For students, by students

Co-founders

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  Allen Xu

  Co-Founder

  Allen is a junior at Naperville North HS interested in social innovation and finance. A three-time international finalist in entrepreneurship competitions like the Conrad Challenge & Blue Ocean Competition, and grand winner of the 2025 Harvard International Economics Essay Competition, he hopes to use what he has learned to help younger students turn imagination into innovation. As a kid, Allen spent winters watching Shark Tank and summers running lemonade stands in his cul-de-sac. After discovering that 90% of K–8 schools in Naperville do not offer business classes, he co-founded BizBuzz with Aarav, alongside other EdTech platforms, to help students like him find their ideas and the courage to share them.

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  Aarav Khullar

  Co-Founder

  Aarav is a junior at Naperville North HS with a passion for business and fostering youth entrepreneurship. Growing up watching Shark Tank with his dad, he always dreamed of starting a high-quality business but never had any opportunities or support to do so. Seeing this same disparity affect hundreds of other young students in his community, he co-founded BizBuzz with one of his best friends, Allen, to give elementary & middle schoolers the kind of opportunity he never had. Now, as a startup founder himself, internationally awarded by the Walt Disney Company for his leadership, and named a Top 100 Emerging Innovator of 2025, Aarav hopes to translate the skills he's learned to empower the youth.

2026 leadership team

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  Taksh Taware

  President

  Read bio of Taksh Taware

  Taksh was an Executive Director of BizBuzz, where he has helped grow the program and raise thousands of dollars to expand opportunities for young entrepreneurs. He is the founder of VentureLab and Demo Day, two of BizBuzz's most impactful programs that give students real hands-on experience building and pitching their ideas. A passionate leader, he was a key driver behind BizBuzz in 2025, focusing on building a strong, impactful community. Taksh is also an Illinois DECA State Champion and a Physics State Champion, showcasing both business and analytical excellence. Outside the classroom, he plays soccer and values teamwork and discipline. He is currently conducting research at UIC, continuing to explore innovation and problem-solving at a higher level.

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  Amar Goyal

  Vice President

  Read bio of Amar Goyal

  Amar is a student developer with a background in software engineering. On his FRC robotics team's software subteam, he wrote the code for the robot's shooter mechanism, and the team earned a spot at the 2026 FRC Championship. As Vice President, he leads BizBuzz technical work. He builds and maintains the platforms behind every camp, session, and demo day. Amar keeps the tools simple so students stay focused on their ideas.

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  Lakhi Thotakura

  Chief Operating Officer

  Read bio of Lakhi Thotakura

  Lakhi keeps BizBuzz running behind the scenes. As COO, she coordinates logistics across camps, sessions, and events, making sure everything from scheduling to execution actually comes together. She brings a sharp eye for organization and a genuine passion for making youth entrepreneurship programs as impactful as possible.

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  Elena Kang Chou

  Chief Marketing Officer

  Read bio of Elena Kang Chou

  Elena leads BizBuzz's brand and outreach efforts, shaping how the program is seen and heard by students, families, and the broader community. She has a knack for turning big ideas into compelling stories, and her work across social media and marketing has helped BizBuzz reach more young entrepreneurs every year.

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  Abby May

  Chief Financial Officer

  Read bio of Abby May

  Abby manages the financial side of BizBuzz, overseeing budgeting and resource allocation to keep programs sustainable and growing. She is passionate about financial literacy and believes that understanding money is one of the most important skills a young entrepreneur can have.

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  Elizabeth Gao

  Executive Director

  Read bio of Elizabeth Gao

  Elizabeth helps drive the overall direction of BizBuzz as Executive Director, working across teams to make sure programs are well-coordinated and student-focused. She is deeply committed to expanding access to entrepreneurship education and plays a key role in keeping BizBuzz growing year over year.

Instructors

Onkar Lidder

Onkar brings technical expertise and innovative teaching methods to BizBuzz. He's passionate about making complex business concepts accessible to young learners.

Abhinav Byju

Abhinav combines his interests in science and entrepreneurship to help students explore the intersection of STEM and business innovation.

Anay Apte

Anay is dedicated to fostering creativity and critical thinking in young entrepreneurs. He brings energy and enthusiasm to every session.

Ankita Senapati

Ankita is passionate about financial literacy and youth empowerment. She brings her experience from hosting workshops to help students succeed.

Ansh Shah

Ansh is passionate about STEM and entrepreneurship. He focuses on helping students build practical skills for their future ventures.

Ben Gula

Ben brings his passion for aviation and business to BizBuzz. He enjoys helping students explore unique perspectives in entrepreneurship.

Hadley Benson

Hadley combines her love for innovation with effective teaching methods. She's passionate about fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Wes Karubas

Wes brings his entrepreneurial experience from running his own ventures to help inspire and guide young business minds.

Yuju Cho

Yuju is passionate about helping students discover their potential in business. She brings fresh perspectives to entrepreneurship education.

Zahra Moosani

Zahra combines creativity with organization to make learning engaging. She's dedicated to helping students discover their entrepreneurial potential.

Rehaan John

Rehaan brings enthusiasm and innovative teaching approaches to BizBuzz. He's committed to helping young students develop their entrepreneurial skills and turn their ideas into reality.