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Local high school student creates start up to let more voices be heard in politics

Posted at 8:27 PM, Oct 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-20 20:32:48-04

Working out math problems with his teacher, 16-year-old Nick Majer, may look like it, but he’s not your typical high school student.

"The heart of a teacher is smiling when you see Nick doing what he's doing," says Ryan Ryzner, Director of the Vector Program Majer is a part of.

Majer is driven, juggling school and his own business, with one goal in mind.

"Being your own boss, starting your own company is something I've always dreamed about," Majer said.

So when Massachusetts Institute of Technology or MIT was looking for young entrepreneurs to create their own startups, he jumped at the opportunity.

"It just really helped ignite my interest in entrepreneurship," he said.

He's putting a spin on crowdfunding with his start-up, ‘Politifund.’ It’s a new way for every day Ohioans to get their voice heard in the political process.

“Large cooperations, super packs, and millions of dollars a year lobbying but every day people really don't have that power,” Majer said.

With his website, people can find a piece of legislation on the table or propose one that you care about, put however much money you want toward it, then that campaign is able to get the funding it needs to hire a lobbyist to push that legislation forward.

“It greatly amplifies the political expression of the everyday person," said Majer.

His teacher and overseer of the Vector program that’s designed to encourage young entrepreneurial minds like Majer’s, expressed how unique his startup is and so is the experience.

“Nick has taken it to that next level, where he's going to conferences and seminars at MIT and starting to rub elbows with venture capitalists. These are really wonderful experiences that I don't think your typical 16-year-old student is getting to go through," Ryzner said.

The Gilmour Academy Junior says he hopes his start up will most importantly motivate the younger generations to get informed and get involved.

“I see a lot of younger people being really comfortable sharing their opinions on social media but often younger people fail to campaign, donate or even vote for the issue that most matter to them, so this would definitely be a way to get alot of younger people more involved," Majer said.

He plans to roll out the beta version of the site by next week, and hopes ‘Politifund’ will be in full swing by the end of this year.