teen42

Hands up … how many people out there deal with teens regularly, or rather try to when they’re not glued to a screen of some description … keep those hands up … OK, now how many people have been teenagers themselves.  Nice to see all of those hands up (except for the few loyal angel-wise kids following this blog).

Now, wouldn’t it be nice if there were an attractive web site which delivered authoritative information to teens on the stuff that really matters?  Attention investors, here’s your chance to help make it happen.

The Pitch:

Teen 42 is a Website being set-up to Assist Teenagers worldwide online to make optimal life choices providing interactive information, education and advice on Careers, Finance, Personal Growth and Health, Culture, Addictions, Heroes and more.

With consistent stats telling us for the past four years that 73% of Teens globally searching for Career info followed closely by 70% of Teens looking for Financial help in an adults world and a recent Charles Schwab survey saying that – ‘At the tender ages of 12, 13 and 14, adolescents begin to worry about the future – “Where will I go to college?” “What kind of career will I choose?” “How much money will I make?”‘ It’s a new kind of teenage angst – you start to understand the need for TEEN42.

Add to this the findings from a recent Charles Schwab survey stating – ‘At the tender ages of 12, 13 and 14, adolescents begin to worry about the future – “Where will I go to college?” “What kind of career will I choose?” “How much money will I make?”…

The National Association of School Psychologists estimates that career-related anxieties among teens have increased about 20% in the past decade. Experts say striving for success is great, but they also warn that if it becomes an obsession, it can be unhealthy for kids.  “They become anxious [and] jittery. They become worriers,” says Dr. John Lochridge, a psychiatrist. “They turn to drugs or alcohol as external ways to calm themselves down.“

Today’s Teens need resources and support not the unhelpful labels being handed out on their negative behaviors.

We will launch with our first site focusing on Careers and will be able to not only psychometrically match a teen with 1-5+ Career choices, but show them from today, what grades they need to achieve this year, what courses next year and what is required in higher education (with local institutions) to enter their chosen career. They will also be shown a video of that career in action.
Take the same formula of interaction across the other sites and you’ll start to see why we will become the number one Teen site.

Accomplishments to date:

1. Executive Summary, comprehensive Business Plan and 3-5 year Financial Projections
2. Inc in NZ with Tax Numbers, Bank Accounts as well as Inc in USA (out of Delaware) with Tax Numbers, Bank Accounts
3. A CEO is on board in an advisory capacity who has 5 startups under his belt and previously a Mentor to ANZA
4. A CFO & CTS ready to Board
5. Two Board Members as well as two Advisory Board Members
6. Just secured space at The Hothouse (incubator) in San Francisco
7. An appointment with a leading Advt Agency requesting first option to present several brands aimed at the teenage market.
8. Five VC’s have requested meetings as soon as we arrive back
9. One US Sponsors has expressed interest of being our first Sponsor on arrival in the US
10. The website is currently in Beta form.
11. The Founder has already personally invested $300k plus seven years of research. A further $30K has been invested by an Individual.
12. Researchers and content writers volunteering their time until funding is available.
13. We are partnered with the a) Californian Mentoring Foundation b) Step-Up Foundation Aust/NZ, c) Telavison.tv and d) Dreams for kids.

Development plans:

The next stage is to bring on several new researchers and content writers to complete content already written for the next two sites (Finance and Personal Growth). Although we have a website built already, we will engage a Web Architect (in the Silicon Valley) within the next six months to create a large online place including the latest in Platforms, technology, Video, Avatar’s and e-Commerce. Taking into account several of our revenue stream requirements potentially putting us ahead of the likes of Yahoo/Facebook/Google/Bebo/YouTube etc.

The next stage early in the second year is to develop the e-Commerce sector and then soon after, we will mirror the project for the Adult market.

Key Challenges:

• Getting Kiwi Investment for such a needed website
• Getting people to understand that we are not another Social Networking site.

Principals & Previous Experience:

Founder and CMO – Wayne Sharp
Wayne’s vision and creative drive will ensure TEEN42 a respected spot in the global educational and Internet field. His background includes 26 Years in the Advertising and Marketing arena with 15 of those years in Direct Marketing (four internationally), as well as Business Development, Account Direction and Art Director. At 22, he started his own Advertising Agency in Melbourne Australia during the recession in 92 lasting 6 years. The last four years have been spent in the Web Market, Marketing and Selling Static/Brochure/E-commerce sites and gaining incredible knowledge of the web’s potential.

CEO – Mike Loftus (Advisor)
Considered a visionary in the wireless and ad-sponsored DA space, Michael Loftus has been involved with startups for over 15 years defining their core strategies, developing product roadmaps, and driving their sustainable revenue. He is CEO of Broadcaster Media, a mobile services firm that lets brands interact directly with consumers via media-rich, mobile content. Previously, Michael prepared and launched Connect Directories in Dubai, UAE and Say Hello in Jacksonville, FL. Like his earlier company, inFreeDA, Connect Directories provides the ad-sponsored DA services that have transformed today’s 411, offering a zero-cost alternative to fee-based 411 calls. In 2005, Michael served as CEO of inFreeDA a Hummer Winblad funded company, which was sold to AT&T in 2006. Michael has also been, EVP for Eagle River Interactive and CMO at NetFish Technologies

CFO – Steve Peppler (Advisor)
Steve brings a wealth of experience in finance and business. Prior to joining Flintfox as CEO, he held leadership positions at Quaker Oats of Canada (Pepsi) as a member of the senior leadership team and Controller/Director Customer Finance. Additionally Steve gained valuable experience at Kraft Canada, Crothers Limited and the Royal Bank of Canada Senior Financial Analyst at Kraft Canada. He holds a Masters of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business and is a Certified Management Accountant

What they want from an investor:

TEEN42 simply requires an Investment or a Loan of $60k – $100k (NZD)
The investment will be used to

• Expand and improve the current Website with Video,
• Hire a further two Content Researchers/writers
• Put in place necessary server & Customer support infrastructure
• Initiate the Marketing campaign
• Begin negotiations with potential sponsors
• Meet with VC’s

Once we have secured this investment, we can launch within a month and it is estimated we will have large numbers of visitors within the first 2-3 months.

Dave’s Commentary:

There’s no question that this space services a large, growing, under-loved and important demographic.  The initiative also has potentially massive positive social outcomes.  The principals already have a product and some relationships in place, as well as passion and the drive to succeed.  I get the impression that the right investor could add great value to the operation.

Contact details:

Wayne Sharp
Email:  sharpy at teen42.com
Mob (NZ): +64 21 655 040
Mob (US): +1 415 419 6528
Skype: Sharpynz

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