DALLAS, 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) North Texas 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 three winners. The first and second place winners, who will receive $1500 and $1000, respectively, advance to NFTE's National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in September, where they will compete for a grand prize of $12,000. The third-place winner will receive $500.
- 1st Place: Edie Stenick, 12 from Henry Longfellow Academy (Dallas), won with a business pitch for Pain Freeze, a two-part adhesive ice pack.
- 2nd Place: Melissa Alfaro, 13 & Adriel Resendiz, 13, from School for the Highly Gifted (Grand Prairie), won for Kapsular, a pea-sized capsule filled with the U.S.-recommended amount of toothpaste.
- 3rd Place: Desiree Hernandez, 11, from Nimitz Nigh School (Irving), won with a pitch for Bariatric Snap Meals, a meal service with food cooked to fit your dietary needs.
Separately, Youssef Ayoubi, 13 and Evan Weng, 14, from Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted were awarded $1500 in NFTE North Texas's Entrepreneurship 2 (E2) competition for Comfort Housing, an app that helps natural disaster survivors find temporary housing. 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. Winning $750, the runners-up were Grace Steel, 17, from Bryan Adams High School, for Soar Travel, durable luggage with a corresponding app that tracks its location, and Susan Espinoza, 18, from Irving High School with SoGreen, biodegradable cone-shaped packaging for on-the-go food.
"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: Intuit was honored with the NFTE North Texas Corporate Volunteer of the Year Award, and Murray Covens, founder of North Texas NonProfit Resources was honored with the NFTE North Texas Individual Volunteer of the Year Award.
Student business pitches were judged by a panel of experts that included:
- Victor Abraham, The Skypass Group
- Carissa Cassin, Xandr, an AT&T Company
- Susan Leinbaugh, JP Morgan Chase
- Morgan Watson, EY
The NFTE North Texas Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge was presented by EY, AT&T and Intuit, with additional support from Citi Foundation 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 Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship
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