2021 Cover Story - Montecito Journal - A Year In Review

While we saw the end of some longtime and beloved businesses in 2021, it was also a time to celebrate entrepreneurship — and Marco DiPadova has that in spades.

The catch?

He’s 13.

Marco is an eighth-grader at the forward-thinking Anacapa School, where students are taught about the ins and outs of the business world.

It’s a novel concept, and one that should be embraced more throughout schools: allow students to follow their passions through immersion in the subject.

Because brilliant ideas such as Planet Duck are borne from a bit of freedom.

Marco’s budding business was a product of wanting to aid local animal shelters, particularly BUNS and the ASPCA.

Heart meet innovation.

The Planet Duck concept is simple: buy a rubber duck (which are adorable), help an animal in need. Marco doesn’t care about profit, he only wants to help (check out his website at PlanetDuck.world.

I had the joy of spending an hour at the Chromatic Gate (a dramatic name for the rainbow arch) with Marco and his dad, Albert. First, Albert is truly dad goals. Second, 13-year-olds aren’t made this humble and forward-thinking. I told my colleagues after our photo shoot, “This kid is going to be the next big thing. I’m going to tell people one day that I interviewed him when he was 13 — and it’ll make me cool.”

In a town that is known for its philanthropy, we can all feel comfortable that the spirit of Santa Barbara is contagious, and it is secure in the hands of Marco moving forward.

— Nick Masuda