In April, Hunter Williams ‘22 learned that six months of hard work was all worth it. As a member of the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), Williams spent hundreds of hours brainstorming and researching an idea, writing a business plan, learning about various aspects of business, and hearing from other successful entrepreneurs. In the end, Williams’ business, Brushed, was chosen by a panel of Manhattan Beach business leaders as the winner of the Saunders Award, the competition’s highest honor.
The accolades, however, did not end there. Williams also qualified for the Saunders Scholars National Competition held on June 26 where he was one of 20 young entrepreneurs from across the United States and India competing for the title of America’s Next Top Entrepreneur. Although he did not win, Williams was one of six teenagers to advance to the finals of the competition.
Brushed is an online marketplace for the "wave" hairstyle and aims to be an “everything store” for hair care products - including brushes, pomades, oils and nightwear - that cater to that style. Williams’ motivation for the business was two-fold. “My inspiration for the company was my love for haircare as well as the lack of options and variety when it came to my hairstyle,” he says. In all, Williams competed against 16 students who all pitched their ideas to a group of investors, Shark Tank-style, for real money to start their businesses. With his winnings, Williams plans to launch his app and website.
During the pitch in the local competition, Williams was given four minutes to outline his idea, marketing plans, and financing strategy. It was certainly a stressful moment, but Williams was prepared. He credits part of his success to both his English and Math classes at Bishop. “Every English class has aided me in creating a thorough and understandable business plan,” he says. “My Algebra classes also helped me arrange and predict numbers for sales projections.”
When asked what he learned the most throughout the entire process, Williams remarked that learning some of the ins and outs of business helped him prepare to run the company. What he learned about himself, however, was even more valuable. “While starting my business, I began trusting myself and understanding that my intuition was my most important tool for making decisions,” he says.
In addition to launching an app and a website, the next step Williams envisions for Brushed is to develop a line of products for women and continue to educate others while building his community and his brand. You can find Brushed on Instagram @brushedlive.