15-year-old Launches His Own Media-Based Business

Phillip Hedayatnia didn't spend his summer break hanging out at the mall or working at a fast-foot restaurant.

In fact, at 15, he's too young for most jobs.

He did work though — over the last six weeks, he developed a new product and started a company. 

Phillip, who lives in Strongsville, is launching his business, YouCue TV, on Friday. 

The teen has developed a media box that allows you to stream any content you want to your TV. It's similar to Apple TV, but Phillip says it has fewer limitations, supporting entertainment options available on the web like AirPlay, YouTube Live, Hulu, hi-def 3D gaming and even a selection of basic cable channels (at an additional price).

"We have a lot more features," Phillip said. "It's a more open platform that people can easily develop apps for."

YouCue will go public Friday evening during an event at LaunchHouse in Shaker Heights, which partnered this summer with LightHouse Ohio, a business incubator for teens.

Emily Leizman, public relations director for LightHouse, said the program is the nation's first entrepreneurial accelerator for high school students, giving the teens access to seed funding, workspace, mentors, speakers and curriculum to develop actual businesses. 

Phillip, who will be a sophomore at Hawken School this fall, said he developed the concept and software for YouCue, which — priced at about $65 — he says will give Apple TV and other streaming boxes a run for their money. 

"With YouCue, you only pay for what you use; essentially, you get to build your own streaming box, customized to what you need it to do," he said.

YouCue features more than 700 video add-ons, plus an OnLive game service to stream Xbox.

Phillip, who already runs his own Web design and Web hosting business, plans to start selling his product direct to consumers around the end of the year. 

"Our product is less expensive and has more features," he said. "It gives people another option."