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Photo courtesy: Mikaila Ulmer

Austin Native Mikaila Ulmer Starts Inspiring Lemonade Company

Kara Killeen

March 7, 2024

Neighborhood pop-up lemonade stands offering the taste of a cold refreshment during the hot months of summer have come to be known as an iconic representation of the American pastime. The sight of children tirelessly hand-squeezing lemons into glass mason jars while dumping copious amounts of sugar into the liquid gold has inspired others to work hard for their aspirations as well. On National Lemonade Day in February 2020, Mikaila Ulmer, the founder and C.E.O. of Me & the Bees, spoke on behalf of the young entrepreneurs. Without hesitation, Ulmer supported the Lemonade Stand Bill, which would allow young entrepreneurs to innovate and find their passions through the creation of lemonade. Ulmer’s decision to support the Lemonade Stand Bill came as no surprise since she was once the child standing behind a lemonade stand, dreaming with her eyes wide open. At four years old, Ulmer desperately desired for her parents to buy her a new toy. Since Mikaila Ulmer’s parents wanted to teach her the importance of hard work and independence, they presented her with two options: either earn the money herself or do her share of household chores. Tired of completing monotonous chores, Ulmer was determined to start her own lemonade stand. Around the time Ulmer was launching her lemonade stand, she experienced two painful bee stings, with one on her neck and the other reaching her ear. After these experiences, Ulmer was afraid of outdoor activities and anything that flew. She grew to believe that bees would sting her every time she was in nature. Thus, she refused to play with her little brother, Jacob, and no longer tended to their garden with her father. Instead of allowing nature to scare her, Ulmer’s parents encouraged her to research bee populations rather than run away from them.She found the answer to her fear of bees in the Twin Oaks Branch Library’s picture book section, where a video about bee pollination with “Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov was running in the background. From her research, Ulmer gathered that she wouldn’t be able to eat her favorite things, such as strawberries or milk, without bees since bees pollinate plants like alfalfa, which help nourish cows that produce milk. She also learned that these pollinators were dying at alarming rates due to climate change and insecticide usage. It was at this moment that Ulmer decided she wanted to help save the bees. She “knew that to have a good product, it had to be unique,” so she decided to use her Great Granny Helen’s 1940s recipe for flaxseed lemonade and sweeten it with honey made by the bees. Little did four-year-old Ulmer know that her singular lemonade stand would eventually transform into a national business called Me & the Bees, which currently sells lemonade in over 6,000 stores across 50 different states. Mikaila Ulmer’s success would never have occurred if she believed the false notion that there is a specific gender, race, or age that is best for starting a company. Instead of allowing others' opinions to bring her down, Ulmer followed her ambitions and resolved to seize every opportunity that arose to expand her company. Her marketing at such a young age was, as she says, just being “confident enough to go up to people even though they might say no.” One year she participated in Austin Lemonade Day; the next year she advertised at the Acton Children’s Business Fair; and the following year she sold in front of different businesses that local Trinity parents owned. When the owner of a local pizza place offered to sell her beverage if she could bottle it, she immediately jumped on the idea. Theo Ulmer, her father, supported Ulmer’s drive and stopped at Thom’s Market to encourage the manager to educate Ulmer on the food business. More specifically, he wanted his daughter to learn about how logos, packaging, flavors, and prices are marketed to the average consumer. Eventually, she received a producer loan from Whole Foods Market to package her lemonade and distribute it to Austin-based stores. With her new bottled product, her business began to prosper. Eventually, she was able to trademark her logo and produce the lemonade in a commercial kitchen, which helped to develop her brand.Mikaila Ulmer states how the people investing in her company were those “who [saw] what [she] was doing with Me & the Bees and were interested in either collaborating or sharing [her] story.” Her early-stage marketing was based on