Sarah Prevette is the founder of Sprouter, a collaboration tool for entrepreneurs where they can share knowledge and communicate with other entrepreneurs.

So what is so unique about it? Well it is focused towards expanding the network of entrepreneurs specifically. The primary aim is to connect with those you do not know, rather than other applications which are either socially focused or mainly about maintaining relationships with people you were already connected to.

This is not Sarah’s first start up, she also founded upinion.com, a tween pop culture community. She found it more of a struggle not having entrepreneurial peers around her and so this was the bases for Redwire which rebranded as Sprouter in 2009. It also now takes on a Twitter like format where users can only use 140 characters. Sprouter currently has over 15,000 users and is rapidly growing.

Sarah is also a bit of a philantrapist and she helps spearhead the ‘Twestival Toronto’ event every year. It is an event which brings together Twitter communities from around the as part of a fundraising initiative. Twestivals are held in many locations and Sarah’s Twestival in Toronto raised $20,000 of the $460,000 total.

Sarah’s favourite thing about being an entrepreneur ‘is the privilege of spending each moment of your life working on your passion.’

Some advice from Sarah for budding entrepreneurs, well first of all, “Just go for it”, take the leap, you have to take the risk to have a chance of making it big.

Also “you are going to fail, just know that and accept it before you start!”

You will always come across problems but learn from it and adapt, nothing goes to plan, but the quicker you adapt to change the more successful you will be and it is the same whether you are working 9 -5 or you have your own start up.

“Isolation Kills” is another piece of advice from Sarah. In other words take advice, bounce ideas, get opinions, ask questions, people are a valuable resource so use them, they want to give their opinions, you never know it might be useful!

Sarah has expanded her team to four and they will no doubt grow larger in the future as Sprouters popularity picks up more and more.

Did you like it? For more posts like this, please subscribe to our RSS feed, Become a fan or follow us on Twitter.

Hi Guys, I had the opportunity to speak to a very interesting entrepreneur, who recently started his jewellery business, he is very involved in the philanthropical world.

Hope you enjoy it.

Hi Khotso, how are you doing, welcome to YHP

I’m doing well, thanks for having me

Can you give us some background information about yourself?

I am 20 years old, I am quite multi-African. I was born and lived in Cote D’Ivoire until 1996. I am half Sierra Leone and half from Lesotho (known as a Mosotho). I came to UK, Kingston University for my degree in 2008.

Name one Interesting fact about yourself?

I am the only person from Lesotho from my entire university.

I know you’re very active in the Philanthropical world, how did you get involved?

As soon as I reached the UK I saw a bursting world of opportunities to grasp, I took first homage within the United Nations Association Kingston Unviersity (UNAKU) (http://www.unaku.co.uk/). For the past two years I grew from being an active member to becoming the Campaigns Officer 2009 – 2010, the best highlights were the ability to help and inspire people within the university community, and to co-organise a Week For Haiti event in partnership with multiple Kingston University Societies, held in February 2010 for the Haiti Earthquake, it raised £3000.

The money was donated to the World Food Programme (http://www.wfp.org/students-and-teachers/blog/students-action-haiti) and the event was awarded the Best Achieving Event of the Year from the University Student Union . Am truly happy that it provided over 180000 cups of food to children in Haiti. During the same academic year I began my entrepreneurial life.

Tell me about your company sk2l jewellery?

Sk2l Jewellery began as a university project, the project allowed me, literally as much freedom as possible, for me to challenge and surpass my comfort zone boundaries, reaching a new level of personal development. It also inspired me to carry a multicultural message, as myself being from different nationalities I felt I needed to carry and promote that message to those whom are interested.

Selling Jewellery was an inspired idea by a fellow partner. Therefore the two were coupled together to educate and fashionise. Throughout the year my team members and I gradually grew the company. I had set a strategy at the beginning of the year, all I knew was I wanted to accomplish the vision, if not all at least most within the academic year. We initially sold to friends and family and then ran 4 Stall Sale events within the Kingston University Campuses; today the objective is to take sk2l Jewellery to new heights!

What ways have you been able to create awareness and bring some exposure to your business?

Sk2l Jewellery ran an online event between the 7th – 18th June, which included a blog launch to describe Sk2L History, to build a starter relationship with customers, cultural education messages through facebook and twitter, and an online store which launched on the 14th June – 18th only, to reach a wider audience to customers that are interested in unique Kurdish jewellery, not available in large commercial jewellery chains.

Thanks for your time Khotso, I wish you the best

Thanks Joseph for having me

Enjoy http://sk2ljewellery.bigcartel.com/