Every February, Sophomores in Entrepreneurship II prepare to give a pitch to a board of local entrepreneurs and their peers. Their goal? Pitch their Minimum Viable Product and try to secure $200 of funding to conduct research. This year, 12 teams pitched their idea for a viable business. Ranging from jewelry to time management, each idea had hundreds of hours poured into it. 

 

To come to this point, entrepreneurs need to first find problems people have and then ideate on solutions to those problems. They then have to interview people to see if people have the problem they think exists and to see if their solution is liked by their target market. From then, entrepreneurs prepare for their Pitch. 

 

While this is happening Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) come in to teach students about their niche and how it relates to the steps of planning a business. SMEs come in to talk about anything from IP to Marketing to crunching Financial numbers. Each team gets assigned an entrepreneur that helps guide and mentor them through the process.

 

In May, 6 of the 12 teams will pitch for the same board of judges to be named the best Business of the Academies of Loudoun and to have their name submitted to the larger pitch competition the Academies is part of known as IncubatorInc. 

 

Siddha Bambardekar, the Chief Technical Officer of SYNC, said he “enjoyed the chance to practice my presentation skills and get feedback from a panel of experienced judges” and that he is “excited for our pitch in May”

 

Below, we have compiled a list of the Businesses that pitched and a short summary of their ideas. 

 

1. bumblED- A student organization app that uses interactive technology and a personalized  calendar so that high school students can manage their time better.
2. Fidget Formula- Stylish and hypoallergenic jewelry for teens who want to fidget in fashion.
3. Work2Go- An online marketplace that helps connect teens with adults in their communities.The adults will provide teens with odd tasks and the teens will complete the odd tasks for money.
4. TouchSense- A carefully curated ergonomic keyboard with integrated touch-sensitive technology. It’s designed as either a preventative measure or relief to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
5. SYNC: Success, Your Next Choice- An all-in-one online platform designed to match students’ personal interests and goals with worthwhile internship opportunities, streamlining the search process into one user-friendly space.
6. ToyStyle- A toy company that is dedicated to creating a world of play that enhances cognitive skills, sparks imagination, and encourages creativity in children through our innovative and specialized toy designs.
7. Generations Nourish- A Social app that connects college students with nearby seniors who cook for the college students and meet them on campus for a meal and discussion. The college student gets nutritious home-cooked meals while the senior gets companionship.
8. Backseat Comfort- A storable mattress that you can use to sleep in your car when you’re on longer road trips or for car camping.
9. FoodieFresh- An app dedicated to helping you manage leftovers and other food items in your refrigerator. Our goal is to help busy families, save food, time, and money with a convenient way to track leftovers and other foods in their refrigerator.
10. FastFile- A unique folder that has one opening on the top and a hard shell to protect the papers inside of it.
11. KitchenCadet- An app with a learning progression similar to Duolingo that teaches kids how to cook.
12. SERGE- Personalized accessories for high school students in a sustainable fashion. Sports, clubs, and spirit wear are enhanced with SERGE’s accessories

Written by Edward Christopher