Meet the entrepreneurs building futures on their own terms: young adults with a developmental disability launching businesses rooted in passion, achieving economic independence, and proving what’s possible when opportunity meets investment.
The Founders Society provides training, capital, and community to transform those ventures into sustainable enterprises and elevate independence into legacy.
Avani Lynn Burton
The Daring Diaries: Dare to Wear Your Crown
Avani is redefining what's possible for young adults with a developmental disability through literature that inspires and transforms. Her debut novel Crowning Destiny captivated readers with its honest portrayal of a protagonist pursuing her dreams despite her disability. The response was overwhelming with celebration. Readers shed tears of joy, recognizing themselves reflected on the page in stories of struggle and untapped potential, a triumphant moment of profound representation.
Spa Dreams, her forthcoming novel, continues the journey. As her protagonist lands her first job while navigating high school and the weight of her diagnosis, she discovers that perseverance and courage are daily choices. Avani explores what it means to be vulnerable and strong.
Through her writing, Avani shifts how young adults with a developmental disability see themselves and what they believe is possible, building a literary movement that affirms their voices and broadens narratives of lived experience.
Contact: daringdiaries23@gmail.com
Jonathan O’Connor
Jonathan's Rhythm Collective: Rhythm That Changes the Room
Jonathan is transforming how people connect through the power of live drumming. For eight years, he's delivered rhythm experiences across music venues, wellness studios, corporate teams, youth groups, and community gatherings. His work creates immediate, tangible shifts in group energy and emotional presence. Within minutes, participants move from disconnection to full engagement, from isolation to shared momentum.
Jonathan's mission is to bring joy to people through rhythm and live drumming. His vision is bolder: a world where rhythm heals and connects people across all boundaries.
Each experience Jonathan creates is intentional. Whether it's a stage performance built for audience response, an intimate drumming circle that establishes shared momentum, or a facilitated session embedded within wellness or corporate programming, Jonathan delivers transformation. His clients return because his work works. People feel it. People change.
Book Jonathan: Live drumming for events, stages, and curated spaces. Facilitated sessions within wellness, studio, and workshop environments. Interactive rhythm experiences for youth groups, corporate teams, and community gatherings.
Contact: vibe@jonathansrhythmcollective.com
The Founders Society’s mission is to empower young adults with a developmental disability to achieve economic independence and build lasting legacies by providing accessible training, capital, mentorship, and community support to launch and sustain passion-driven businesses.