Press "Enter" to skip to content

How I Started a Startup & Ended Up Learning Life Lessons From Teens | Yifat Yudovsky | TEDxWhiteCity


it was about three years ago I remember

it was about three years ago I remember there was a big storm outside lots of

there was a big storm outside lots of

there was a big storm outside lots of rain and thunder I was sitting at a

rain and thunder I was sitting at a

rain and thunder I was sitting at a first advisory board meeting in this

first advisory board meeting in this

first advisory board meeting in this beautifully design building at Tel Aviv

beautifully design building at Tel Aviv

beautifully design building at Tel Aviv University holding a cup of hot tea we

University holding a cup of hot tea we

University holding a cup of hot tea we were talking about how to develop an app

were talking about how to develop an app

were talking about how to develop an app that will be best suited for teenagers

that will be best suited for teenagers

that will be best suited for teenagers and pretty soon I far must have seen my

and pretty soon I far must have seen my

and pretty soon I far must have seen my fears with our board members are we

fears with our board members are we

fears with our board members are we really able to do this how we really

really able to do this how we really

really able to do this how we really know how to do this it i sat in front of

know how to do this it i sat in front of

know how to do this it i sat in front of me looked at me with a straight face

me looked at me with a straight face

me looked at me with a straight face then he put his hand on my shoulder just

then he put his hand on my shoulder just

then he put his hand on my shoulder just to make sure he has my full attention

to make sure he has my full attention

to make sure he has my full attention and said you know whenever I have an

and said you know whenever I have an

and said you know whenever I have an idea for a new app I try to do

idea for a new app I try to do

idea for a new app I try to do everything to dive into it I learn

everything to dive into it I learn

everything to dive into it I learn everything I can i upload it to the App

everything I can i upload it to the App

everything I can i upload it to the App Store review review the progress test it

Store review review the progress test it

Store review review the progress test it and see what happens we all need to go

and see what happens we all need to go

and see what happens we all need to go through the process of getting there

through the process of getting there

through the process of getting there don’t be afraid to fail that’s the way

don’t be afraid to fail that’s the way

don’t be afraid to fail that’s the way it works well this conversation happened

it works well this conversation happened

it works well this conversation happened when it I was 12 years old I remember I

when it I was 12 years old I remember I

when it I was 12 years old I remember I was thinking about it and thought that

was thinking about it and thought that

was thinking about it and thought that we tend to overlook grown-ups advice

we tend to overlook grown-ups advice

we tend to overlook grown-ups advice what it I said can be a cliche but when

what it I said can be a cliche but when

what it I said can be a cliche but when a teenager says something like that it

a teenager says something like that it

a teenager says something like that it really grabs you and makes you one act

really grabs you and makes you one act

really grabs you and makes you one act so three years ago I founded an online

so three years ago I founded an online

so three years ago I founded an online learning platform for teenagers where

learning platform for teenagers where

learning platform for teenagers where they can create and upload short videos

they can create and upload short videos

they can create and upload short videos in order to teach other teenagers

in order to teach other teenagers

in order to teach other teenagers materials from all subject matters learn

materials from all subject matters learn

materials from all subject matters learn it’s cool and right from the start I

it’s cool and right from the start I

it’s cool and right from the start I knew one thing that if we want to reach

knew one thing that if we want to reach

knew one thing that if we want to reach out to them we have to involve them so I

out to them we have to involve them so I

out to them we have to involve them so I reach out to

reach out to

reach out to school and high school students I knew

school and high school students I knew

school and high school students I knew that I should do it where they spend

that I should do it where they spend

that I should do it where they spend most of the time and now that’s not

most of the time and now that’s not

most of the time and now that’s not school it’s social media so I joined

school it’s social media so I joined

school it’s social media so I joined various teen age groups online and

various teen age groups online and

various teen age groups online and forums and one day I posted a note in

forums and one day I posted a note in

forums and one day I posted a note in one of them saying hi my name is a fatty

one of them saying hi my name is a fatty

one of them saying hi my name is a fatty dogs key I’m creating an online learning

dogs key I’m creating an online learning

dogs key I’m creating an online learning platform for teenagers and would love

platform for teenagers and would love

platform for teenagers and would love for you to be a real part of the process

for you to be a real part of the process

for you to be a real part of the process my goal was learning from them by mainly

