EXCLUSIVE: Interview with 18-Year-Old Entrepreneur Ben Lang

Ben Lang

Ben considers himself a technology and start-up “addict”. At the age of 14, he caught the entrepreneurial bug after opening his first business on eBay. After experiencing success, he started a blog sharing his thoughts and experiences. This blog eventually became EpicLaunch, a popular blog for young entrepreneurs.

Shortly afterwards, he created an innovative note sharing site for his high school that was utilized by 70% of the student body. After seeing how helpful it was for his peers, he expanded on the idea and built a similar platform called MySchoolHelp that can be accessed by all schools.

After completing high school, Ben was accepted into the Teens in Tech Incubator, spending the summer in Silicon Valley. He currently lives in Tel Aviv working on the marketing team for Wibiya.

Currently only 18, Ben has already made a big splash in the international business world. Beyond the many successful companies he’s launched, Ben is also a blogger at Business Insider and a regular contributor to TechCrunch and Mashable.

Next month, he plans to join the Israeli army. Shalom Life caught up with him before he begins service to discuss business, his experiences thus far, and his choice to join the IDF.

What inspired you to open your first business at the age of 14?

My grandfather gave me his camera equipment to sell online. I made a nice profit on eBay and from there I started selling for friends and eventually random clients.

As a very young entrepreneur, was it difficult for people to take you seriously?

At first it wasn't so easy but eventually I gained trust by building a website and handing out business cards. Those actions made me look legitimate and trustworthy to adults.

Does it ever feel odd that you're advising people twice your age on business decisions?

Age shouldn't be a factor in business decisions, just doing what's right. I always try and recommend what I think is right.

What are the major differences between conducting business in the United States vs. Israel?

Not too many differences to my knowledge. The people are great in both places.

Have you had any unsuccessful ventures? If so, what did you learn from the experience?

Of course, failure is the best way to learn. Every day I come up with an idea for a new venture, most fail in the end, which allows me to take what I've learned and apply it in my next idea.

Was it a difficult decision to join the IDF, knowing that you won't be able to focus on your career for several years?

Every day that seems to worry me more and more but I know that I have my whole life ahead of me to focus on my career. I won't always have the opportunity to put everything aside and give back to Israel.

It seems like you've began a transition of selling yourself as a brand, with a personal website, twitter page, etc. Is this a focus of yours or a byproduct of your success?

I've always focused on building ventures and at the same time my own personal brand. I think that it's important for every venture and brand to have a face behind it.

I wish I had focused less on school and gone to more conferences and worked more on different ideas. I don't feel that I missed out on anything in high school. The education system needs change. At school I was never able to learn what I was passionate about. In the future I believe that every high school student will have the opportunity to learn what they want.

One of your goals is to donate 90% of your wealth. How much wealth do you need to accumulate to make that goal a reality?

Enough to live comfortably. It's amazing that Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and other billionaires have pledged to give away half their wealth but more can be done.

You also mention wanting to show the "true" face of Israel. What do you think that is?

If you ask an average teenager around the world what Israel reminds them of they'll say: terrorism, desert, bombings, violence, military etc. I want these teens to know what Israel really is about: democracy, innovation, nature, diverse religions etc.

Do you think you can continue being a serial tech entrepreneur in Israel or will you move to Silicon Valley once you've done your IDF service?

Silicon Valley and Israel are the greatest places in the world for hi tech entrepreneurs. I'd be happy living in either one.

For more info on Ben, visit his website at www.benjaminlang.com

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