A touching and impressive story of an 11-year-old girl and her grandfather not only garnered attention, but also made the girl a multimillionaire. 10 years later, things are still looking up.
What motivated the girl? 11-year-old Lily Born realized that her grandfather, who was suffering from Parkinson’s disease, had trouble holding a cup and drinking from it without spilling.
That’s why she thought about how she could help him and came up with the idea to develop a cup with a special shape that would provide her grandpa with better stability.
What started as a prototype made of clay thought up by a child ultimately came to fruition when her father learned of his daughter’s plans. He then launched a crowdfunding campaign to further develop and market the prototype. They experimented with different materials, plastic and ceramic. And finally, the so-called “Kangaroo Cup” emerged, which not only eased the life of Lily’s grandfather but also helped many people with Parkinson’s.
From a child’s clay prototype to a successful business
What is Lily doing 10 years later? Lily is now 21 years old and still deeply involved in her passion in the business world. She is the CEO and head of the development department at Imagiroo, the company she founded to produce cups.
Since her story went viral years ago, she has made several appearances in various news outlets, has been recognized as “Business Insider’s Top 11-Year-Old in Tech” and was listed as one of Mochi’s “25 Game Changers Under 25.”
The Kangaroo Cup has also been featured in various exhibitions, fairs, and museums.
How does the cup function? There are now various models of the Kangaroo Cup designed to prevent spilling drinks through their shape and weight distribution.
With the 3 legs, they are supposed to provide a more stable base, so the cup doesn’t tip over easily. Additionally, they offer a larger grip area due to their wide and ergonomic shape, making them easier to hold for individuals with limited motor skills compared to a regular cup.
The story of Lily and her grandfather remains inspiring even 10 years later and deserves to be revisited. Other young people see a possibility for self-realization in social media, where, however, they are less protected than they rightfully should be: Tens of thousands follow 12-year-olds on social media, but the kids’ main platform hardly protects them