my goal was learning from them by mainly

my goal was learning from them by mainly listening about the apps and the

listening about the apps and the

listening about the apps and the platform’s they use the content the

platform’s they use the content the

platform’s they use the content the contact devices they have the content

contact devices they have the content

contact devices they have the content they used to consume and what is their

they used to consume and what is their

they used to consume and what is their take on learning at school and beyond my

take on learning at school and beyond my

take on learning at school and beyond my friends and colleagues they thought I

friends and colleagues they thought I

friends and colleagues they thought I was crazy you want to do what have you

was crazy you want to do what have you

was crazy you want to do what have you ever try to spend time with the teenager

ever try to spend time with the teenager

ever try to spend time with the teenager you want them to tell you what to do and

you want them to tell you what to do and

you want them to tell you what to do and many said you really think that any

many said you really think that any

many said you really think that any teenager will be interested in spending

teenager will be interested in spending

teenager will be interested in spending their time on this well good luck but

their time on this well good luck but

their time on this well good luck but for me to just common sense you see most

for me to just common sense you see most

for me to just common sense you see most companies the target in ages they don’t

companies the target in ages they don’t

companies the target in ages they don’t have teenagers on the board well almost

have teenagers on the board well almost

have teenagers on the board well almost nobody does they usually have focus

nobody does they usually have focus

nobody does they usually have focus groups read research about teenagers

groups read research about teenagers

groups read research about teenagers create products for them platforms for

create products for them platforms for

create products for them platforms for them but wouldn’t it be much easier

them but wouldn’t it be much easier

them but wouldn’t it be much easier simpler and even better to include the

simpler and even better to include the

simpler and even better to include the end user in the process right so pretty

end user in the process right so pretty

end user in the process right so pretty soon i founded our board

soon i founded our board

soon i founded our board our teen advisory board it was important

our teen advisory board it was important

our teen advisory board it was important to me to avoid visor aboard comprised

to me to avoid visor aboard comprised

to me to avoid visor aboard comprised out of teenagers and not just as a

out of teenagers and not just as a

out of teenagers and not just as a gimmick we started a meet on a monthly

gimmick we started a meet on a monthly

gimmick we started a meet on a monthly basis sharing with them what we had done

basis sharing with them what we had done

basis sharing with them what we had done so far hearing them out listening and

so far hearing them out listening and

so far hearing them out listening and building with them our business and

building with them our business and

building with them our business and marketing strategy i bought meeting with

marketing strategy i bought meeting with

marketing strategy i bought meeting with some of my favorite time just imagine a

some of my favorite time just imagine a

some of my favorite time just imagine a board meeting with teenagers who know

board meeting with teenagers who know

board meeting with teenagers who know that they are helping to create

that they are helping to create

that they are helping to create something for them they were so excited

something for them they were so excited

something for them they were so excited to have adults listen to them really

to have adults listen to them really

to have adults listen to them really listen to them and we were so excited to

listen to them and we were so excited to

listen to them and we were so excited to have our target audience tell us what

have our target audience tell us what

have our target audience tell us what they want what they really want so we

they want what they really want so we

they want what they really want so we entered together an accelerator program

entered together an accelerator program

entered together an accelerator program for educational startups and we started

for educational startups and we started

for educational startups and we started our pilot by having a video creating

our pilot by having a video creating

our pilot by having a video creating workshop for teenagers by now you may

workshop for teenagers by now you may

workshop for teenagers by now you may think that we created the workshop

think that we created the workshop

think that we created the workshop together with them right well we didn’t

together with them right well we didn’t

together with them right well we didn’t but we definitely should have instead we

but we definitely should have instead we

but we definitely should have instead we use the help of formal really

