Ben Sharf ’15 often cites two Loomis Chaffee alumni who helped ignite his entrepreneurial spirit. He may have just done the same for some students.

The co-founder of Platter, which provides tools to help brands increase profitability on their Shopify store, has spent time with students twice since the school year began.

During a Zoom call in October and a campus visit on December 17, Ben worked with entrepreneurial students to help them turn their ideas into products or services. The events were organized by the Alumni & Development Office and the Entrepreneurship Club.

“The follow-up meeting was a chance for students to get feedback from Ben on their ideas,” said senior Eli Krasnoff, the co-founder and co-president of the Entrepreneurship Club. “He also talked more about the details of the first steps after you get an idea, which center [on] confirming the viability of the idea.”

Ben recently said in an interview that being able to talk with students about a subject for which he has a passion was “a pretty surreal moment for me.”

“I remember being a young, ambitious kid on the other side of the table, eager to talk to any entrepreneur who was willing to give me their time,” Ben said. “It was a great reminder to never forget where I came from. I will always remember the impact those first few alumni had on me, particularly Neville Bowers ’01 and Jason Karp ’94. If I can be that role model for the next generation, it would truly be a dream come true.”

Eli said he was “struck by how engaged the students in the club were with Ben,” their willingness to share their ideas, and the feelings that Ben expressed about being back on campus.

“He kept saying how much he enjoyed being the one that students look to for advice, since he was in their place nine years ago,” Eli said.

Ben was impressed with the students.

“The level of curiosity displayed by the students who showed up was all I needed to see to know it was a special group,” Ben said. ... "A common trait among the most successful entrepreneurs I’ve encountered is the combination of obsession and curiosity, and to see that displayed by high school students resonated deeply with me. I’m excited to watch this group flourish over the next decade because I’m confident that a large percentage of them will achieve massive success — they have the drive to be great.”