In just two years, Shreyas Parab of Aston went from a shy, unassuming teenager to a confident businessman, whose novelty ties have sold for almost $17,000 and declare him a chick magnet.

All before his 16th birthday.

Parab has sold nearly 600 of his ties, tapping into a market where whimsy is popular, writes Diane Mastrull for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The 15-year-old makes pitches to investor panels, and has met with Sam’s Club executives in Bentonville, Ark., hoping to get his Novel Tie line in their stores.

His tied are now sold online at mynoveltie.com.

Ellen Fisher, herself an entrepreneur, saw potential in the Parab when she accepted him into the program she helped start in the Philadelphia region three years ago, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy.

Better known as YEA! Philadelphia, it is one of more than 100 chapters nationwide, but Pennsylvania’s first. Its mission is to teach entrepreneurial skills to students in grades six through 12 with an after-school program rare in its scope and structure.

“What I look for in our young entrepreneurs is passion and creative problem-solving ability,” said Fisher, a Haverford resident. “Shreyas was passionate about learning about everything and from everyone. He also had a sense of humor and humility.”

Click here to read more about the Young Entrepreneurs Academy in the Philadelphia Inquirer.