When Sophia Abdulhussein of SLI The Sidney Ledson School stood up to pitch her idea at the 2025 National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, the room listened. Representing the Grade 1/2 category, Sophia presented My Own Bottle — a business offering customizable water bottles that reflect personal style while solving a familiar everyday challenge.
“My favourite part about the project was when I came up with the idea about water bottles,” Sophia shared. “I really liked thinking about all the different ways people could customize their own bottle. It was fun to come up with many examples of different styles of water bottles.”
Her idea may sound simple, but it resonated deeply with both judges and attendees. Sophia identified a clear, relatable problem — mix-ups and confusion over water bottles — and offered a cheerful, creative solution: bottles that could be personalized by color, material, and name.
A Business Rooted in Personal Expression and Function
In her pitch, Sophia explained that the bottles would be available in plastic and metal varieties, with the potential for names, colors, and unique decorative features based on customer preferences. This mix of utility and personalization gave My Own Bottle a clear and accessible appeal to a broad audience, especially families with young children.
During her presentation, Sophia demonstrated strong visuals and a clear grasp of her product’s purpose. She remained poised and presented clearly, with a confidence beyond her years!
Recognition and Judge Feedback
Sophia’s presentation was evaluated by a panel of professionals, including Karen Lau and Christina Mattina, both of whom have extensive experience supporting young entrepreneurs. Judges appreciated the clarity of Sophia’s idea and her ability to explain it concisely.
One judge noted that the concept addressed a very real issue for families and had strong potential for scalability. Another highlighted the smart decision to offer both metal and plastic options, indicating an understanding of pricing and user needs.
Her winning pitch stood out not just for its creativity, but for the way she thought through the user experience — combining personalization, sustainability, and practicality in a product that children would be excited to use.
A Bright Start
Sophia Abdulhussein’s success at the 2025 Challenge proves that even the youngest entrepreneurs can spot everyday problems and turn them into smart business ideas. With My Own Bottle, she not only earned top honours in her category but also inspired others with her thoughtful, joyful approach to entrepreneurship.
She now joins the ranks of Winner Magazine's Brilliant Youth Award recipients — and we’re certain this is only the beginning of her journey.
Congratulations, Sophia Abdulhussein — 2025 Winner, Grade 1/2 Business Youth Category!