When you hear the words “Gen Z,” what word comes to mind? If you’re over 40, the answer is more than likely dismissive. When you look at the data, though, there’s one word that should come to mind: entrepreneurial.

In 2023, a record 5 million new businesses were started in the United States. A massive portion of them were started by Gen Z entrepreneurs. About 50% of Gen Z respondents say they intend to start a business in the next five years. And about half already have side hustles.

Yes, many are looking to become content creators or searching for work-life flexibility. But plenty others are starting brick and mortar companies. Like Geth Aguirre. At 19 years old, Geth launched Black Cat Coffee House, on Lafayette’s Northside.

Geth Aguirre, Facebook Marketplace was her best friend when she was 19 and starting up Black Cat Coffee House, now that re-purposed stuff and a staff of 11 serve 200 people a day

Geth was scrappy and resourceful in getting started, sourcing used espresso machines and acquiring excess inventory from another local coffee shop that closed. Within a year, Geth had paid off her first round of business loans and the shop has continued to grow its customer base. Today she has eleven employees and serves up to 200 customers each day.

You don’t have to own a business to be a boss. At 21 years old, Kaitlyn Azemar became the youngest general manager in the history of Dogtopia, a national franchise of dog daycare and training centers with 270 locations nationwide. The company offers boarding, training and dog spa services.

Kaitlyn Azemar, the youngest person to manage a Dogtopia in the nationwide 270 store chain, she’s exactly where she wants to be, doing what she loves most, working with dogs

Kaitlyn trained her first dog at nine years old, a maltese poodle mix named Ragin that she taught 50 tricks. Fast forward a decade, and she left school to get into animal training full time.

Kaitlyn uses a special training called LIMA, or least invasive, minimally assertive. The method prioritizes looking for physiological reasons why a dog might misbehave. She maintains a training certification from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.

As a boss, Kaitlyn manages a company with 15 employees, many around her own age, whch, as you might imagine, comes with unique Gen Z challenges.

Geth Aguirre, Kaitlyn Azemar, Christiaan Mader, Out to Lunch at Tsunami Sushi

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch atTsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. Photos by Astor Morgan.