From Classroom to Company—How New Orleans Teen Founders Hayden Le and Grace Nguyen Are Redefining Outdoor Skincare with EcoAqua

Hayden Le and Grace Nguyen, 18-year-old co-founders of EcoAqua.

Meet the 2025-26 i.Invest Louisiana Youth Entrepreneur Grant recipients, Hayden Le and Grace Nguyen, the 18-year-old co-founders of EcoAqua and seniors at Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. As driven 12th-grade student entrepreneurs, Hayden and Grace are already making waves with an innovative, eco-conscious skincare solution designed specifically for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Their work was recognized through the i.Invest Competition, developed in partnership with the LifeSkills Foundation, a New Orleans–based nonprofit led by Executive Director Michelle Jackson. Since its founding in 2015, LifeSkills has provided funding, mentorship, and resources to promising youth entrepreneurs nationwide—helping young leaders turn real-world problems into impactful businesses. EcoAqua exemplifies what happens when youth innovation meets purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

Founder Q&A: How EcoAqua Is Changing Outdoor Skincare for Athletes and Adventurers

Q: What is EcoAqua, and what problem does it solve?

EcoAqua is a 3-in-1 moisturizing sunscreen and mosquito repellent cream created to simplify outdoor skincare while prioritizing skin health and environmental responsibility. Designed for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who are constantly on the move, EcoAqua combines SPF 50 sun protection, long-lasting mosquito repellency, and deep hydration in one easy-to-use product.

After surveying more than 150 student-athletes, the founders discovered a widespread issue: three out of five athletes regularly experience swelling, blisters, and intense itching from mosquito bites, as well as frequent sunburn. Existing solutions often require layering sunscreen and bug spray—products that don’t mix well and often leave skin feeling dry, sticky, irritated, or heavy. EcoAqua eliminates this problem by offering a single, effective formula that protects against both sun and insects while keeping skin moisturized and comfortable.

Q: Who inspired the creation of EcoAqua?

EcoAqua was inspired by personal experience. During a hot summer day in PE class, co-founder Hayden noticed that sunburns and mosquito bites discouraged students from fully participating in outdoor activities like kickball and basketball. Co-founder Grace, a competitive swimmer and avid fisher, faced constant exposure to mosquitoes and gnats, often waking up with swelling, bruises, and intense itching that interfered with her athletic performance and love for the outdoors.

Bonding over these shared frustrations, the founders realized this was not an isolated problem. As daughters of Vietnamese immigrants who shared stories of growing up in the harsh sun and with relentless mosquitoes, Hayden and Grace felt compelled to create a better solution—one that protected skin without sacrificing comfort or convenience.

Q: What makes EcoAqua unique?

EcoAqua stands apart through its clean, all-natural, and skin-friendly formulation. The product contains no harmful chemicals such as DEET or parabens. Instead, it uses citrus oils and picaridin for mosquito repellency, titanium dioxide for sun protection, and aloe vera with beeswax for hydration.

The non-greasy, fast-absorbing formula leaves no white cast and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. EcoAqua provides up to 90 minutes of UV protection (with reapplication encouraged every 2 hours) and up to 8 hours of mosquito-repellency, making it ideal for sports, travel, outdoor adventures, and everyday use.

Q: What social impact does EcoAqua aim to make?

EcoAqua demonstrates that sustainability and personal care can coexist. By combining sunscreen, bug repellent, and moisturizer into one product, EcoAqua helps reduce overconsumption and packaging waste. Beyond the product itself, the founders are committed to educating athletes and outdoor enthusiasts about proactive skin care habits that protect both long-term health and the environment.

EcoAqua is more than skincare—it’s protection, purpose, and peace of mind for every outdoor adventure.

Q: What are the next phases of the business development process, and what resources do you need to grow?

Participation in the Tulane YEA! program has been instrumental in advancing EcoAqua’s growth by providing structured mentorship, pitch coaching, and access to competitive entrepreneurial opportunities–including presenting its business concept at NOLA Entrepreneur Week 2025. Tulane YEA! also supported early customer discovery and acquisition efforts, helping translate EcoAqua’s science-backed prototype into a market-ready consumer product.

