After teaching himself at age 11 to play the guitar thanks to courses on YouTube and online guitar tablature, C. Harley Ellis has become a self-proclaimed skilled musician. He also taught himself to play the harmonica, jaw harp, bass, the drums, and the mandolin. Through formal training, he has also learned to play the piano. Being naturally gifted with his hands, it should come as no surprise that the now 14 year old is also an inventor. What started as an 8th grade school project for his Life Skills class has evolved into an entrepreneurial journey.
C. Harley is the visionary, inventor and founder behind ‘Micro-Kites™’, which as the name implies are – ‘small handcrafted’ kites. The Micro-Kite™ was originally conceptualized as a full size recyclable kite, made from a plastic grocery bag, straws and finishing line. C. Harley estimates that it took him approximately 20 minutes to rapid prototype his first kite, unfortunately, it did not pass beta mode in its first test flight. In the famous words of C. Harley ‘it failed miserably’. A true entrepreneur and innovator, he quickly realized the first idea is seldom the best one and spent the next few days trying to figure out how to improve on his original idea. After a few days had passed, he had his AHA moment and creative breakthrough when he noticed some kids struggling to control a ‘full size’ kite. He would create a small kite that anyone could use, yet was simple to fly and easy enough to be managed by a small child. This genius idea led to the design of a 5.5 x 5 inch kite.
Luckily, he was able to find all the supplies he needed in an arts and crafts store and he assembled the prototype with which he was extremely pleased. He was both excited and anxious to test his second prototype, but of course, there was no wind! After a few days still there was no wind, so his mom drove him to nearby Coronado Island in San Diego where he was able to test the kite. IT FLEW!!! And he continued to fly his kite for at least another hour.
He was now ready to move his Micro-Kite™ into full production mode and he determined several ways he could improve upon it from both a functionality and aesthetic standpoint. So he made the necessary adjustments and created a few different colors and embellishments. Now the real test – seeing if someone would pay money for it!! C. Harley started with his peers. He took some of the Micro- Kites™ to his school and was able to successfully sell them and receive initial feedback – so far, so good. He later returned to Coronado Island with a box filled with Micro-Kites™ where he sold out in an hour and he has been selling ever since. To date, he estimates that he has sold over 600 kites and counting. Micro- Kites™ are sold in about half a dozen retail locations throughout San Diego, CA including Encinitas Surfboards and Geppetto’s Toy Stores. He also ships orders for kites all over the U.S. and internationally through his Micro-Kite™ online store.
C. Harley gives this advice for young inventors trying to build something for the first time – Hang in there! You will get recognized for your ideas! Indeed he is living proof of this statement and without question he is mastering his ‘Life Skills’ with flying colors.
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