Curiosity, it is said, can lead to ground-breaking innovations. Considering that children are exemplars of continual curiosity, it is surprising that they have not played a bigger role in conceptualizing products for organizations. ‘By Kids For Kids Co.’ recognized this anomaly and created a business model that not only ensures sustainability by innovation but also maximizes the creative potential in children and helps them develop in multiple ways. Through involving an under-engaged population in the process of economic development the organization aims at ensuring creative thinking and self-reliance in the youth.
Innovation
By Kids For Kids has become the leading global marketing, branding, and licensing company dedicated to makings kids’ ideas a reality. True to its name, the products are for the use of children and are as diverse as a crayon holder to ‘kids’ guide to giving’ that guides kids through devoting their money and time to charities.
The organization supports and develops all kid-invented products with commercial potential by absorbing entire cost from early patent search to retail distribution. To channelize the creative potential of ‘young innovators’ the organization offers four different approaches: say it, build it, design it and change it. ‘Say It’ is about encouraging kids to verbalize their ideas. ‘Build It’ is a way kids can express their imagination by creating innovative prototypes of products. ‘Design It’ is specifically for creative youngsters with a flair for fashion. ‘Change It’ is for young experimenters who want to improve the world by changing it one step at a time. For each category, the organization holds regular competition and invites the budding geniuses to share their ideas. But By Kid For Kids approaches innovation as more than just holding competitions for children. It is what they call the ‘entrepreneurial finishing line’- an organized and commercial approach to researching, developing and marketing a kid’s raw invention idea.
Realizing the valuable role played by parents and teachers in nurturing the innovative spirit in the child, the company involves them in the whole process and provides resources and support that help them to mentor the youth.
By Kids For Kids also equips the kids to realize and actualize their knack for innovation by the ‘Inventive Thinking Toolkit’. Developed in association with the Rothschild Patent Model Museum and the United States Patent and Trademark Office it guides kids through the invention process. The Toolkit’s main goal is to develop and nurture the development of inventive thinking and problem solving skills. It provides educators, museum youth leaders, libraries and out of school programs, as well as families, with inspiration and assistance to engage and excite youth. Designed to be effectively used in classrooms and other forms, the toolkit not only is a primer for the nitty-gritty of developing, marketing and patenting products but also has techniques for idea generation and follow-up.
In addition to contributing ideas, through the company’s website and regular events the ‘young innovators’ can connect to other like minded children who are interested in ideation and innovation. The organization also runs competition through out the year to instigate creativity and out of box thinking in kids. The company does not charge the kids, parents or teachers for any of their services.
Impact
By Kids For Kids not only provides free support and educational resources to the children it enables entrepreneurial experience for children and supports the whole ideation to commercialization process. Participating kids cultivate valuable self-esteem, entrepreneurial skills and have the potential to earn significant royalties if their product resonates with other kids in the marketplace.
The organization’s success can be gauged by the fact that the States of Maryland, California, and Ohio Public Schools have adopted this prorgam . The program is being supported by the Mattel Company, Xerox Corporation and is being implemented internationally in thirty countries.
The organization has been awarded The Connecticut Economic Development Association and the Connecticut Economic Resource Center's "Eddy" Award for developing "Inventive Thinking" programs for Connecticut children. The program was also honored with a Congressional Award For Empowering Youth through Exemplary Public-Private Partnership. BKFK.com was voted as one of the Top 100 Educational Websites of 2007 at Homeschool.com. The company’s founder received the 2006 ET 3 Education Technology Think Tank TEC Champion Leadership Award during Congressional Black Caucus.
The myriad awards and continual positive press is a testimony of the organization’s commercial success while the large number of patents filed in the name of inventors as young as 6 years makes evident that the organization has beautifully solved a social issue through business acumen.
Inspiration
The company draws its inspiration from its mission to inspire, motivate and stimulate the innovative spirit within all kids. Based on the belief that inventive thinking is a critical skill in today’s time and age, the organization is dedicated toward helping kids excel in the global economy. The inspiration behind By Kids For Kids can be summarized in the founder’s words when he says, ‘My dream is to inspire, stimulate, and motivate children while they earn significant self-worth, personal recognition and financial gain, using their imagination and creative expression.’
The World Inquiry editorial team edited this profile from the original submission of the interviewer or other source. The views expressed do not necessarily represent Case Western Reserve University, the Weatherhead School of Management or the Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit. More >>
