Schoolboy, 14, snubs mammoth £20m offer for his unique vending machine idea - but why? - Mirror

A 14-year-old school boy has come up with a multi-million pound idea - to create vending machines that dispense first aid kits.

Taylor Rosenthal, from Opelika, Alabama, then rejected a $30m (£20m) offer from a 'large national healthcare company' in favour of holding on to his idea himself.

He has already raised $100,000 (£69,000) in angel investments and intends to make money by selling the machines for $5,500 each (£3,800).

Six Flags theme park in the US has already put in an order for 100 vending machines.

"Every time I'd travel for a baseball tournament in Alabama, I'd notice that kids would get hurt and parents couldn't find a band aid. I wanted to solve that."


Customers are offered a variety of products in the vending machine from prepackaged first aid kids ranging from £4 to £11 in price.

TAYLOR ROSENTHAL (14 yo), Alabama Youth who established RecMed Startup Co., that offered as much as US$ 30 Millions. pic.twitter.com/kjXkFASP7l

— RIEFS SPRINGFIELDS (@Riefs68) May 13, 2016

But individual items, including plasters, rubber gloves, anti-septic wipes and gauze pads, are also on sale for between £4 and £14.

Taylor said he is also open to advertising on his machines.

Clarinda Jones, Taylor's Young Entrepreneurs Academy class teacher, said: "It has been amazing watching Taylor grow over the past year into this confident and amazing business man.

"Even with all of his success, he remains humble and ready to help others. He's just 14. Bill Gates should be worried."