INSIDE OUR SCHOOLS
Speaker Yu-Han Chang gives his talk “Why Entrepreneurship?” (Photo – Brett Chang)
Over 50 students gathered on Saturday, April 19, for the inaugural Entrepreneurship Launchpad workshop—an event designed to give aspiring young entrepreneurs hands-on experience in transforming their ideas into real businesses.
By News Desk
Hosted by the SPHS Entrepreneurship Club, the workshop provided students with the tools, mentorship, and inspiration needed to turn their passions into impactful ventures.
The event attracted students from across Los Angeles, including those from Carson, Claremont, San Marino, La Canada, Alhambra, and Temple City, as well as a strong contingent from South Pasadena High School (SPHS) and South Pasadena Middle School (SPMS). Throughout the day, students heard from successful entrepreneurs and startup founders, including Jason Simon, Spencer Wilson, Aaron Bai, and Yu-Han Chang, who shared their insights on the challenges and rewards of building a business.
The Entrepreneurship Launchpad program, which goes beyond theoretical learning, was conceived to give students real-world experience in running businesses. Alexa Chang, General Chair of the program, explained the driving force behind the initiative. “I felt like a lot of my friends and peers saw entrepreneurship as just being about chasing money. But for me, entrepreneurship is about exploring the things you really care about,” she said. “It’s a way to turn your passions into impact.”
The Entrepreneurship Launchpad program goes beyond traditional classroom learning by offering real-world business experience. Alexa Chang, General Chair of the program, explained its core mission: “Many of my peers think entrepreneurship is all about chasing money. But for me, it’s about turning your passions into something meaningful. It’s about creating impact.”
Eileen Chen and Pierrette Chen pitch their idea as Audrey Zheng moderates (Photo – Brett Chang)
The day kicked off with a panel discussion on youth entrepreneurship, featuring Simon and Wilson, who both started businesses while still in school. Simon, who launched his first venture at age 11, and Wilson, who emphasized leveraging passion to build a network, agreed that the key to entrepreneurial success lies in personal interests and strengths. “People are generally more willing to help a kid,” Wilson noted, encouraging students to focus on areas they’re genuinely passionate about.
Aaron Bai, a successful fintech entrepreneur who dropped out of Berkeley at 16 to pursue business, captivated the group with his story. Despite initial setbacks, Bai’s determination led to the creation of Affiniti, a multi-million-dollar fintech company. “Failure isn’t the end—it’s a step toward success,” Bai reflected on the importance of resilience and pivoting when things don’t go as planned.
Yu-Han Chang, co-founder of sports tech company Second Spectrum, wrapped up the session with a talk about pursuing projects that resonate with personal interests. Every business starts small. The key is to make a few customers incredibly happy, Chang explained, drawing on his experience working with major sports leagues like the NBA and NFL.
Following the talks, students split into smaller groups to brainstorm their own startup ideas, applying the lessons they had just learned. With guidance from mentors—including Barbara Kalmus, Gene Chuang, Grace Mase, La-Toya Williamson, and Tracey Ho—they worked on refining their ideas, discussing topics like product-market fit, competition, and niche targeting.
As the day wrapped up, the enegry was palpable. “We’re humbled by the amazing turnout and support from the startup community in LA,” said Audrey Zheng, Finance Chair of the Entrepreneurship Launchpad program. “We’re looking forward to our next two workshops, the latter of which will include a pitch competition. We’re also gearing up for our Summer Program, where students will receive mentorship and support to help launch their businesses in the local community.”
The next Entrepreneurship Launchpad workshop will take place on Saturday, April 26th, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. It will feature more guest speakers and provide further mentorship to help students develop their ideas into actionable business plans. More information and registration details can be found at elaunchpad.org.
Alexa Chang welcomes participants (Photo – Brett Chang)
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