Teen Entrepreneurs Launch AI-Powered Business
After Meeting on Free Business Course

Josh and Edward holding their YESS completion certificates

Connect with them on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/phonai

Joshua Sargent and Edward Canfer-Taylor, both 15 years old, have launched a groundbreaking AI business—PhonAI—providing fully automated, AI-powered phone voice assistants for service-based businesses. Their models replace human receptionists, handling customer inquiries, booking appointments, and completing essential tasks—at a fraction of the cost.

The two young entrepreneurs met online in 2024 while taking part in the Young Entrepreneur Smart Start (YESS) programme, a free business education initiative from the ActionCOACH Foundation UK. Designed to equip young people with real-world entrepreneurial skills, YESS gave Josh and Edward the knowledge, mindset, and network they needed to turn their ideas into a reality.

During the programme, they collaborated on a joint business plan for "Kyngs Club", which went on to win the Best Business Plan Award—beating out students as old as 22. That experience cemented their passion for entrepreneurship and set them on the path to launching PhonAI in January 2025. "This is the only resource any young person needs to succeed,” says Josh. “Not only do you gain business knowledge, but you're also introduced to like-minded people and a strong community. I feel like I now have everything I need to go out into the world and become a successful entrepreneur. A resource like this being offered for free is truly remarkable.”

Since launching PhonAI, Josh and Edward have already signed their first major client and are in discussions with several others. They expect their first AI-powered voice assistant to go live by April 2025.

Through YESS, these young founders gained a practical foundation in business, covering everything from finance and marketing to operations and strategy. More importantly, they built lasting relationships that have now turned into a real-world business venture. Josh and Edward also have plans to launch an exclusive business community for young men worldwide in the coming years—further proving that age is no barrier to entrepreneurship.

With their drive, ambition, and the right support from programmes like YESS, these young entrepreneurs are showing that business ownership isn’t just for the future—it’s happening right now.

Josh recently became a certified YESS facilitator and is now guiding 12- to 15-year-olds through the same programme that changed his life. "Being able to connect with like-minded individuals and share valuable learnings together was my favourite part of the programme."

To learn more about becoming a certified YESS Facilitator and launching your own local cohort/group, go to:

https://actioncoachfoundation.org/how-to-facilitate-your-own-yess-cohort/

For more videos of successful YESS Business Basics students,

check out the Foundation's YESS Success Moments Playlist on 'You Tube'