Rachel Zietz – Gladiator Lacrosse

Rachel Zietz is a great example of young entrepreneurship. She was born in 2000, and from an early age she had a passion for lacrosse. She recognized a problem however: standard lacrosse equipment is far too expensive, and could be made more accessible to people who can’t afford it. She turned this frustration into a business idea. At only age 13, she began working on this idea, calling it Gladiator Lacrosse. 

Her first goal was to create high quality lacrosse gear that could withstand heavy use, while also being cheaper than her competitors. She pitched this idea to Young Entrepreneurs Academy, and got funding. Rachel began developing prototypes to sell. After the first year, she was making significant revenue and momentum. She reinvested this profit back into the business, to expand her product line.

Rachel’s story gained national attention when she appeared on the show Shark Tank. She asked for one hundred thousand dollars for fifteen percent, giving her company a valuation of $660,000 in 2016. Although she didn’t secure an investment, the exposure propelled her business forward and reinvigorated her determination. Instead of being discouraged, Rachel used the experience as motivation to grow her company independently. By 2020 it reached seven million in revenue. Gladiator Lacrosse soon became a recognized name in youth sports equipment, with sales across the United States.

Before she even graduated high school, she was featured on the Forbes 30 under 30 list. Her story has been an inspiration for many entrepreneurs today. She’s proved that even a 13 year old can create a very profitable business and even change the scope of a market. She took her passion, and made it a career. She was able to innovate the sport that she loved, and improve the game so everyone could have access to it easier.