Most 17-year-olds spend their summer holidays resting. AJ Carbone spent his time installing LED lighting systems on homes across his city. He was also building a business in the process.

Carbone is a Grade 12 student at St. Mary’s College in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, and the founder of Northern Lights Co., a company that installs permanent exterior LED lighting systems on homes. Using a simple app, homeowners can adjust colors, set schedules, and customize their lights for any occasion.

The idea was straightforward but smart. Permanent exterior lighting was a service his city wanted, and Carbone saw the gap before anyone his age thought to fill it.

Carbone Moving From One House to Twenty

Before launching officially, Carbone installed his system in his aunt’s home, a low-pressure environment to learn the ropes and work out the kinks. That first installation came out beautifully, and it gave him the confidence to take on paying clients.

Since then, he has installed lighting on 20 homes, with more on his list. He works five to six days a week, handles one or two installations during the day, and meets clients for quotes in the evenings. Each installation takes four to five hours on average. The days are long, but he is enjoying every bit of it.

What Support looks like for him

Support has come from two directions. A technician based in Edmonton mentored him on the technical side of installations; and the Summer Company Program, a provincially funded initiative that provides student entrepreneurs with up to $3,000 in startup funding, gave him both capital and access to experienced business mentors. Workshops on advertising, marketing, and accounting helped shape his mindset before he even took his first order.

Carbone has his Eyes on the Future

Carbone plans to continue running Northern Lights Co. after resuming school in September, balancing installations with his academic schedule. He is particularly excited about the months ahead. That is because winter is a peak season for exterior lighting, and demand is only going to grow.

Beyond the business itself, he sees his journey as something bigger. If younger people or even older ones see a 17-year-old taking the leap and making it work, he hopes it gives them the push they need to start something of their own.

“If they see me taking the leap and see it working out,” he says, “it may give them the edge they need to take the leap themselves.”