those “who liked the story enough to share it.”The leader of the local Black Chamber of Commerce supported Ulmer’s advocacy for social entrepreneurship and recommended she audition for the TV series Shark Tank. While Ulmer may have been one of the youngest people ever to pitch her business on Shark Tank, she had already mastered the art of pitching a story, which most grown-ups never learn how to do. At just nine years old, Mikaila Ulmer’s ambition allowed her to win a $60,000 investment from Daymond John on Shark Tank. Participating in the TV series was “an immeasurable form of national publicity, and then after that, marketing happened naturally,” Ulmer recalled. With a growing business inspired by “environmentalism, a family heirloom recipe, and a spark of entrepreneurship that was born out of Austin’s support for entrepreneurs,” Ulmer wanted to “make lemonade that tastes good and does good.” Therefore, in 2016, Ulmer established the Healthy Hive Foundation to promote the conservation of bees through research, education, and advocacy. Consequently, Ulmer has vowed to donate a portion of her net profits to protect and support bee populations, which helped her start her business. Ulmer’s classic lemonade, which is low in sugar, has since expanded to various flavors, including classic, black cherry, mint, and prickly pear, with more on the way. Her current favorite flavor is prickly pear. Most people don’t know that the pads of cacti located all across Texas’ plains are actually called prickly pears. These cacti require bat pollination to reproduce. Therefore, Ulmer thought to herself that since it's prominent in Texas, “it's pollinated, it tastes really good, and it looks bright,” then it could be a twist on “pink lemonade.” Creativity and fun have led Ulmer to her current college, Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia. When people question her decision to go to college and not solely focus on her business, she often responds that she hopes to “be someone who can invest in or incubate businesses. I realized that all throughout school, the subjects that I was learning were directly helping me run my business.” Before introducing President Barack Obama at the United States of Women summit workshop at the White House, Ulmer had to recall lessons from her English class about grammar to construct the speech. Her fifth-grade math teacher sat in a coffee shop, teaching her percentages with flashcards to allow her to better understand her business. Even understanding the complexities of science helped her formulate her product. Today, she is studying economics and international studies to learn about small businesses, women-owned businesses, and social-focused businesses in other countries, with a focus on currently industrializing economies.One of the biggest challenges throughout Ulmer’s life has been “being a student and having a double life as a business owner.” To balance her school activities with her entrepreneurial needs, she has learned to only do the things that she believes are beneficial. She has found comfort in rock climbing as a way to enjoy time with friends from St. Stephen’s, exploring nature, and performing physical activities. Besides rock climbing, Ulmer has learned American Sign Language since Austin has a fairly large community of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, and she wants to be able to openly have a conversation with everyone. These activities, among others, weren’t fillers in Ulmer's free time. She “wasn’t just doing them to do them.” Instead, she was pursuing her hobbies while also considering how they might help her professional advancement.If four-year-old Ulmer could have seen her accomplishments today, she would be amazed to discover that, at 13 years old, she was named one of Time’s Most Influential Teens; in high school, she developed a national brand; and her lemonade is currently bottled and sold in stores such as Whole Foods, The Fresh Market, and H.E.B. As an adult, Ulmer believes her brand continues to meet all of her dreams and aspirations for the company. She is proud to be a successful narrative for a young black female entrepreneur with a conscious and thriving business that does good for others and the environment. If you are afraid to take the first steps in initiating your own business due to outside criticism, Mikaila Ulmer encourages you to remember that “growing a business takes time, but there's no age that’s too young to start. If you have an idea for a business or organization, a movement, or even a school club, start it now! You don’t know where it could end up in the future.”

