Camille Campbell was 14 years old when she published her first novel. Dylan Capshaw was 14 years old when he started a wildlife rescue. Sandul Gangodagamage was 9 years old when he learned how to program video games.
The three are now managing organizations that landed them on the Forbes 2026 Local Arizona 30 Under 30 list – in addition to being students at ASU.
Forbes published the list on Feb 18 and held a press conference at the Thunderbird School of Global Management later that day. Those on the list were invited to the event to be recognized and hear speeches from a variety of local leaders who spoke to the importance of young entrepreneurship and their excitement for the upcoming 2026 Forbes Under 30 Summit in April.
Steven Bertoni, an assistant managing editor at Forbes, said those on the list would be "the MVPs, the VIPs" of that summit.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said in a speech that Phoenix is one of the best cities for entrepreneurship and highlighted several innovative initiatives growing around the Valley.
"To the innovators and founders coming to Phoenix, the city understands you. We have the resources to help you take your idea from concept to company to global success," Gallego said. "We really feel the future is being built here in Phoenix, and it's being built by entrepreneurs like you."
Other speakers included Sandra Watson, the president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, Steve Nash, the former Phoenix Suns point guard, and Samuel Bertram, a 2022 30 Under 30 lister.
Camille Campbell
Campbell, a junior studying marketing and finance, said she had a passion for writing from an early age. After publishing her first novel, she began engaging with the community by bringing books and literacy initiatives to local schools.
In 2022, Campbell founded a nonprofit that later became The Da Vinci League to bolster creative self-expression among young people through reading and writing, according to Campbell and the organization's website.
The Da Vinci League focuses on social impact, and it has raised funds to bring books and art therapy to children on the front lines of the war in Ukraine.
Campbell said she feels a "cultural connection" to Ukraine, as she is of Ukrainian descent, and following the start of the war, she wanted to do something to help.
"As a writer and as somebody who has a (nonprofit), I realized I wanted to use the social impact of writing for good and art to help people," Campbell said. "It's very important to me to give to that community, especially with what they are going through and all the resilience that they have going through it."
The organization also expanded its goals to include AI literacy. Campbell said education on the ethics of AI and proper use of the technology will be crucial to giving everyday people the ability to shape its future.
"In some ways, (AI) can supercharge creativity if you use it right," Campbell said. "It's important to not just avoid it but instead try to understand it and use it and think about what unique angles you can use it for."
Dylan Capshaw
Capshaw, a sophomore studying business entrepreneurship, created his first commercial business in 2020 out of his garage after starting two nonprofits. Stemistry was originally an online shop that shipped flower arrangements across the country.
Capshaw said the first bouquet he sold came from his mother's flowers in the backyard. He said after using more flowers from the landscaping to fulfill online orders, she said he couldn’t cut down any more, and he moved to purchasing them wholesale.
"I really grew it all out of my garage," Capshaw said. "(I would) sit on the floor and … see my orders for the day, lay out all the boxes and do that."
READ MORE: A look at Arizona businesses and the ASU students behind them
After about a year and a half, Capshaw moved into his first storefront and added a coffee element to his business model, he said. He now runs two locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale.
Capshaw said his early motivation to be a business owner was to work for himself and create his own schedule. He added that he enjoys the entrepreneurial lifestyle and the work he gets to do as a result.
"When you run a business, you really never stop," Capshaw said. "There is always something to do, so I can work when I want to and then obviously take breaks to avoid burnout, but it's nice to be able to build that schedule."
Sandul Gangodagamage
Gangodagamage, a junior studying business, started his first venture, LEGiON Platforms, in high school by launching a 3D pirate game. He said it reached 200,000 users within a month.
"I built that game completely," Gangodagamage said. "I still remember sitting in my high school classroom, on the school computer, testing that game out, seeing people competing against other real players online – real players across the world competing with me in a multiplayer format."
The gaming site has grown since its first month, now reaching more than 10 million users, Gangodagamage said. A "massive milestone" was meeting a fan who has played his games in person.
Gangodagamage said his father was very influential when it came to starting a new company. He enjoyed playing games when he was younger, and his father told him to "always be a creator, not a user."
"My dad telling me that quote was (the) critical start (to) actually building a huge company," Gangodagamage said. "That is single-handedly the reason I was able to start at such a young age because I was trying to be a creator."
On Feb. 18 at 6 a.m., Gangodagamage got the email from Forbes with the confirmation that he had made the list. He said he woke up and was thrilled to receive the news, immediately calling his parents.
Edited by Carsten Oyer, Henry Smardo and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at kagore1@asu.edu and follow @kategore_17 on X.
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Kate Gore is the Science and Tech Desk editor, ensuring accurate coverage of the scientific endeavors completed by ASU faculty and students and their impact on the broader community. She is beginning her second year on staff at The State Press. She previously worked as a Community and Culture Reporter, shining light on important events and happenings around campus.
