Meet Josh
I’m Josh, a 15-year-old entrepreneur from Cleveland, Ohio, with a big passion for creating things people love. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit—since elementary school, I have been making things to sell around the neighborhood and to friends. It hasn’t always been easy. I happen to have a stutter. But, it has taught me to persevere and to keep pushing forward, especially when it comes to sharing my ideas and connecting with others.
During the 2020 lockdown, I started my first business: “Cooking Classes for Kids by Kids”. I taught these classes on Zoom, and they really took off. At a time when everyone was feeling isolated, these classes helped people connect, and I soon had students from all over the country and even other parts of the world.
Canning Is My Jam!
About the Jam
After a year and hundreds of classes, I decided to try something new and got into gardening. I built a large garden in my backyard, growing everything from tomatoes to beans, and taught myself to can and preserve the produce.
Because I knew how to can, of course the logical thing to do would be to start making jam, so that’s what I did, I started experimenting with jam, and it quickly became a hit with family and friends. I began selling it door-to-door, and as demand grew, I expanded to local farmers’ markets.
Since 2021, I’ve grown my brand, Jam by Josh, and have sold at hundreds of markets. I’m also connected with organizations for young entrepreneurs and have received a few grants to help expand the business.
What’s Next?
My ultimate dream is to see my jams on grocery store shelves across the country, spreading the unique flavor of handcrafted, small-batch quality to households everywhere.
My journey so far has shown me that with hard work, dedication, and a lot of heart, even the smallest of ideas has the potential to grow and flourish in unexpected ways. I hope that Jam by Josh inspires others to chase their own passions and believe in the power of persistence.