Mark Zuckerberg may be best known for his little idea called Facebook (have you heard of it?), but he is also someone who set the stage for young entrepreneurs to believe in themselves.  To go from college student to billionaire in less than a decade seems unimaginable, but other young businessmen and women seem to be embracing the young moneymaker movement.  Check out these local youngsters who are looking to have their businesses take off, pay up, and catch on just like that of Zuckerberg…and, not to mention, other Westchester natives like Vera Wang and P. Diddy.

   Marissa Foley, a recent Villanova graduate, is a Bedford native with a passion for pets.  If you need a dog sitter so you can enjoy a weekend at the Hamptons or a walker so that you have more time around the house, Marissa’s business Wags and Walks Petsitting has you covered.  She broke out into the world of business in 2010 and has been expanding ever since.  Now, two years in the world on entrepreneurism, Marissa promotes her business through social media with adorable pictures of the pets she watches and special deals she offers at Wags and Walks.   Marissa is passionate about embracing her inner businesswoman, all while doing something she loves.  She embodies the idea that young men and women don’t need to resort to service jobs or retail gigs – she’s on her feet and looking to expand her business more and more.

Two young men who are also in the entrepreneurial state of mind are Max Feidelson of Bedford and Jake Weil of North Salem, who have turned someone else’s invention into their own grounds for business.  Max, a recent graduate of The Taft School and Jake, a current student at Dartmouth, know that Ebay is a great way to get rid of unwanted possessions and prevent yourself from being featured on TLC’s ‘Hoarding, Buried Alive’ – but these young businessmen also know that there is a science to selling on this mega bid site.  They will do all the busywork that comes with selling items online and give you the profit!  That’s the great thing about today’s young generation – they can take a huge, established business like Ebay and turn it into their own success story.   Max and Jake, members of the technologically advanced generation, are making a profit on knowing how to sell things online – something that young men would never have the chance to do a decade or so ago.

With famous DJ’s like Deadmau5 and David Guetta topping music charts like never before, it’s no wonder the young and talented Armonk-bred Asher Saperstein, AKA DJ Ash, believes he is headed in the same direction.  The combination of Asher’s natural gift with the skills he gathered at The Scratch Academy in NYC has made DJ Ash a common request at local Westchester parties and even a guest at a music show on the Lower East Side.  DJ Ash hopes to reach mega success by combining totally different styles of music – he’s uses the example of mixing The Rolling Stones with Kanye West – to create a mash-up so wrong that’s right (kind of like ham & pineapple). Between the fact that he can share his music so easily on the Internet and his ripe age, I think he can totally do it.   Oh yeah….Asher JUST graduated High School!  For not even being legally allowed to drink yet, DJ Ash is really making headway and has the drive to succeed with this entrepreneurial venture!

Yes, celebrities get to launch their own clothing lines with an established fan base and tons of money – but for other young hopefuls, it’s a whole different ballgame.  You won’t see Jonathan Kligman or Jonathan Grecco on Project Runway, but you will be seeing their brand, Derby, expand beyond the borders of Bedford.  With the laid back logo and a comfort-meets-style driven line, Kligman and Grecco hope to spark the interest of potential buyers and backers to support their brand.  These two entrepreneurs hatched the idea behind Derby while at Cornell University during the Spring 2012 semester.  Since then, they are seeking funding and a loyal customer base so that Derby can become the next big thing.  Not only is it about the look, but there’s a secret message behind Derby clothing; optimism, drive, having fun, and taking chances are all ideas that Kligman and Grecco promote in their line.  Love it!  So…when can I buy my Derby shirt again?!

These amazing ideas may start out as small ways to break out into the business world as a young person during a recession, but they are hoping that it will turn into much more than that.  Just like Zuckerberg, Wang, and Diddy, these college-aged kids are surrounded by the right motivation and media buzz for a smooth ride down the road the success.  If you’re interested in either Marissa’s, Max & Jake’s, DJ Ash’s, or Jonathan & Jonathan’s  services, support the local youth and give them a call!