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“[It] streamlines an entire rental process, and that fulfills our main goal of connecting our community around a certain need.”

— Jackson Hagen, 12

Three Blue Valley seniors Varoon Enjeti, Jackson Hagen and Naveen Kodwani have recently started their own business, Kansas City Rental Company (KCRC).

In the past, Hagen had his own lawn mowing business after an internship with a family friend. The two others did not have their own businesses before but have always been very interested in entrepreneurship.

The three share a love of learning about people and adding more value to the world. They were intrigued by the idea of becoming business owners, but their creativity truly blossomed when they all worked together in a group project for DECA.

The organization’s goal is to prepare “emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.” It allowed them to focus on their idea and flourish it into something tangible.

Enjeti, Hagen and Kodwani knew they wanted to create a business beneficial to not only their community but the ones neighboring it, too. They center around in-person relationships and building interconnectedness among the people of Overland Park. KCRC allows for customers to rent or put up their items for others to rent.

“We provide this platform where people can share their belongings that they may have sitting around in their garage [or] basement,” Enjeti said. “[People have] these expensive tools that are very niche [that they] only use a couple of times a year.”

Their company’s goal is to help bring the community together and create a stronger bond. With the need of a short-term rental, this business allows others to rely on each other and truly create a connection for a common purpose.

Another priority of theirs is to encourage others to be less wasteful with their money and time.

Starting in late September, the trio officially launched their three-phase business plan. In phase one, a marketing plan was included, and they are starting by only allowing others to rent the specific items they own.

After phase one, they will continue to add more items and hopefully expand to the surrounding neighborhoods outside of the Blue Valley District.

The KCRC CEOs said creating a new business might seem impossible to their peers, but they encourage everyone to really think of ideas and follow through with their goals.

“Normally when you think of entrepreneurs, you think of adults, but we’re high schoolers,” Kodwani said. “We have ideas; we can be creative. So, just try it out and if you fail, you fail — but I mean, just go for it.”