Local Student Harnesses Passion for Entrepreneurship

As a sophomore at The School for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SET High), Camden Weisbruch has quickly been able to fuse together his long-time passion for music and entrepreneurship to create his own business, BeatGrid. He is one of many students at SET High that are working to make global change, using the skillsets they are building every day in the classroom.

Founded in March 2017, BeatGrid is designed to assist musicians in every stage of their career, and encourages the artists to remain independent throughout their ventures without any contractual obligations. Camden’s company offers a variety of services, including album and song covers, song editing, custom merchandise, advertising, music video development, and recording services. In addition to guidance from leadership and faculty at SET High, Camden is also given “Passion Project” class periods to work on his business plan and company growth with other students who share his passion. This open and encouraging atmosphere at SET High has allowed him the freedom to create his own company while also excelling in the classroom.

Learning does not stop when the final bell rings at SET High and students, like Camden, find themselves excited to be at school, even on the weekend. He also participates in “Saturdays @ SET,” which is a student-run day of self-improvement held on two Saturdays of each month where students can work on anything they choose. From science projects to social entrepreneurism to neural networks and autonomous robots, students at SET High have the opportunity to cultivate their passions any day of the week, including Saturdays.

It is clear that the San Diego region is a hot bed for entrepreneurship and start-ups, so it is imperative for high school students to be afforded the opportunities to follow their passions and bring their business ideas to reality under careful guidance and mentorship. According to the San Diego Innovation Report, 477 start-ups were established in 2016, up from 405 businesses in 2016. Camden is developing skillsets and mindsets that will help him be successful in today’s competitive workforce, whether he goes into business for himself or works for others in the San Diego County region to help make their dreams a reality.

Here are some of Camden’s thoughts on entrepreneurship as well as advice for other teens and young adults who wish to start their own venture:

Q: Why did you start BeatGrid? What did you notice was missing in the music industry?
CW: “I started BeatGrid because I saw a need in the market. I had two friends that showed interest in the field of becoming a DJ. In talking with them, I realized there wasn’t a lot of affordable help for artists at the beginning of their careers. So, BeatGrid began as a way to help them. Of course before pursuing this idea, I did my fair share of market research. I found that the primary path for artists was to be signed by a label or do it all themselves. I hoped to be the bridge between the beginning and the success of their careers.”

Q: How has SET High helped you and encouraged you to bring your business to fruition?
CW: “Throughout this entire business venture, SET has been right behind me all the way. The school is always ready to help me through any obstacle. I don’t believe that I would have come this far with my company had I not gone to SET. They have really been a great source of motivation and a true building block for fulfilling my passion.”

Q: What advice do you have for other students who may want to start their own businesses?
CW: “As for other students that wish to begin a business, I think they need to keep in mind one of our school mottos ‘Uncertainty as Opportunity.’ When starting any new venture, there will be many things you’re uncertain about. To do big things, they need to see those uncertainties as opportunities. I also think it’s important for young entrepreneurs to know that when coming up with an idea, it doesn’t have to be original but just better than the one that currently exists.”

Q: How have you overcome any adversity? If so, what was it and how did you do it?
CW: “With any new venture, there is a learning curve. That has probably been my biggest adversity that I have had to overcome. My original idea has gone through many phases before it made it to what it is today. I’ve had to do a ton of research and work on the front end learning what tools were available to me at the lowest cost. Starting my own business has been fun but also a long arduous journey.”

Q: What type of initial success have you secured since launching the company?
CW: “My biggest success truly is the knowledge and experience I’ve gained. BeatGrid is just starting out. Hopefully, we’ll soon have many happy clients. But I’m certain this will not be my last venture into business. So, the experience is invaluable.”

Q: What are your favorite things to do in La Mesa when you have downtime from school and working on your business?
CW: “During the small amount of my time that I’m not working on my business, I enjoy heading to some of my favorite restaurants. My favorite is Sun Tacos in La Mesa, but if I’m in the mood for breakfast I head down to Sheldon’s in downtown La Mesa.”

SET High offers opportunities for students that are beyond the extracurricular activities found at typical high schools. SET High curriculum and extracurricular activities encourage leadership, social entrepreneurship, engineering, forensics, art, music, and more. Students who participate in supplementary activities generally benefit from the many opportunities afforded them. Benefits include having better grades, having higher standardized test scores and higher educational attainment, attending school more regularly, and having a higher self-concept. Students that participate in out-of-school activities also have an increased connectedness to the school and learn important life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and accountability. All of these benefits are needed for youth to succeed in any future career environment.

Connect with Camden and BeatGrid here: https://www.wearebeatgrid.com/. To learn more The School for Entrepreneurism & Technology, visit www.SETHigh.org or call 858-874-4338.

About The School for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SET)
The School for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SET High) is a nonprofit, comprehensive, four-year public charter high school serving grades nine through 12. SET High inspires and enables students to thrive both personally and professionally in a global, technology-driven society. Through an immersive education that includes the highest academic standards and a focus on applied learning, entrepreneurship, technology, and leadership, SET High provides the mindset, skill set, and dynamic environment necessary to launch the next generation of global citizens and leaders. The school inspires students to disrupt the traditional idea of success and to lead a new generation of socially responsible trailblazers who will shape the way we work and live.

Based in San Diego, Calif., SET High is fully accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). To learn more, please call (858) 874-4338 or visit www.sethigh.org. Connect with SET on Facebook and Twitter.