by Greg Bocquet

Not your grandfather's entrepreneur.

With the Internet bringing information to our fingertips anywhere at anytime, standing on the shoulders of giants has never been so easy. Instead of dusty libraries and ad hoc basement workshops, sites like Entrepreneur Connect , StartupNation and PartnerUp allow innovators to share information and collaborate on projects like never before. While creative types of all ages use these services, sites like Young Entrepreneur exist specifically for the younger generation of business owners looking to make it on their own.

The result? Kid millionaires. Using computers and the Internet to research new ideas, develop prototypes and market products, a new generation of Web-savvy entrepreneurs is proving that young, creative minds can create smart, profitable businesses.

Nature vs. Nurture

Those who are uncomfortable with the idea of kids making a ton of money may be quick to dismiss the young entrepreneurs, arguing that it's just another example of parents living their dreams through their children. But while parents inevitably play a role in some areas -- arranging patents, incorporating businesses or providing the occasional seed funding -- they more often take the role of providing encouragement and assistance.

The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

One thing is certain: our society is fascinated with prodigies, and successful young entrepreneurs capture the attention of the public.

Interviews on TV news programs and profiles in major newspapers create buzz that often paves the way for more venture capital while at the same time generating a market for the product being featured.

Besides the desire to bet on a proven winner, young entrepreneurs are attractive to financiers precisely because their youth gives them an in with the hard-to-target teen and tween market. Investors are always chasing new markets, and it's no wonder that venture capitalists will take a risk on a young entrepreneur with a good idea.

The Next Generation

Neha Gupta

Leading off our overview of young entrepreneurs is Neha Gupta, a 13-year-old from Pennsylvania who started Empower Orphans when she was just 9 years old. Since then, the nonprofit has raised $30,000 for orphans in India thanks to Gupta's fundraising activities: selling handmade greeting cards and wine charms. With a goal of raising $20,000 in 2010, Gupta is well on her way to a successful career in philanthropy.

Anshul Samar

Silicon Valley has long been a seat of innovation, so it is only natural that one of the most successful child entrepreneurs hails from California's tech corridor. Anshul Samar, now 14, started a gaming company in 2008 to market a role-playing card game that teaches chemistry. After clearing $1 million in revenue in his first year, Samar won a $25,000 grant and is now working to raise $100,000 in venture capital for his company, Elementeo .

Remington Anne Smith

When 9-year-old Remington "Remmi" Anne Smith recognized the growing problem of childhood obesity, she decided to do something about it. Having always enjoyed cooking with her mother, she decided to create Cook Time With Remmi , a cooking show for children to teach them how to prepare simple and healthy meals. The show, which Remmi hosts alongside her mother, is being broadcast on local television, and discussions are underway to expand the program nationally.

Aitan Grossman

At 13 years old, Aitan Grossman takes climate change and the future of the planet very seriously. As evidence of this commitment, he founded the environmental nonprofit KidEarth to raise awareness of climate change. Key to his efforts is the song "100 Generations" that Grossman wrote and has since been used to promote environmental awareness. It has been distributed by school districts around the country and even the United Nations. Grossman donates all proceeds from sales of the song on Amazon.com and iTunes to environmental charities.