La Mesa student harnesses passion for entrepreneurship

As a sophomore at The School for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SET High), Camden Weisbruch, 15, has quickly fused 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 skill sets they are building every day in the classroom.

As a sophomore at The School for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SET High), Camden Weisbruch, 15, has quickly fused 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 skill sets they are building every day in the classroom.

Founded in March 2017, Beat Grid 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 skill sets 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.

Weisbruch said he started BeatGrid because he saw a need in the market and that he realized there was not a lot of affordable help for artists at the beginning of their careers.

“I had two friends that showed interest in the field of becoming a DJ,” he said. “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.”

Throughout his business venture, Weisbruch said SET was behind him all the way and ready to help him work 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,” he said.

Remembering one of his school mottos, “Uncertainty as Opportunity,” is something Weisbruch said other students should keep in mind if they want to start a business themselves.

“When starting any new venture, there will be many things you’re uncertain about,” he said. “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.”

He said it is important to realize that with any new venture there is a learning curve and this was the largest obstacle he had to overcome. His project has gone through many phases from his original idea, but with a lot of research and work on the front end, he learned what the best tools were at the lowest cost that helped make BeatGrid the success it is today.

“Starting my own business has been fun but also a long arduous journey,” he said. “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.”

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 at 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.