Young Entrepreneurs Get Behind-the-Scenes Look at Specialized
Content by 3D Entrepreneurs (3DE) Club
MORGAN HILL, Calif. — August 2026 — Four young 3DE Club members — Fiona, Mia, Milo and Hunter — recently got a rare behind-the-scenes look at how ideas become world-class products during a special visit to Specialized Bicycle Components' headquarters in Morgan Hill.
The young entrepreneurs toured Specialized's facilities, explored decades of bicycle design and innovation, experienced its renowned wind tunnel, and recorded a special student-led episode of the 3DE Club Podcast, “Little Entrepreneurs, Big Questions.”
The visit began with a tour led by Robert Egger, Creative Director at Specialized, who introduced the members to an extraordinary collection of bicycles, prototypes and one-of-a-kind designs created throughout Specialized's history.
Along the way, they heard stories about the creativity and experimentation behind the bikes—including special projects created for professional athletes and celebrities such as actor and cycling enthusiast Jason Momoa.
For the young 3DE Club members, who are learning to invent, design and create their own products, seeing how ideas evolve into finished products brought the design and innovation process to life.
Experiencing Innovation at 45 MPH
One of the biggest highlights came inside Specialized's Win Tunnel, where engineers study aerodynamics and test how bicycles and riders perform at speed.
Rather than simply hearing how it works, the members had the opportunity to experience it themselves as the wind reached approximately 45 miles per hour.
The hands-on experience turned concepts such as engineering, testing and aerodynamics into something they could actually see and feel—an example of the type of real-world learning that can spark a child's curiosity about science, technology and innovation.
Kids Ask the Questions
The visit culminated in a special podcast conversation with Ben Capron, Leader of Brand Voice at Specialized. But this wasn't a traditional adult-led interview.
The 3DE Club members researched Specialized beforehand and developed their own questions based on what genuinely interested them.
Fiona, who led the podcast interview, explored the company's entrepreneurial story—asking where the name “Specialized” came from, how bikes are designed for different types of riders, and what advice Capron would give a young person who hopes to turn an idea into a real product or business someday.
Milo, already a Specialized rider, came prepared with a product question comparing his Stumpjumper with a friend's Status.
Mia explored Specialized's rider-first philosophy, asking about the meaning behind “The rider is the boss” and how listening to riders has influenced the company's products.
Hunter tackled entrepreneurship and the future, asking about risk, lessons learned, and what Specialized hopes people will say about its bicycles 50 years from now.
One of Capron's central messages to the young entrepreneurs was simple but powerful:
Follow your passion.
For several of the young hosts, who already ride and admire Specialized bicycles, sitting face-to-face with someone who has spent decades helping shape the Specialized brand transformed a familiar company into a real-world lesson in creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.
“We can teach children entrepreneurship, design and communication in a classroom, but experiences like this make those lessons real,” said Bobby Roy, Founder & Learning Architect of 3D Entrepreneurs Club.
Building Confidence Through Real-World Experiences
The visit reflects a central part of 3DE Club's educational approach: helping young people learn not only by studying innovators and entrepreneurs, but by meeting them, questioning them and experiencing innovation firsthand.
Through 3DE Club, members develop entrepreneurial and future-ready skills through hands-on product invention, 3D modeling and printing, communication, financial literacy, presentations and real-world experiences with entrepreneurs and innovators.
The “Little Entrepreneurs, Big Questions” podcast extends that learning by putting young people in the interviewer's seat.
Members research their guests, develop their own questions, conduct interviews and practice listening, communication, critical thinking and confidence while learning directly from people who have turned ideas into real-world products and organizations.
For parents and educators, experiences like the Specialized visit demonstrate how learning can extend beyond the classroom—helping children connect what they are learning today with the possibilities they may pursue in the future."I was genuinely blown away by Fiona, Mia, Milo and Hunter, the intellect, curiosity, composure, and passion these young people brought was remarkable. Their questions were sharp, thoughtful and completely their own. It’s clear that the 3DE Club provides young people with a valuable, current, and fun way to pursue their interests and develop their capabilities.” - Ben Capron, Leader of Brand Voice, Specialized
See the Visit
Photos, tour videos and the Specialized podcast from the visit can be viewed at:
3DE Club — Specialized Bicycle Tour & Podcast
About 3D Entrepreneurs Club
3D Entrepreneurs (3DE) Club is a nonprofit after-school enrichment program with a mission to empower Gen Alpha to thrive and lead in a rapidly changing world.
3DE Club partners with schools and districts to help students develop an adaptable entrepreneurial mindset and future-ready skills in creative problem-solving, leadership, and communication.
By developing these capabilities early in our youth, we help prepare the next generation of innovators, business leaders, and changemakers who can strengthen communities and drive future economic prosperity.
For more information, visit
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