Gen Z is the Future of Innovation. Here's Why.
Inside the stories, strategies, and tools young founders use to launch and scale companies without a Silicon Valley address.
Meet Eric Zhu
When he was 17, Eric co-founded Aviato, a data platform for private markets. He used a scraper to book Zoom meetings with investors, taking calls in his high school bathroom. While still in school, he raised $2.3 million, including $50,000 from GitHub co-founder Tom Preston-Werner, before moving to San Francisco to grow his business.
His story shows that the innovation market is changing. With internet access, the drive to learn, and confidence, anyone can build something big.
Why Gen Z Can Build Anywhere
Young founders like Eric:
learn coding, design, and marketing online for free
Coding: W3Schools, CS50x 2025, FreeCodecamp
Design: Figma Design Tutorials
launch products cheaply, often using no-code tools or open-source technologies (companies like Amazon and Microsoft are handing out cloud computing credits like candy)
reach customers through social media (low to no cost) — TikToks and IG Reels can reach millions of people with the right strategy
build global teams (a network is now stronger than a physical location in NYC/Silicon Valley, and remote work is often the default)
These factors allow them to build anything, anywhere.
The Gen Z Startup Blueprint
Eric’s path follows a simple pattern:
Build relationships first: youth can find mentors/peers through Discord, LinkedIn, X, or in-person networking. Here’s an article on mentorship and the process of finding someone who could guide and provide you with feedback throughout the entrepreneurship process:
Solve a real problem: through Aviato, Eric fixed the lack of data in private investing. Check out What are the most pressing world problems?, Reddit threads, and ask people in the industry for potential ideas.
Launch fast and iterate: early user feedback shapes the product as different versions are iterated through
Scale globally: after high school, Eric moved to San Francisco to expand
What’s Next
Startups will keep rising from unexpected places. Founders under 25 will lead teams across time zones, and online networks will drive customers, talent, and funding.
Eric’s journey shows one thing: you don’t need to move to build. You just need focus, a strong network, and the guts to pitch from a school bathroom if you have to.
Resources
Here are two resources that I believe provide good information for young founders:
Y Combinator Startup School - The Best Resource for Founders: Free online course from YC (the best early-stage VC) with videos, founder stories, and practical startup assignments.
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries: A book on testing ideas quickly, iterating, and minimizing waste.
If you want to start something, tell me your idea! I’ll try to connect you to someone in my network that may help :)
Good for you my friend, very happy to hear of your success, I agree mentorship and connections are absolutely key :)
Mentorship is important when someone who just started. I did the same.