Girls Mean Business, The Startup Squad Giveaway

The Startup Squad is a series by Brian Weisfeld, a former executive who was inspired by his daughters to create the novels. This middle grade series about friendship and entrepreneurship, written with Fix-It Friends author Nicole C. Kear, lays the groundwork for Weisfeld’s continuing mission to help girls realize their potential and follow their dreams, whatever their passion, through practicing entrepreneurship at an early age. 

Party Problems (The Startup Squad #3, Macmillan, ages 8-12) continues the story of a diverse group of young friends who learn to work together to overcome the unique challenges of running their own business. Along with compelling stories, each book delivers information, inspiration and aspiration for the next generation of female CEOs, with tips for kids starting or running their first businesses, and a profile of a real-life girl CEO.

The Startup Squad was founded on the belief that even a simple lemonade stand can help girls develop a growth mindset, learn to approach challenges with grit, and get comfortable with risk failure—and learning to start again. These are lessons that will serve them well in life regardless of the path they choose. In 2021, Brian will be working with influential organizations, such as Girls Inc of NYC, Entre-Ed: The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education, and girls scout troops across the nation to continue donating books to underprivileged kids so cost will not be a barrier to accessing this valuable resource. To date, more than 10,000 copies have been donated.

Brian’s work reaches from coast to coast. Brian will be leading and co-hosting panels with local teen and tween girl business owners all over the country in conjunction with bookstores, scout groups, nonprofit organizations and youth entrepreneurship groups. The goal is to highlight the amazing businesses being run by these groundbreaking young entrepreneurs and to inspire more girls to pursue their passions and achieve their goals.

Visit thestartupsquad.com for more information, inspiring profiles of savvy girls, and advice on launching your own small business. Information on tour dates, panels and media will also be featured.

Get all the books in the series:

THE STARTUP SQUAD | Imprint | On sale 5/7/2019 | Ages 8-12 | 176 pages |

Paperback | ISBN: 9781250180414 | $7.99 Hardcover | ISBN: 9781250180407 | $16.99

Girls mean business in a brand-new series about friendship and entrepreneurship that Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal-winning author of The One and Only Ivan, calls “A great read!”

All the great leaders had to start somewhere. And Teresa (“Resa” for short) is starting with the lemonade stand competition her teacher assigned to the class―but making it a success is going to be a lot harder than Resa thinks.

The prize: line-skipping tickets to Adventure Central. The competition: Val, Resa’s middle school nemesis. And the biggest obstacle to success: Resa’s own teammates. Harriet is the class clown, Amelia is the new girl who thinks she knows best, and Didi is Resa’s steadfast friend―who doesn’t know the first thing about making or selling lemonade. The four of them quickly realize that the recipe for success is tough to perfect―but listening to each other is the first step. And making new friends might be the most important one…

The back of each book in this middle-grade series features tips from the Startup Squad and an inspirational profile of a girl entrepreneur!

FACE THE MUSIC | Imprint | On sale 5/5/2020 | Ages 8-12 | 192 pages |

Paperback | ISBN: 9781250180469 | $7.99 Hardcover | ISBN: 9781250180452| $16.99

Girls mean business in The Startup Squad: Face the Music, the second novel in the series, which Kirkus Reviews calls “an enjoyable and diverse story highlighting friendship, entrepreneurship, and perseverance.”

Harriet’s brothers are hoping to enter a local battle of the bands. Winning could get them on a reality TV show! But low funds have left them without even a working guitar. The Startup Squad jumps into action―and quickly pulls together a plan to sell T-shirts to raise money.

The girls have a lot of great ideas―until everything starts to go wrong. When all the problems start turning disappointed fans into an angry mob, the girls realize they have to get back into the groove before the band members―and the Startup Squad―break up for good!

Each book in this middle-grade series by Brian Weisfeld and Nicole C. Kear also features tips for kids starting or running their first businesses, plus a profile of a real-life tween girl CEO.

PARTY PROBLEMS | Imprint | On sale 5/4/2021 | Ages 8-12 | 176 pages |

Paperback | ISBN: 9781250180520 | $7.99 Hardcover | ISBN: 9781250180513| $16.99

Girls mean business in the third novel of this series about friendship and entrepreneurship that Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal-winning author of The One and Only Ivan, calls “A great read!”

All four friends in the Startup Squad want to raise money―but when they can’t agree on what business to start next, they strike off on their own. Didi’s idea seems perfect: making place cards for a wedding.

But after the wedding planner gets sick, Didi finds herself in charge of everything―and then the caterer cancels and the band goes missing! Didi’s business is turning from a dream to a disaster. Will the Startup Squad come together in time to save the wedding?

Each book in this middle-grade series by Brian Weisfeld and Nicole C. Kear also features tips for kids starting or running their first businesses, plus a profile of a real-life tween girl CEO.

About the Authors:

Brian Weisfeld has helped build a number of well-known billion-dollar companies including IMAX Corporation and Coupons.com. He is the Founder and Chief Squad Officer of The Startup Squad, an initiative dedicated to helping girls reach their potential and follow their dreams, whatever their passions. Brian lives in Silicon Valley with his wife and two daughters. You can check out thestartupsquad.com or follow @thestartupsquad on social media for more info. 

Nicole C. Kear lives in New York City with her husband, three firecracker kids and a ridiculously fluffy hamster. She’s the author of The Fix-It Friends chapter book series, as well as middle grade standalone Foreverland. 

One winner will receive a boxed paperback set of all 3 books in the series, an exclusive Startup Squad tote bag, earrings, bookmark, stickers, and temporary tattoos, and a $20 gift card to Earrings by Emma — a small business started by girlpreneurEmma when she was just 8 years old! 

Giveaway open to entrants living in the US. Must be 18+ or have parents permission to enter. Only one entry per household allowed. Prizing and samples provided by Media Masters Publicity. Giveaway ends July 8, 2021. Visit Giveaway Terms & Conditions for additional details and rules.