Joshua Friedlander started his own business, “Jam by Josh” selling jam in 2021. Since then, his business has grown rapidly, leading up to the present with him winning the thinkBIG! Veale Innovation Challenge in March.
The Veale Innovation Challenge is a contest aimed to help teenagers with starting businesses and turning ideas into reality. They have it once a year, and Friedlander said around a couple of hundred people apply.
His journey started in 2020 when he began teaching cooking classes called “Cooking Classes 4 Kidz By Kidz” which he said helped him develop new ideas and hobbies involving cooking.
“Eventually, I got really into gardening and built a large garden in my backyard,” Friedlander said. “I started selling produce at farmers markets, and one day, I had leftover vegetables I didn’t want to waste—so I canned them. That led me to try making jam, and once I shared it with friends and family, they encouraged me to sell it.”
Friedlander said once his jams became successful with family and friends, he came up with the idea of making a business around it.
“I’ve always really wanted to be an entrepreneur,” Friedlander said. “I’ve always loved creating things and building from the ground up. … For me, it’s not really about the money—it’s about the freedom.”
After selling his jams at local events and small businesses, his jams eventually made it into grocery stores.
“Getting in my first grocery store is my biggest accomplishment,” Friedlander said. “It was a game changer, and that’s when I realized that I had something special.”
Business teacher at SHS Robert Stircula said starting a business as a teen can be demanding, but also rewarding.
“Dedication and hustle is an important part of entrepreneurship and teens starting their own business gives them that freedom to work when they want to work,” Stircula said.
While Friedlander said that being a teenage entrepreneur can have its challenges, it is something that he loves and has learned from.
“My age is definitely an obstacle, but at just 15, I’ve built a profitable business and secured retail partnerships,” Friedlander said. “Also, having to balance my business with school has taught me a lot about managing my time.”
While age can be a struggle for entrepreneurs, Stircula also said the difficulty of determination and hard work can affect businesses.
“How many times have you talked to a person that said, ‘I had that idea,’ but they didn’t have that follow through,” Stircula said. “It’s the follow through that takes things from ideas to innovation.”
SHS sophomore David Nersesov, who is a friend of Friedlander, said Fiedlander knows how to stay focused and determined.
“He has been growing his business since seventh grade and has been upgrading himself ever since,” Nersesov said. “Josh has never stopped, quit or even considered giving up because he always had a strong desire to pursue his goals.”
Friedlander participated in the thinkBIG! Veale Innovation Challenge in March of 2025.
“My mentor, Ethan Holmes, the CEO of Holmes Mouthwatering Applesauce, actually introduced me to the competition,” Friedlander said. “He connected me with Jaclyn, who runs thinkBIG!, and encouraged me to apply. I saw it as an amazing opportunity to improve my public speaking skills and potentially win some capital to help grow my business.”
Friedlander said since winning the competition, he has made business deals which can help to expand his business in the future.
“The owner of Daisy Pops was actually one of the judges at the thinkBIG! Competition,” Friedlander said. “She DM’d me later that day, and we decided to collaborate on a special flavor: a peaches-and-cream cake pop featuring my peach jam. That will launch sometime in June.”
After winning first place in the competition, Friedlander said he was thrilled and proud of all the work that went into it.
“It was a great honor to be chosen as a finalist and have the chance to pitch on stage,” Friedlander said. “Winning meant a lot, especially because I was able to overcome my stutter and speak confidently in front of over 500 people. Taking home first place was an incredible experience.”
In the future, Friedlander said he plans to expand his business. Through all of his successes, he has positively influenced his friends and family and will continue to do so as his business grows.
“Josh inspires me in a way where I see him with a bright future,” Nersesov said. “I have had him as my friend for a long time and can see that he has accomplished many things in his life which will lead him to become an even more successful entrepreneur.”
