NOVEMBER 2024 38 By Rachael Bouley The growth of Stemistry, a unique flower and coffee shop with a build-your-own-bouquet bar, is one of 18-year-old Dylan Capshaw’s proudest accomplishments. Since 2020, he’s been able to open one new location a year, an initial goal he once thought impossible. Dylan has had an eye for business since he was ten years old and started reselling slime and fidget toys to his fifth-grade classmates. Although the school principal shut down his growing empire after a couple of months, he was bitten by the business bug and never looked back. “My first real company was Capshaw Wildlife, a nonprofit I founded when I was 11 to rescue and care for exotic animals,” Dylan said. “I’ve always had a passion for wildlife and entrepreneurship and I wanted to make a positive impact.” Capshaw Wildlife wasn’t enough – while providing for animals, Dylan thought of a way to help humans and opened another nonprofit called Frontline to provide 3D-printed PPE for doctors and nurses. With a growing portfolio, Dylan has firsthand experience of the business world’s ups and downs. One of his biggest challenges has been managing Stemistry’s growth while keeping quality consistent. “Balancing school and business responsibilities was tough initially, but I’ve developed strong time management skills,” he explained. “Navigating the legal and operational aspects of running multiple ventures as a teenager has also been a learning curve.” Dylan is attending ASU to study business entrepreneurship and credits careful planning and prioritization as keys to success. While in high school, he would finish classes and then dedicate the rest of the day to working on his businesses. “I’ve built a strong team that helps with day-to- day operations. I rely heavily on my support system, including my family and staff,” he said. Dylan says it’s surreal to open the doors on a third location. He’s incredibly proud of this milestone. “I’m grateful for the community’s support. Each location reflects my vision of blending creativity with coffee and flowers,” he said. “Stemistry is an experience, and I’m excited to continue expanding and innovating.” Florists and gourmet baristas help make Stemistry stand out, as customers can choose flowers and create their own bouquets. Dylan, a finalist in Nickelodeon and TIME Magazine’s Kid of the Year Award in 2020, is always brainstorming new ideas and hopes to one day take Stemistry nationwide. He encourages the younger generation to follow their dreams of starting a business. “My biggest advice is to start now. Dream big and don’t let anyone tell you that you’re too young to make an impact,” Dylan said. “With the right mindset, passion, and perseverance, you can achieve anything. It’s important to learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.” stemistry.com This coffee/ bouquet concept is blooming Dylan Capshaw

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