About BizBuzz
Turning imagination into innovation via social entrepreneurship
Our Mission
BizBuzz is founded on the belief that every student deserves to have access to entrepreneurial education that brings their ideas—and their ingenuity—to life. Across the nation, especially in the city of Naperville, youth entrepreneurship programs are inaccessible and inadequate. Business education is rarely prioritized in elementary & middle schools, yet it equips students with much-needed critical thinking and problem-solving skills that last a lifetime. The next generation of innovators and leaders has the capability of sparking monumental change, but far too few of them have a platform to actually do so.
In April 2024, we set out to fix that.
From free camps to professional pitch competitions to webinars to workshops, we organize programs that bring together business professionals, government leaders, student entrepreneurs, and families in Naperville & beyond. As a 100% student-run and student-led organization, we offer more than just a talented ensemble of high school instructors. We offer a program that has been tirelessly crafted to optimize student outcomes and promoted to create communal change—entirely for students, by students. And we're just getting started.
Impact at a Glance
BizBuzz connects students, schools, and sponsors to build a thriving youth entrepreneurship community across Chicagoland.
Impact
across camps, competitions, and workshops since 2024
Impact
elementary, middle, and high schools represented across Illinois
Impact
from 48 community partners, organizations, and sponsors
Impact
high school volunteer staff and instructors
A deeper look at the students, schools, and community partners that make BizBuzz possible.
Student Participation
Breakdown of students who have joined BizBuzz programs
2024 Scott Elementary School talk
2024 Crone Middle School talk
2024 Entrepreneurship Camp
2024 Fish Tank competition
2024 Naperville Children's Business Fair workshops
2024 Naperville Children's Business Fair
2024 Madison Junior High mxINCedu mentorship program
2024 Brookdale Business Bootcamp
2024 BestBrains workshops
2025 DuPage Children's Business Fair workshops
2025 Entrepreneurship Camp
2025 Fish Tank competition
2025 Naperville Children's Business Fair
Schools We Serve
Representation from elementary, middle, and high schools across the region
Naperville North
High Schools (6)
Naperville Central
High Schools (6)
Neuqua Valley
High Schools (6)
Waubonsie Valley
High Schools (6)
Benet
High Schools (6)
Metea
High Schools (6)
Community Support
Financial contributions and in-kind resources empower BizBuzz to stay student-led and cost-free.
Partners & Sponsors
In The News
Our journey has been featured by local media, highlighting our commitment to fostering entrepreneurship in students throughout Naperville and beyond.
Naperville Channel Television 17 Interview
At Camp Session 5 and during the Fish Tank competition, BizBuzz had the honor of welcoming Jesus Cortez and the Naperville Channel Television 17 team to join us. They conducted interviews and helped share our story with the broader community, capturing the passion, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that defined this year's camp and competition.
Daily Herald Interview
During the Madison Junior High mxINCedu mentorship program, we had the opportunity to be interviewed by the Daily Herald. We discussed the importance of youth entrepreneurship—especially in Naperville, where over 90% of K–8 students lack access to business education in school.
Naperville Channel Television 17 Interview
Over the summer, BizBuzz joined Jane Wernette with Naperville Community Television 17 and their Spotlight show to talk about our 2025 Summer Entrepreneurship Camp and the second annual Fish Tank contest at Benedictine University. This year, we came back bigger than ever, with more students, more mentors, and an incredible lineup of guest speakers like Shark Tank alum Lindsey Fleischhauer and Mayor Scott Wehrli. What started as a small idea has now grown into one of the largest youth entrepreneurship programs across the country!
Naperville Channel Television 17 Interview
In fall 2024, BizBuzz was invited to interview with Naperville Community Television 17 to share how local news has helped the organization grow. Coverage from NCTV17 has connected BizBuzz with parents looking for opportunities for their students and sponsors looking to support youth entrepreneurship. Through these connections, BizBuzz can better turn imagination into innovation!
We Love Naperville Interview
Shortly after the first-ever Fish Tank contest, BizBuzz celebrated the success of its inaugural summer camp in the Chicagoland area and the success of all the young kidpreneurs who participated, including Fish Tank champion Garrett Hauk.
2025 KidsMatter Teen Philanthropy Initiative Grant Winner
The Teen Philanthropy Initiative is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit philanthropy service organization who partners with communities and local tax-exempt organizations to expand existing programs or initiate new projects. In the 2024–2025 application cycle, following an intensive review process and one-hour interview, BizBuzz was awarded a $1,000 grant—the largest amount of funding given to any organization in Naperville.
Our Team
BizBuzz is powered by a dedicated team of student leaders, entrepreneurs, and educators committed to fostering the next generation of business innovators.
Co-Founders
Allen Xu
President & Co-Founder
Allen is a junior at Naperville North HS interested in social innovation and finance. A three-time international finalist in entrepreneurship competitions like the Conrad Challenge & Blue Ocean Competition, and grand winner of the 2025 Harvard International Economics Essay Competition, he hopes to use what he has learned to help younger students turn imagination into innovation. As a kid, Allen spent winters watching Shark Tank and summers running lemonade stands in his cul-de-sac. After discovering that 90% of K–8 schools in Naperville do not offer business classes, he co-founded BizBuzz with Aarav—alongside other EdTech platforms—to help students like him find their ideas and the courage to share them.