As a recipient of the i.Invest Louisiana Youth Entrepreneur Grant, EcoAqua received $500 to support business growth and mentorship from the i.Invest team, led by Jackson. The grant will fund hands-on STEM and entrepreneurship activities for EcoAqua affiliates, focusing on cosmetic chemistry product testing and business development. To learn how you can help bring their business idea to market, contact Michelle Jackson at mjackson@prsolutionsllc.org.

i.Invest 2024 Rising Start-up Grant Recipient: 14-Year-Old Aditya Hariharan Launches E.Dojo: A Virtual Martial Arts Platform for Accessible Karate Training

Aditya Hariharan, a 14-year-old student at Walter Panas High School in Cortlandt Manor, NY, is the founder of E.Dojo, a virtual martial arts platform designed to make karate training affordable and accessible to all. As a recipient of the 2024 i.Invest Rising Start-up Youth Entrepreneur Grant, awarded by LifeSkills Foundation, Aditya will receive $500 to help develop his business model. LifeSkills Foundation, based in New Orleans and led by Executive Director Michelle Jackson, has been dedicated to supporting young entrepreneurs since its founding in 2015. Through E.Dojo, Aditya is transforming the traditional approach to karate instruction, making it flexible, enjoyable, and tailored to each student’s needs.

Below is a Q&A discussion with Aditya about his work to build the E.Dojo platform:

Q: Describe your product or service.

E.Dojo is a virtual martial arts platform that offers a range of lessons designed to accommodate students of different skill levels and learning styles. The platform provides on-demand video lessons covering various karate techniques, such as kihons (basics), katas (forms), kumite (sparring and self-defense), and even weapon training. Each lesson is customized to a student’s belt rank and age, ensuring a personalized learning experience.

Students can also participate in interactive activities like follow-along videos, training assignments, and competitions with their peers. After completing their assignments, they submit videos for evaluation by certified instructors, who offer feedback and award BUDO Points—a reward system that motivates students by allowing them to earn eco-friendly products and other prizes. To ensure flexibility, students can also attend live virtual "Dojo Hours" for real-time instruction and feedback from instructors. After mastering their techniques, students test for their next rank through a method of  their choice, reducing anxiety and stress.

Q: What inspired the creation of your product?

The inspiration for E.Dojo came from my personal experiences with martial arts. As a black belt and employee at a local karate school, I’ve spent eight years learning and four years leading classes. Throughout my journey, I noticed many challenges with traditional karate instruction, particularly the rigid scheduling. It was difficult to fit classes into my already busy school and extracurricular schedule, and I often had to switch locations or miss classes altogether. Many of my peers faced similar struggles too.

E.Dojo addresses these issues by offering an on-demand curriculum that allows students to learn at their own pace, anywhere and anytime. By offering flexibility and affordability, E.Dojo ensures that martial arts education is accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial or scheduling constraints. E.Dojo helps students overcome the obstacles I faced and ensure they could enjoy martial arts training without the burden of rigid structures.

Q: What social impact does your company/product demonstrate?

E.Dojo is committed to democratizing martial arts, making karate training accessible to children from all walks of life, including those from underprivileged or remote communities. By providing affordable virtual lessons, E.Dojo empowers children to learn martial arts in a way that promotes fitness, discipline, and self-confidence. Our platform’s adaptability also ensures that children with different learning styles or abilities, including those with disabilities, can participate and succeed.

In addition, E.Dojo emphasizes sustainability. We recycle uniforms and encourage students to repurpose household items for training. Students also earn BUDO Points by engaging in community service activities like tree planting and volunteering. By promoting environmental consciousness and social responsibility, E.Dojo encourages students to improve themselves and their communities.

Q: What are the benefits of your product for kids?

According to the National Institutes of Health, martial arts training improves determination, consistency, and motivation, as well as enhanced strength, agility, endurance, flexibility, and cardiovascular health. However, traditional training often comes with high costs and rigid schedules, making it difficult for many families to access. E.Dojo solves this problem by providing a more affordable and flexible alternative.

With our platform, students can access a wide range of on-demand lessons and practice at their own pace. This ensures that students, regardless of their backgrounds, can enjoy the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of martial arts. Whether they’re learning for fun, fitness, or discipline, E.Dojo helps students set and achieve their goals in a way that works for them.

Congratulations to the E. Dojo team! To connect with him and provide support and/or mentorship, please contact Michelle Jackson at mjackson@i-investcompetition.com.