High School Entrepreneurs Get Innovative Early

Ava Barnard

March 7, 2024

Step into high school hallways, where a new generation of entrepreneurs is making waves. These four innovators, juggling academics & entrepreneurial endeavors, are reshaping and revisioning the business landscape. From sustainable fashion to electric landscaping to capturing the perfect shot in sports on film, these high school entrepreneurs are individually getting creative while sharing their advice, passions, and challenges.

Tarrytown Turf

Founders: Walter Richard + Samuel Crowson

Website: https://www.tarrytownturf.com/

Seniors Samuel Crowson and Walter Richard's journey into entrepreneurship began with a hike on the Greenbelt during their sophomore year. Inspired by the harsh loud sounds of landscaping tools in the background, they envisioned a business centered around electric landscaping. A week later, the team designed their logo, marking the start of their venture into electric landscaping. Following their initial business idea, Richard and Crowson shifted their focus to identifying the issue of excessive water waste in lawn maintenance. This was the beginning of Tarrytown Turf.

Tarrytown Turf focuses on water-efficient landscaping while incorporating elements of sustainability. By offering services such as mulching, rock installation, and carbon capture through plants, they aim to transform traditional landscaping practices.

With their 35 five-star reviews, Crowson and Richard find themselves well liked by their customers, and while it took many failures to get to the successes they have now, they learned valuable lessons along the way and the importance of “being a sponge at a young age,” says Crowson. These two aren't merely counting stars; they're focused on creating connections with each satisfied customer with hopes that one day their idea extends beyond their local community, aspiring to share low-maintenance landscaping practices with other cities. They stress the significance of asking questions, embracing failures as part of the learning process, and recognizing opportunities in every challenge.

Juggling both academic and entrepreneurial goals, this duo strategizes by holding business meetings during free periods, having brainstorm sessions before school, and dedicating most weekends to nurturing their turf business. Crowson confesses that, “When I am bored in class I daydream about how to make our business better.”

Roman Reverie

Founder: Laila Antonini

Website: romanreverie.com

Inspired by her hardworking mom's success in the jewelry business and her two artistic grandmas, Junior Laila Antonini sought to create something entirely new. Her Latin language inspired apparel swiftly became a sensation, selling out in only 20 minutes at a Latin convention due to its unique appeal.

When it comes to sourcing materials for her jewelry and clothing creations, she prioritizes sustainability, choosing to create everything herself to make sure she's transparent in her production process. As for marketing, she recognizes the importance of having a consistent posting schedule, and connecting with enthusiasts at Latin conventions to expand her brand.

While challenges have arisen like technical glitches in her machines and occasional overheating from intricate sewing patterns, she navigated these obstacles with resilience, showcasing that every stitch and design is made with hard work and time commitment.

Antonini crafts trendy hoodies, crewnecks, and jewelry, infusing them with inspiring Latin phrases like "Love Conquers All" and "Petrify the Patriarchy." Her designs also carry messages of resilience and hope, as seen in phrases like "To the stars through difficulty" and "While I breathe, I hope.”

With Latin conventions and community engagement, Antonini doesn't just see events as opportunities for promotion but as spaces to sell and connect with people who share her same enthusiasm. She builds relationships while also fostering a community around her brand. Antonini’s business isn't just about crafting beautiful pieces, it's about incorporating both her love for Latin and art into fashion.

Freelance Videography

Founder: Ben Stapleton

Insta: benjs.mp4

Senior Ben Stapleton discovered his passion for sports and filmmaking during his sophomore year. His love for sports documentaries led him to start capturing moments in sports events, later expanding to filming basketball games and creating documentaries.

While the St. Andrew’s filmmaking program provided insights, Stapleton largely self-taught by watching YouTube tutorials and practicing creating films. Later into the process, athletes began reaching out, inviting Stapleton to document their games after stumbling upon his impressive work on social media. Stapleton strategically collaborates with athletes, engaging in both voluntary and paid partnerships. Offering free videos not only supports athletes but also amplifies his personal brand, gaining exposure, likes, and comments from a wider audience.

Stapleton not only enjoys sports but also loves making short films for free. His passion for acting and the arts shines through as he brings stories to life on screen. Whether on the field or behind the camera, Stapleton embraces a diverse range of film interests and skills.

Stapleton advises that those aspiring to be sports videographers should record extensively, acquire editing skills, and share their work on social media, even if they have doubts about its quality. He also expresses gratitude to his mom for buying him a camera, noting that he can now "change the camera lenses with my eyes closed."

Photos Courtesy of: Walter Richard, Samuel Crowson, Laila Antonini, Ben Stapleton

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