Junior creates entrepreneurship club sponsored by MIT Launch program

In room 003, students cloaked in hoodies and other suitable Silicon Valley attire scramble in teams before pitching their startup ideas to the relentless audience of peers in front of them, all hoping to build the “next big thing” that will shake industries at their foundations.

This year, junior Theo Luan has created the MIT Launch Club, an entrepreneurship club sponsored by the MIT Launch summer program he attended this past summer.

“Entrepreneurship club targets those who not only want to learn about different facets of business, but want to experience the process of growing a startup from a simple idea to a functioning company,” Luan said.

While the school already has widely recognized and successful business clubs such as DECA and FBLA, Luan said that neither of them target the specific niche of starting a company from scratch.

Luan was inspired to start the club after attending the selective MIT Launch 4-week entrepreneurial summer program. He said he had no knowledge of entrepreneurship or business at all prior to the competition.

“Five weeks later, I had all the knowledge I needed to start a company straight out of high school if I had wanted,” Luan said.

Luan pitched an idea with his team called “Bulkr,” a platform for crowdsourcing organic produce directly from farms. On its website, Bulkr claims it is “local, affordable, convenient and fresh.”

Luan’s team won the Best Execution award for Bulkr in the final pitch ceremony.

According to Luan, creating a startup in high school is an invaluable experience, even if it is short-lived. Because of its proximity to Silicon Valley, SHS is an incubator for talented tech-entrepreneurs.

Although the curriculum is predetermined by the MIT Launch program, Luan said he plans on inviting experienced guest speakers as members team up to create startups they will pitch at the MIT Launch competition in the spring. The MIT Launch Club also partnered with the Application Developer’s Club if members want to create apps.

“Not only are students given experience that will benefit them later if they wish to pursue entrepreneurship in the future, but they are also taught skills that will help them in other career paths,” Luan said. “Teamwork, communication skills, and financing are all taught in the curriculum throughout the year and give students an edge in the competitive job market.”

The MIT Launch club, with over 20 members and four teams, meets every Thursday in room 003 to develop companies. Theo said he hopes that at least one team from the club will get accepted into the MIT Launch competition.