000 to be able to pay for the printing of the books that are then distributed through the Orange County Public Schools Foundation to underserved areas and corporate partners. 

Digitally, the book has been distributed to more than 90,000 people. 

“We’re actively seeking corporate partners to distribute these books,” Campos said. “Through the books that have already been distributed, the kids seem to like it. They can’t get their noses out of the pages.” 

Sustained through donations, Campos hopes BizBuild is able to expand and offer workshops, presentations and fairs, where children and teens are able to learn about the business industry. 

“I hope to reach double the reach in the next two years, so 180,000 people,” Campos said. “If there’s any young person reading this paper, I just urge them to take the life lesson that I’m trying to preach with BizBuild and always help the next person, and honestly, really highlight that you are who you help.” 

Campos hopes to leave a legacy with his nonprofit.

“The world is full of conflict around it, and everybody wants to undermine another person,” Campos said. “In a world full of that, if I can help one person, it already makes all the difference.” 

To learn more or make a donation, visit bizbuild.org