use the help of formal really

use the help of formal really experienced pedagogic our counselor to

experienced pedagogic our counselor to

experienced pedagogic our counselor to create a workshop after all we thought

create a workshop after all we thought

create a workshop after all we thought we need someone with formal knowledge

we need someone with formal knowledge

we need someone with formal knowledge and experience and the first class I

and experience and the first class I

and experience and the first class I entered with the 8th grade classroom

entered with the 8th grade classroom

entered with the 8th grade classroom infra Sabha I started by introducing

infra Sabha I started by introducing

infra Sabha I started by introducing myself our venture explained about the

myself our venture explained about the

myself our venture explained about the process then I started going through the

process then I started going through the

process then I started going through the format of the workshop it took me about

format of the workshop it took me about

format of the workshop it took me about 10 minutes to stop and look around and

10 minutes to stop and look around and

10 minutes to stop and look around and all I saw was those faces that my

all I saw was those faces that my

all I saw was those faces that my colleagues warned me about bored

colleagues warned me about bored

colleagues warned me about bored teenagers about to roll their eyes it

teenagers about to roll their eyes it

teenagers about to roll their eyes it happened and then I thought wait a

happened and then I thought wait a

happened and then I thought wait a minute these things they’re not so

minute these things they’re not so

minute these things they’re not so different than the ones we have in our

different than the ones we have in our

different than the ones we have in our board so I can

board so I can

board so I can we engage them how can we we make them

we engage them how can we we make them

we engage them how can we we make them participate how can I bring out their

participate how can I bring out their

participate how can I bring out their creativity and energy at that moment I

creativity and energy at that moment I

creativity and energy at that moment I throw away the reason workshop it took

throw away the reason workshop it took

throw away the reason workshop it took me 10 minutes to find myself standing on

me 10 minutes to find myself standing on

me 10 minutes to find myself standing on a table in the middle of the classroom

a table in the middle of the classroom

a table in the middle of the classroom when one of the of the kids of the

when one of the of the kids of the

when one of the of the kids of the student of the classmates was directing

student of the classmates was directing

student of the classmates was directing me and two other classmates on how to

me and two other classmates on how to

me and two other classmates on how to pose as stars in a solar system while

pose as stars in a solar system while

pose as stars in a solar system while the entire classroom would filled with

the entire classroom would filled with

the entire classroom would filled with energy and everybody was shouting about

energy and everybody was shouting about

energy and everybody was shouting about which angle they would use to take this

which angle they would use to take this

which angle they would use to take this video and which app and platform they

video and which app and platform they

video and which app and platform they would use to edit it an entire classroom

would use to edit it an entire classroom

would use to edit it an entire classroom federal remarkable ideas creativity

federal remarkable ideas creativity

federal remarkable ideas creativity enthusiasm and cooperation it was then

enthusiasm and cooperation it was then

enthusiasm and cooperation it was then that that I realized two things one that

that that I realized two things one that

that that I realized two things one that we really have to abandon the read and

we really have to abandon the read and

we really have to abandon the read and layout and to these things they don’t

layout and to these things they don’t

layout and to these things they don’t need us to tell them what to do they

need us to tell them what to do they

need us to tell them what to do they don’t need us to tell him how to do it

don’t need us to tell him how to do it

don’t need us to tell him how to do it they only need us to give them the tools

they only need us to give them the tools

they only need us to give them the tools to fly to think and to be creative from

to fly to think and to be creative from

to fly to think and to be creative from then on we started letting students

then on we started letting students

then on we started letting students taking over our sessions we understood

taking over our sessions we understood

taking over our sessions we understood that our job in the process was the me

that our job in the process was the me

that our job in the process was the me to be the mediators the enablers helping

to be the mediators the enablers helping

to be the mediators the enablers helping them to connect the dots on the map that

