What did you accomplish by age 21? Maybe you went to college? Took a trip? Juliette Brindak created a website worth $21 million. College News reports that the Washington University of St. Louis student was just 10 years old when she came up with the idea for Miss O and Friends, a website “for girls, by girls” where kids can write stories, create “funky” art, compare experiences and talk about movies and music.
Miss O and Friends launched in 2004, with the artwork licensed on consumer products and the site aimed at girls 8 to 12 of all ethnic groups. In 2008, Proctor and Gamble invested in Juliette’s venture, and the company was estimated to be worth $15 million. In 2010, the site is regularly visited in in more than 15,000 elementary school classrooms. Miss O and Friends has even been turned into a book series by Scholastic. Maybe it’s not as sexy as The Social Network, but it’s still pretty cool.
According to GreenwichTime.com, Juliette is now the chief executive of her company, which employs 20 people (including her dad). But the journey isn’t over; Miss O and Friends has has moved to an advertising platform and hopes to increase visitors to its site. ”We want to get monthly uniques (visitors) to a million,” Juliette said. “That’s the magic number.”
Juliette may be young, but she can hold her own in front of older businesspeople. “I used to be nervous,” she said. “I get really intimidated when I present in front of my peers. When I do it in front of older people it’s not as intimidating. (You get) a surge of adrenaline when you present in front of big chief executives. It’s like, `Wow they’re actually taking the time to listen to what I have to say.’ It’s a really great feeling.”
Most young millionaires are heirs to family fortunes – congrats to Juliette for making her own empire!