Meet the 2024 i.Invest Rising Start-up Grant Recipient: Share-On - Supporting Teenage Mental Health through Innovation and Advocacy

Sharon Lu and Amolika Sudhir, along with Nikhil Krishnaswamy, all 16-year-old students from Lynbrook High School in San Jose, California, and Cupertino High School respectively, have been honored as recipients of the 2024 i.Invest Rising Start-up Youth Entrepreneur Grant. This initiative is administered by the i.Invest Competition and LifeSkills Foundation, a non-profit organization based in New Orleans under the leadership of Executive Director Michelle Jackson. Since its establishment in 2015, LifeSkills has been dedicated to providing financial support and guidance to talented young entrepreneurs across the country.

Their venture, Share-On, is set to receive a grant of $500 to further enhance their innovative business approach, which is centered around offering mental health assistance to teenagers. With this funding, the Share-On team is poised to enhance their platform and continue making a positive impact on their local community.

Below is a Q&A discussion with Sharon about her work to build the Share-On platform:

Q: What is Share-On, and what does it offer?

Share-On is a mental wellness app designed by teens, for teens, offering a unique, anonymous platform where users can connect with each other daily through AI-generated prompts. These prompts focus on various aspects of mental health and wellness, providing a fresh topic each day that encourages reflection, mindfulness, and connectivity. By offering a safe space for anonymous interaction, Share-On empowers teens to share their experiences, offer support, and learn from their peers, all while maintaining confidentiality. Additionally, the app collects anonymous data on common challenges faced by teens, which helps us advocate for mental health awareness through our non-profit.

Q: Who or what inspired the creation of Share-On?

Share-On was inspired by the evident lack of accessible and useful resources for teens struggling with mental health. We initially created a non-profit organization, which can be checked out at: Share-on.org, which has shown exponential growth since its launch in August 2024. We have, therefore, seen the need for such a platform for teens, which inspired the creation and development of Share-On’s app.

Q: What social impact does Share-On aim to achieve?

Share-On addresses the social stigma and privacy concerns that limit many teens from seeking mental health support. By providing a platform that allows users to remain completely anonymous, we break down barriers that prevent teens from seeking help. The data we collect (while ensuring user privacy) helps us identify common mental health issues faced by teens. We then use this information to advocate for mental health awareness and solutions through community outreach events organized through our non-profit. Our platform is not just about providing resources but also about sparking change by raising awareness around the mental health issues teens face today.

Q: What makes Share-On unique?

Share-On is more than just a wellness app; it's a community platform that harnesses the power of anonymity and peer connection to support teen mental health. By offering a daily prompt system with a focus on mental wellness, Share-On keeps users engaged while providing them with a safe space to express themselves. The app is designed to be accessible, engaging, and relevant, ensuring that teens feel supported every day.

Q: What problem does Share-On solve for its users?

Share-On tackles the gap in accessible, affordable mental health care for teens. There is a huge demand for adequate mental health resources for teens due to various reasons such as the stress of school, family, etc. This is why learning good stress management strategies at a young age is imperative and can positively affect lives later on. Traditional wellness apps often target adults and fail to address the specific needs of teens, while also being expensive. The challenge is to create a safe, supportive, affordable, and interactive environment where teens can share their thoughts and experiences while making valuable connections.

Q: How does Share-On differ from other mental health platforms?

Unlike most AI chat platforms, Share-On is specifically designed for teen mental health. While other platforms might provide generic advice or charge fees, Share-On offers a specialized resource that is always accessible and easy to use. Our AI is trained to give the most relevant and accurate advice tailored to the unique challenges teens face. Furthermore, Share-On is not just a mental health tool—it’s an advocacy platform that uses data-driven insights to push for societal change around teen mental health issues.

Q: Who is the target audience for Share-On?

Share-On is designed for teens, particularly those between the ages of 13 to 18. We are initially starting by targeting teens within the United States, and later on look to globalize our reach.

Since our platform is built by teens for teens, it is uniquely suited to understanding and addressing the mental health challenges faced by today’s youth.

Q. How will the grant funds be used?

The money will be used to support our AI and website expenses, as well as bolster marketing efforts, and will allow us to continue to make an impact on the world.

Congratulations to the Share-On team! To connect with their team and provide support and/or mentorship, please contact Michelle Jackson at mjackson@i-investcompetition.com.