them to connect the dots on the map that

them to connect the dots on the map that were drawing themselves and was it

were drawing themselves and was it

were drawing themselves and was it positive feedback kept on coming on from

positive feedback kept on coming on from

positive feedback kept on coming on from them the results were even more amazing

them the results were even more amazing

them the results were even more amazing than we could ever anticipate take for

than we could ever anticipate take for

than we could ever anticipate take for example adali Natalie sitting on the bed

example adali Natalie sitting on the bed

example adali Natalie sitting on the bed studying for their history final exams

studying for their history final exams

studying for their history final exams after they composed the facts they were

after they composed the facts they were

after they composed the facts they were taught in class connected it to

taught in class connected it to

taught in class connected it to contemporary music while singing it and

contemporary music while singing it and

contemporary music while singing it and playing it on the guitar nice right it

playing it on the guitar nice right it

playing it on the guitar nice right it was then that I realized something that

was then that I realized something that

was then that I realized something that what I saw in my own business can really

what I saw in my own business can really

what I saw in my own business can really make a bigger impact so a year and a

make a bigger impact so a year and a

make a bigger impact so a year and a half ago

half ago

half ago are starting to work with teenage

are starting to work with teenage

are starting to work with teenage enterpreneurs lecturing mentoring

enterpreneurs lecturing mentoring

enterpreneurs lecturing mentoring working with independent teams and

working with independent teams and

working with independent teams and hackathons this’ll led me to work with

hackathons this’ll led me to work with

hackathons this’ll led me to work with hubs local authorities educational

hubs local authorities educational

hubs local authorities educational organization and associations and the

organization and associations and the

organization and associations and the Israeli Ministry of Education all in

Israeli Ministry of Education all in

Israeli Ministry of Education all in order to help them better understand

order to help them better understand

order to help them better understand their target audience the teenagers in

their target audience the teenagers in

their target audience the teenagers in order to help them to really know how to

order to help them to really know how to

order to help them to really know how to open up and listen and five find ways to

open up and listen and five find ways to

open up and listen and five find ways to involve them during this past summer I

involve them during this past summer I

involve them during this past summer I was in charge of an international

was in charge of an international

was in charge of an international entrepreneurship program for teenagers I

entrepreneurship program for teenagers I

entrepreneurship program for teenagers I was walking with 13 years old shaked

was walking with 13 years old shaked

was walking with 13 years old shaked Whitman while walking on his venture

Whitman while walking on his venture

Whitman while walking on his venture cycle told me that the main principle

cycle told me that the main principle

cycle told me that the main principle driving him skewed right the domain

driving him skewed right the domain

driving him skewed right the domain principal was driving him was value for

principal was driving him was value for

principal was driving him was value for money he landed from his family when he

money he landed from his family when he

money he landed from his family when he was younger well younger than 13 his mom

was younger well younger than 13 his mom

was younger well younger than 13 his mom used to take him to this holidays shows

used to take him to this holidays shows

used to take him to this holidays shows where they sell the merchandise outside

where they sell the merchandise outside

where they sell the merchandise outside which he was never allowed to buy it

which he was never allowed to buy it

which he was never allowed to buy it wasn’t because they didn’t have the

wasn’t because they didn’t have the

wasn’t because they didn’t have the money or because she didn’t want him to

money or because she didn’t want him to

money or because she didn’t want him to have toys instead she took him downtown

have toys instead she took him downtown

have toys instead she took him downtown to the wholesale stores where they sell

to the wholesale stores where they sell

to the wholesale stores where they sell it because you really wanted him to

it because you really wanted him to

it because you really wanted him to understand and really grasp the concept

understand and really grasp the concept

understand and really grasp the concept of value what you can ask and demand is

of value what you can ask and demand is

of value what you can ask and demand is a consumer you see in the work we do in

a consumer you see in the work we do in

a consumer you see in the work we do in our attempt to understand teenagers its

our attempt to understand teenagers its

our attempt to understand teenagers its consumers as our target audience we

consumers as our target audience we

consumers as our target audience we should really live give them a true

should really live give them a true

should really live give them a true place in the discussion we should even

place in the discussion we should even

place in the discussion we should even let them make the decisions empower them

let them make the decisions empower them

let them make the decisions empower them they have their own taken life that we

they have their own taken life that we

they have their own taken life that we might not even think about driven

might not even think about driven

might not even think about driven entirely out of creativity innovation

entirely out of creativity innovation

entirely out of creativity innovation and their lack of fear while students

and their lack of fear while students

and their lack of fear while students are

are

are only twenty percent of our population

only twenty percent of our population

only twenty percent of our population they are one hundred percent of our

they are one hundred percent of our

they are one hundred percent of our future it’s not about us it’s about them

future it’s not about us it’s about them

future it’s not about us it’s about them this premise walks and guides every

this premise walks and guides every

this premise walks and guides every business that’s one to survive and be

business that’s one to survive and be

business that’s one to survive and be sustainable so why not implement it in

sustainable so why not implement it in

sustainable so why not implement it in our educational systems thank

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *