Turning risks into rewards

Aug. 25, 2000
Like other wannabe business owners, Jon Thomas has watched whatever.com rake in millions without the promise of a profit. But when it comes to basic funding for basic businesses in this Silicon Valley island of poverty, capital is in short supply.
Yet that might be slowly changing, thanks to the sheer grit of teenagers like Jon and a grassroots effort spearheaded by Stanford law school grad Suzanne McKechnie Klahr.
Now 17 kids who a year ago were at risk of falling victim to all the stereotypes of poor, inner-city America stand ready to launch new businesses in a territory customarily dismissed by bankers and venture capitalists.