This story is part of a Portland Inno series on entrepreneurs under the age of 25.
Aldebaron Levin
Age: 20
Education: Philosophy and a computer science minor, Lewis & Clark College, 2023
Company: A DayDreamer’s Watches
Title: Founder
What your startup does: A microbrand watch company dedicated to reimagining analog wristwatches.
Founded: 2021
Have you received any outside funding? $2,000 seed grant from the Lewis & Clark College Bates Center for Entrepreneurship and Leadership.
How did your company come about? I entered college in 2020, the middle of the pandemic, and it was a difficult transition. Back home, my nearest neighbor was far enough away that it would be a hike to borrow a cup of sugar. It was very jarring to go from that to Zoom classes in a dorm, because suddenly I was living in very close quarters with many new people.
I started looking for solitude in quiet places, when I found a small fishpond. I absolutely loved watching the fish, and I wanted to be able to bring that feeling of tranquility with me. I was already familiar with a few companies that had unusual watch designs, so from there I had the idea to use the motion and depth of a wristwatch to create a functional imitation of a fishpond in miniature. That was the design that started it: a fishpond wristwatch titled A DayDreamer’s TimePeace. In the process of designing TimePeace, I fell in love with the use of depth, motion and functionality to create unique wristwatches, and I’ve already designed many more watches that I hope to produce.
What is your ultimate vision for the startup? I want to be able to bring to life all of my designs! I have so many designs that I love, but whether or I’m able to produce my next design is dependent on how well my first one sells. My goal is to become established enough to be able to consistently release a new design every 6-8 months. But overall, I hope that my startup will contribute to the development of wristwatches as unique art in their own right. Analog wristwatches have been primarily viewed as either functional or status symbols, and as smart technology begins to eclipse analog watches in terms of functionality, I believe that affordable, artistic wristwatches should become the new focus of the industry. Technology is not replacing analog watches but rather allowing them to become more than just functional tools.
Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur? I used to want to be an entrepreneur, and I even attended a business camp in high school, but I really did not enjoy entrepreneurship for its own sake. I respect the people who are able to do that, but it just wasn’t right for me. However, once I found a venture that mattered to me, I realized that entrepreneurship was genuinely a good fit for me. My passion for watches as a dynamic art form is what drives my love of entrepreneurship, and now that I’ve found this path it’s been incredible to be a part of the incredibly passionate and supportive entrepreneurial community in Portland.
Do you ever feel like you are missing out on anything because you are following this path at such a young age? Not at all! For one thing, there’s nothing I’d rather be doing. My designs bring me so much joy, and it is beyond exciting to be able to bring them to life. As a child, I didn’t want to be a doctor or a firefighter or anything, I just desperately wanted to have a magical adventure some day. Part of growing up was supposed to be realizing that that’s unobtainable, but instead I feel like I’m actively creating magic in my life rather than waiting for the fairies to get around to abducting me. In addition to that, I’m planning on attending law school in the fall with a focus on entrepreneurial and business law. I believe that I’ll be perfectly capable of doing that while managing ADDW (A DayDreamer’s Watches), and I’ll earn a degree that will benefit my company.
Where do you go for advice and support? My aunt Monique has been a huge support. She started her company, Hay Pillow Inc., with very little business experience, but she figured everything out herself and is now running a successful company that she’s passionate about. She’s so supportive and such an incredible resource because she’s always willing to let me bombard her with questions. As a result of building a company from the ground up, she always has invaluable insight whenever I’m facing a problem, and I don’t know that I could have done this without her.
Are there any business leaders that you look up to or hope to emulate? I would really like to emulate my aunt Monique. Even after innumerable learning curves and bumps in the road, she still maintains her optimism and strength. No matter what gets thrown at her, she comes out on top because she’s clever, creative, and never gives up. Whenever I’m struggling, I try to mimic those qualities and do what she would in my situation. Not only that, but someday I would like to offer support to others like she has for me. She’s made a big difference in my life, and while I will never be able to pay her back, I want to pay it forward. That’s one of the reasons that I’m hoping to study business and entrepreneurial law– gaining legal expertise will enable me to support small business owners in a different (but hopefully just as helpful) manner.
