MIAMI, June 25, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Schools may be closed, but that didn't stop these highly motivated young entrepreneurs from refining their business plans and preparing their pitches for the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Southeast Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. Despite logistical obstacles stemming from the pandemic, this annual competition, the culmination of NFTE's yearlong entrepreneurship curriculum, took place on time—and online. Participating students presented their original business ideas by video to a panel of esteemed judges, who named five winners. Each took home $500 and will advance to NFTE's National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in September, where they will compete for a grand prize of $12,000.
- From Atlanta: Janiya Sinclair, 16, from Southwest DeKalb High School, won with a business pitch for Cherish Variety, Greeting Cards, a lavish line of greeting cards that can also be planted.
- From Miami-Dade County: Sabrina Martinez, 17, & Ruben Meizoso, 18, from John A. Ferguson High School, won with their pitch for Tap In, a device and app that allows students to check in or "tap in" to classrooms with their phones, providing safety and accountability.
- From Broward County: Indiraliz Gracia, 18, from McArthur High School, won with a pitch for Gracia & Co, providing eco-friendly headbands, creatively repurposing clothes.
- From Palm Beach County: Rylan Gonzalez, 17, from Palm Beach Gardens Community High School, won with a pitch for Pups & Anxiety Connection Kids ("PACK"), a support group offered to elementary school-age students with anxiety and depression.
- From Marion County: Aysia Bynes & Kandyce Williamson, both 15, from Forest High School, won with their pitch for LevelUp Ocala, a volunteer website working to bring nonprofits and youth together.
Separately, Samya Zia, 18, from Hialeah Miami-Lakes Senior High School was awarded $1500 in NFTE Southeast's Entrepreneurship 2 (E2) competition for Money Moves, a 3-D life simulation video game that allows you to customize your own character, collect coins, and spend or start saving, investing, or creating your own business, teaching adolescents how to tackle finances in the real world. The winner of this competition has the opportunity to apply for NFTE's Alumni Investor Forum, which is scheduled for spring 2021. Six winning E2 businesses from across the country will be selected to participate in that event and will compete for further investment funds.
"In the current uncertain climate, young people are realizing more than ever that entrepreneurship offers an opportunity for personal empowerment," said NFTE president and CEO, Dr. J.D. LaRock. "Employers look for candidates with an entrepreneurial mindset, which the NFTE curriculum fosters. Whether or not they ultimately run their own companies, our students are being set up to succeed, and we are eager to support their endeavors."
Two special awards were announced during the event: Wells Fargo was honored with the NFTE Southeast Corporate Volunteer of the Year Award, and entrepreneur Josephine Cheda was honored with the NFTE Southeast Individual Volunteer of the Year Award
Student business pitches were judged by a panel of experts that included:
- Mercedes Garcia, Mastercard
- Claudia Duran, Endeavor
- Natalia Arana and Jose Grasso, Banesco Bank
- Victor Oviedo, StageLight Group
- Cristal Cole, AT&T
- Lisa Martinez, LM General Consulting
- Ann Marie Sorell, Mosaic Group
- Gabriela Sabate, Health Semantics
- Lorelei Williams, Brianna Brown, Ethan Finkelstein, Madison McCornick, and Emma Levy, Comic Relief
- And for our Atlanta competition, we thank our many, many judges from EY, Citi, Moody's, Equifax and Mastercard!
The NFTE Southeast Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge was presented by EY, with additional support from Citi and Microsoft.
About NFTE
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) is a global nonprofit that activates the entrepreneurial mindset and builds startup skills in young people from under-resourced communities. Reaching more than 100,000 middle and high school students annually, NFTE works with schools and community partners in 25 U.S. states and 10 countries around the world. Leveraging classroom teachers and volunteers from top-tier companies, NFTE's research-based model teaches students how to identify a business opportunity and launch a business; helps them learn about the range of jobs and occupations available to them; and develops their "entrepreneurial mindset" — a set of skills including creativity, adaptability, communication, and collaboration that leads to success in any career. Since 1987, NFTE has educated 1.2 million young people worldwide, helping thousands launch businesses and companies of all sizes. Learn more at nfte.com.
SOURCE NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship)
Share this article