YEA CEOs show their stuff at Woodfield trade show
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, a groundbreaking educational program that takes students through the process of starting and running real businesses over the course of a full academic year, has been expanding its presence in the Northwest suburbs and this year held a trade show for student businesses at Woodfield Mall.
The trade show marketed products and services from businesses developed by YEA students in conjunction with programs run by the Des Plaines, Lake Zurich, Mount Prospect and Palatine area chambers of commerce. Direct sales were not allowed, but students were taking preorders from potential customers.
Among the presenters was sixth-grader Juhi Soni of Iroquois Community School in Des Plaines, who demonstrated her invention, the Scootle, a flexible bendable scoop that can go into a bottle of any size. Her product helps save consumers money and helps the environment by getting every last bit of lotion or makeup out of the bottom of a bottle, according to information provided by Des Plaines Elementary District 62. She was scheduled to present her product last Thursday in the national competition of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy in Boca Raton, Florida.
"Now, you don't have to throw away that leftover lotion and makeup at the bottom of the bottle," Juhi said. Her product has on online presence at www.facebook.com/scootleusa.
There were three presenters from Mount Prospect in the Saturday, May 2, event at Woodfield, according to Dawn Fletcher Collins, executive director of the chamber of commerce. "This was an awesome year," she said.
Bryce Jensen, an eighth-grade student at Lincoln Middle School, is CEO of Clean Kickz, an all-natural solution created as a shoe cleaner to maintain a pristine appearance for athletic shoes. Jonathan LaRock, a senior at Prospect High School, is CEO of Skate Pearls, four "pearls" swapped onto a skateboard in place of wheels in order to safely practice tricks. Luis Martinez, an eighth-grade student at River Trail Middle School, is the CEO of TableTab, an app developed to enhance the restaurant experience for both the customer and staff.
In April, the Mount Prospect students had pitched their business ideas before a panel of five investors from some of the area's biggest companies, as well as an audience filled with family, friends and members of the community, Collins said. More than 50 people attended the event, held at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Mount Prospect. The investors donated funds, which were divided and allocated between the three student's businesses.
In YEA, students work in close cooperation with local leaders of industry, community members and educators to develop ideas and objectives, write business plans, pitch potential investors, obtain funding, register with governmental agencies and develop their brand identity.
By the end of the class, students own and operate fully functioning businesses that can be carried on after graduation. YEA's mission is to help students embrace their passion, energy, creativity and talents, launch a venture, and view entrepreneurship as synonymous with success and freedom. For more information, visit www.yeausa.org.