The Giverb Spotlight: A Buzz-Worthy Journey from Fear to Impact
Updated: Jul 30
The passion and potential of young minds never cease to amaze. One such instance is the extraordinary journey of Mikaila Ulmer, a young entrepreneur who turned her fear of bees into a thriving business that not only quenches thirst but also addresses a significant global issue. Let's dive into her story, as featured on our recent Giverb Spotlight.
Mikaila was just 4 years old when she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey, fueled by an unusual experience - being stung by two bees in the same week. This incident led to a fascination with bees and eventually laid the foundation for a unique business idea.
Instead of shying away from her fear, Mikaila dug deep into the world of bees.
Inspired by her great-grandmother Helen's cookbook, she combined a family lemonade recipe with honey, emphasizing the crucial role of bees in our ecosystem. The idea was simple yet impactful - sweeten lemonade with honey, sell it, and contribute towards saving bees. This was the birth of "Me & the Bees Lemonade", a venture she started with a single lemonade stand.
Mikaila's lemonade quickly gained attention, leading to an opportunity to bottle her product for store shelves. Notably, in 2015, she secured a $60,000 investment from "Shark Tank's" Damon John, propelling her business to new heights. Mikaila’s journey, however, was not just about building a successful business - it was about raising awareness on the critical role bees play in our environment and the threats they face due to habitat loss and pesticide use. Through her business, she helped educate people on this crucial issue, advocating that every bottle of lemonade sold helps save a bee.
Today, Mikaila, now 18, is an influential figure among young entrepreneurs. Her company has seen nationwide success, with her lemonade being sold at Whole Foods and Wegmans. But even with this success, Mikaila remains grounded. She still faces the challenges of being a young CEO - managing her business while also balancing the obligations of being a student and the desires of just being a teenager.
But the young businesswoman's ambitions extend beyond running a successful company. Mikaila recently launched a non-profit organization called the Healthy Hive Foundation to further her mission to save bees. Through the foundation, Mikaila is working to preserve bee environments, educate families about the importance of bees, and fund critical honeybee research.
As part of her initiatives, she even traveled to South Africa to educate girls about the importance of bees and how to help save them. The organization also encourages other young people to become entrepreneurs and follow their dreams.
Mikaila Ulmer's story is a testament to the power of experiential learning and the potential of young minds. From being afraid of bees to creating a business that protects them, her journey showcases how we at Giverb believe education should be - alive, exciting, and impactful.*
We hope Mikaila's journey inspires young learners to convert their fears into strengths, their dreams into actions, and their ideas into meaningful businesses. After all, like Mikaila says, when life stings you, make lemonade!*
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