While you were stressing about calculus homework, Dylan Capshaw was closing business deals and building an empire that’s about to blow your mind.
Picture this: You’re 14, broke as a joke, and stuck at home during COVID lockdown. Most teens were binge-watching Netflix or perfecting their TikTok dances. But Dylan Capshaw? He was plotting his path to six figures from his family’s garage, armed with nothing but flowers and an entrepreneurial spirit that would make Mark Cuban jealous.
Fast forward five years, and this Arizona State University sophomore has turned his pandemic flower hustle into Stemistry – a booming coffee and flower bar chain that’s expanding across Arizona and eyeing national domination. Oh, and did we mention he’s serving 24-karat gold lattes? Because apparently, regular coffee is for peasants.
From Zero to Hero in Record Time
When COVID hit and everyone was complaining about being stuck inside, Dylan saw opportunity knocking. “Flowers happened to be readily available for me, and I started selling them online,” he explains with the casual confidence of someone who’s clearly figured out the cheat codes to life.
But here’s where it gets absolutely wild – this kid went from having literally zero dollars in his bank account to stacking $100,000 by age 14. While his friends were asking their parents for lunch money, Dylan was making moves that would impress Wall Street executives.
The secret sauce? Dylan’s generation has something previous entrepreneurs could only dream of. “I think our generation is so lucky to have the Internet and unlimited resources at our fingertips,” he says. “Nowadays, if I have a question, I can ChatGPT. Back then, I would just watch a YouTube video and really get the answer to any question I had.”
The College Plot Twist That Nobody Saw Coming
Here’s where Dylan’s story takes a turn that’s honestly kind of hilarious. This successful business owner spent his entire life saying college wasn’t for him. He was making bank, living his best entrepreneur life, and basically proving that the traditional path isn’t the only way to success.
But then his parents did the most parent thing ever – they finally agreed that maybe college wasn’t necessary for their millionaire teenager. And what did Dylan do? Immediately decided he wanted the full college experience.
“I wanted to socialize, get the dorm experience, and you’re only so young once,” he admits. Currently juggling business empire management with Arizona State coursework, Dylan’s proving you can literally have it all if you’re smart about it.
The Real Tea on Building a Business Empire
While your friends are focused on getting the latest designer gear or that perfect Instagram aesthetic, Dylan’s playing a completely different game. “A lot of my friends focus on the end goal. They see people starting businesses, and they focus on wealth, or maybe getting a nice car, a nice watch,” he observes. “But money was never the reason I was in business.”
When Dylan hit that $100K milestone, instead of going on a shopping spree, he immediately started planning his next move. “I said, alright. What’s another business I can get into using the capital that I’ve raised?” Because apparently, when you’re a teen entrepreneurial genius, money isn’t for spending – it’s for multiplying.
The result? Stemistry, where coffee meets flowers in the most Instagram-worthy way possible. Multiple locations across Arizona, expansion plans for the entire United States, and yes, those viral 24-karat gold lattes that taste as rich as they look.
Why Gen Z is About to Change Everything
Dylan’s success isn’t just a one-off fluke – it’s a preview of what’s coming. “I really would say my generation has so many friends with the same kind of entrepreneurial spirit,” he explains. “I think the American dream is more alive than ever now.”
Think about it: This generation has grown up with the internet, learned to adapt during a global pandemic, and has access to tools and resources that didn’t exist even ten years ago. They’re not waiting for permission or for someone to hand them opportunities – they’re creating their own.
Dylan’s advice for anyone thinking about starting their own venture? “Focus on your goals personally and see how far you could take that on your own.” Translation: Stop making excuses and start making moves.
The Bottom Line
While most college students are trying to figure out their major, Dylan Capshaw has already figured out his life. From selling flowers online during COVID to running a multi-location business empire, all while maintaining his college GPA, this 19-year-old is living proof that age is just a number when you’ve got vision and hustle.
So the next time you’re scrolling through social media feeling like you’re behind in life, remember Dylan’s story. Success isn’t about having the perfect plan or waiting for the “right time” – it’s about starting where you are, with what you have, and being willing to learn as you go.
Who knows? Your garage might just be the birthplace of the next big thing. And if Dylan’s serving gold lattes at 19, imagine what he’ll be up to by 25.
The American dream isn’t dead – it’s just wearing a Gen Z hoodie and building empires one ChatGPT query at a time.