Start-up founders rap and inspire at IMS

For years now, eighth-graders at Islander Middle School have gathered for an annual assembly at the end of the year meant to uplift them as they prepare to enter high school. In years past, mountaineers have been a popular choice. But this year, IMS activities coordinator Lori Langston decided to think “outside of the box.”

“I was determined not to have another mountain climber,” she said.

Instead, Internet viral-marketing entrepreneurs Beau Lewis and Peter Furia, founders of a small start-up company, Seedwell.com, presented a message that they hoped would capture the young teen’s attention: turning your passions into career success.

Langston said she chose Lewis, the child of a family friend, because he embodies the ideas in the School District’s 2020 Vision concept.

“He follows his passion; he’s got an eclectic background,” she said.

And Lewis and Furia did not disappoint. The duo rapped their way through part of a presentation to over 370 eighth-graders, urging the students to find a way to do what they love and make a career out of it. Their company, less than a year old, has had some success and has accumulated over 9 million views of their marketing product online.

Before the Seattle native started his own company, Lewis began working after college at local tech companies Microsoft and Zillow. But he found much of his creative interests in technology, music and video untapped.

“What I got out of these jobs was how to combine these things and create something,” he said.

So Lewis quit his tech job and went about exploring his passions. He said the experience helped him find a career where he loved his work.

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