Young Entrepreneurs Turning AI into Profit

There’s a growing wave of young people leveraging AI to launch highly profitable ventures. From side hustles to startups, here’s a look at how it's happening:

Young Entrepreneurs Turning AI into Profit

1. University Startups & Funding Success

Two undergrads from Southampton University, Samuel Aaron (22) and Jamie Horsnell (21), founded Mytender, an AI-powered tool that helps businesses write better bids. They secured £250,000 in funding and now generate over £10,000 each month—all before graduation.(The Times, AiSuperSmart)
At just 16, Indian-born Pranjali Awasthi launched Delv.AI, a research and PDF summarization tool. Within a year, the platform was valued at about $12 million and had secured $450,000 in backing.(SoftCircles)
On a global scale, founders like Demi Guo and Chenlin Meng of Pika raised $135 million with a nearly $470 million valuation for a text-to-video AI application that serves millions.(Forbes)

2. Solo Ventures & AI Solopreneurship

Solopreneurs are building impressive income streams using AI:
- A creator sold $150,000 in courses in under six months using AI-generated scriptwriting and narration.(Justin Tsui)
- A faceless AI-powered YouTube channel is reportedly bringing in $10,000/month purely through ad revenue.(Justin Tsui)
- Another digital product creator built a passive income of $220,000/year by selling AI-guided Notion templates.(Justin Tsui)
- There are micro SaaS and AI tools like SiteGPT earning $250,000 in their first year.(Justin Tsui)

3. Content Creation & Digital Hustles

Teens and creators are using AI to generate animated stories, scripts, images, and voiceovers for YouTube—lowering barriers to entry and making monetization accessible.(LinkedIn)
The rise of “AI slop” content—fast, eye-catching videos created using tools like ChatGPT and ElevenLabs—is turning heads on TikTok and YouTube. Some creators are earning thousands monthly, even forgoing school or traditional jobs to lean into the trend.(The Washington Post)
A real-world example: a college student named Jenna earns over $1,000 per week selling a coffee-brewing guide created and marketed through Rally.Fan’s AI tools.(The Sun)

4. New Forms of “Coding”—Vibe Coding

"Vibe coding" is becoming a legit skill: using AI platforms like ChatGPT or GitHub Copilot, creators build apps, websites, and interactive tech with minimal traditional coding. The emphasis is on vision and experimentation—not syntax.(Tom's Guide)

What Makes AI Profitable for Young Creators

Element	Why It Works
Low barrier to entry	AI tools like ChatGPT, Canva, ElevenLabs, etc., are accessible, even for non-tech-savvy users.
Scalability	Once created, digital products or AI tools can be sold repeatedly with little extra effort or cost.
Speed and automation	AI accelerates content creation—from writing to visuals to voice—so solo creators can do more in less time.
Multiple monetization channels	Earnings come from ad revenue, product sales, pitches, SaaS subscriptions, or YouTube partnerships.
Investor interest	Successful projects often attract funding—whether it’s university startup backing or VC investment.

Final Thoughts

Young people today—students, solopreneurs, budding developers—are all tapping into AI not just as a tool, but as a business engine. From affordable side hustles like digital guides to AI-powered SaaS and university-funded startups, the opportunities are real, profitable, and wide open.

If you're thinking of starting something yourself, I’d be happy to help you explore project ideas or map out how AI tools could fuel your goals. What area interests you most—content creation, automation, AI tools, or something else?