Aarav Khullar
Vice President & Co-Founder
Aarav is a junior at Naperville North HS with a passion for business and fostering youth entrepreneurship. Growing up watching Shark Tank with his dad, he always dreamed of starting a high-quality business but never had any opportunities or support to do so. Seeing this same disparity affect hundreds of other young students in his community, he co-founded BizBuzz with one of his best friends, Allen, to give elementary & middle schoolers the kind of opportunity he never had. Now, as a startup founder himself, internationally awarded by the Walt Disney Company for his leadership, and named a Top 100 Emerging Innovator of 2025, Aarav hopes to translate the skills he's learned to empower the youth.
Leadership Team
Eddy Wang
Vice President
Eddy is a dedicated leader with a passion for entrepreneurship and youth education. With exceptional organizational skills, he coordinates BizBuzz initiatives to reach students across Naperville, creating meaningful learning opportunities and inspiring future business leaders.
Steven He
Vice President
Steven combines his engineering background with entrepreneurial vision to mentor young innovators. His creative approach to problem-solving and project-based learning helps students develop practical skills while exploring their own business ideas and building confidence through hands-on experience.
Taksh Taware
2025 Executive Director
Taksh brings fresh perspectives and leadership experience to the BizBuzz team. Having successfully raised funding for his own ventures, he mentors students through the entrepreneurial process from ideation to execution, helping them transform creative concepts into viable business opportunities with real-world impact.
Arnav Sharma
Executive Director & CTO
Arnav leverages his expertise in technology and data science to create innovative educational platforms for young entrepreneurs. His technical knowledge and creative problem-solving abilities help streamline BizBuzz operations and develop digital resources that enhance the learning experience for students exploring business concepts.
Ethan Brock
Chief Technology Officer
Ethan specializes in developing technical solutions that make entrepreneurship education accessible and engaging. His innovative approach to educational technology helps BizBuzz create interactive learning experiences for students.
Aiden Xie
Chief Technology Officer
Aiden builds the infrastructure that powers BizBuzz's digital presence. His software development skills support scalable programs and user-friendly tools for students and families.
Elena Kang Chou
Leadership Team
Leading initiatives that help BizBuzz reach more students every year.
Lakhi Thotakura
Leadership Team
Leading initiatives that help BizBuzz reach more students every year.
Abby May
Leadership Team
Leading initiatives that help BizBuzz reach more students every year.
Annabelle Cheng
Leadership Team
Leading initiatives that help BizBuzz reach more students every year.
Elizabeth Gao
Leadership Team
Leading initiatives that help BizBuzz reach more students every year.
Melody Hu
Leadership Team
Leading initiatives that help BizBuzz reach more students every year.
Zoha Ahmad
Leadership Team
Leading initiatives that help BizBuzz reach more students every year.
Instructors
Onkar Lidder
Instructor
Onkar brings technical expertise and innovative teaching methods to BizBuzz. He's passionate about making complex business concepts accessible to young learners.
Abhinav Byju
Instructor
Abhinav combines his interests in science and entrepreneurship to help students explore the intersection of STEM and business innovation.
Anay Apte
Instructor
Anay is dedicated to fostering creativity and critical thinking in young entrepreneurs. He brings energy and enthusiasm to every session.
Ankita Senapati
Instructor
Ankita is passionate about financial literacy and youth empowerment. She brings her experience from hosting workshops to help students succeed.
Ansh Shah
Instructor
Ansh is passionate about STEM and entrepreneurship. He focuses on helping students build practical skills for their future ventures.
Ben Gula
Instructor
Ben brings his passion for aviation and business to BizBuzz. He enjoys helping students explore unique perspectives in entrepreneurship.
Hadley Benson
Instructor
Hadley combines her love for innovation with effective teaching methods. She's passionate about fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Wes Karubas
Instructor
Wes brings his entrepreneurial experience from running his own ventures to help inspire and guide young business minds.
Yuju Cho
Instructor
Yuju is passionate about helping students discover their potential in business. She brings fresh perspectives to entrepreneurship education.
Zahra Moosani
Instructor
Zahra combines creativity with organization to make learning engaging. She's dedicated to helping students discover their entrepreneurial potential.
Youth Leadership Team
Vivaan Khullar
Youth Leadership
Vivaan brings enthusiasm and fresh perspectives to the team. He's eager to help young students develop their entrepreneurial skills and creative thinking.
Evan Xu
Youth Leadership
Evan combines his interest in mathematics and statistics with business concepts to help students approach challenges logically.
Mishi Patel
Youth Leadership
Mishi is passionate about innovation and youth leadership. She brings creative energy to help students explore their entrepreneurial ideas.
Ethan Nie
Youth Leadership
Ethan focuses on helping students understand the practical aspects of business. He brings enthusiasm and clear communication to every session.
Jazzy Soodan
Youth Leadership
Jazzy is dedicated to helping students discover their passion for business. She brings energy and creative thinking to the BizBuzz program.