Today we’d like to introduce you to David Nudelman.
Hi David, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started Stereotype Co in 2008 with a hundred dollars and a screen printing course. It started with a love for hip-hop, merch, and turning dreams to reality.
Over the years, the business grew into a full custom apparel and print operation. But somewhere along the way, something unexpected happened. I started teaching. Partners brought me into schools, and I realized that what I’d built wasn’t just a business. It was a curriculum. A living proof of concept that you could turn your ideas into something real.
That turned into School Spirit Enterprise. An entrepreneurship education program I now run across New York City public schools. I’m talking about students at middle schools, high schools, all over the five boroughs, learning how to build brands, think like founders, and connect creativity to commerce.
I’ve had the honor of teaching over a thousand students, helping launch more than one hundred and fifty businesses, and watching young people discover that they can be creative and run a business together.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The vision for me was always clear. I always wanted to make products. I always wanted to work with creatives. I always wanted to do my own thing.
It definitely was not a smooth road. When I started, there wasn’t anyone who really guided me. I had to learn as I went. I had to bump my head against the wall a bunch of times. But I believe by doing that, it gave me the edge that I needed. It helped me build resilience and tested me to see if this dream was really for me.
I’ve had my business for eighteen years now, so it feels like almost half my life I’ve been doing this. It’s really all I know. But I’ve been able to travel, go to different places, work with hundreds of creatives, and meet thousands of kids through all that experience. It’s helped me tremendously.
I’m always on a path of trying to help people the most I can. I always want to communicate well, share stories, inspire and also give people a chance to build their own thing and see that it’s possible. It has not been easy, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I create things, and I help people create things. I teach people how to launch their thing. I’ve loved shirts since I was eight years old. That’s been my medium. I take so much pride in creating shirts that people will love and want to keep for a really long time. When I grew up, I had shirts that mattered so much to me. I kept them for years and still have them today.
So when I create something, I always want people to feel that way. I love working with people. I love working with artists. I love helping students launch something. That’s so important to me. Yes, it’s great to do my own thing, but I’m truly fulfilled when I can help others do theirs.
Something I’m really proud of is I was able to buy my first house off following my dream. It took awhile to figure out, but to be able to wake up every day, walk my dog first thing in the morning, then go across the hall and just make stuff, work with my staff, and send products all around the globe, and then leave and go to a school to help kids do the same thing. There’s nothing like it.
I truly just love the craft so much that I would be doing this even if I couldn’t make it my career. But I think the fact that I love it so much, it just had to become my job. My passion for my craft is real.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love connecting with people across the globe.
Our contact page is www.stereotypeco.com/contact
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.schoolspiritenterprise.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davenoodlez | https://www.instagram.com/schoolspiritenterprise | https://www.instagram.com/stereotypeco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davenoodlez
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davenoodlez/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/davenoodlez
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@davenoodlez
- Other: https://www.stereotypeco.com
