Teen entrepreneurs pitched everything from an online grocery-delivery service to a security app that tracks pets as the next big million-dollar idea during business-plan presentations June 26 that concluded the annual summer CEO Academy at FGCU.
Presented by Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida in partnership with the Institute for Entrepreneurship at the Lutgert College of Business, CEO Academy is a selective one-week program that gives area high school students an introduction to starting and operating a new business. Activities are centered on economics, ethics, international trade, entrepreneurship, finance and marketing.
With the guidance of experienced local business leaders, entrepreneurs and FGCU professors, students work in project teams to develop a unique business concept and comprehensive business and marketing plan.
The winning team’s product: Card Assure, an app for protecting multiple credit/debit cards. The team: Paige Santiago (North Fort Myers), Janelle Flecha (Island Coast), Taylor Hadden (Oasis Charter), Gunnar Scott (Elder High School), Benjamin Burkey (North Fort Myers), and Ivana Rebaza (Ida S. Baker); they were mentored by Small Business Development Center counselor Pat Kirkpatrick. Each member was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to any school.
Second-place winners each received $500 scholarships for their product, Clackeez, a mechanism to remedy problems with the rings in three-ring binders: Ryan Johnson (Gulf Coast), Dayan Hernandez (Island Coast), Moises Salabarria (Barron Collier), Kayla Davidson (Island Coast), Ashley Von Gunten (Coronado), Kaitlyn Salyer (Fort Myers High); Mike Pfeffer was the counselor.
Plans and presentations were judged by Junior Achievement Laureates, exceptional entrepreneurs who have been recognized for making significant contributions to the economic development of Southwest Florida. They peppered wannabe entrepreneurs with questions about income projections, startup costs and technology needs.
Many students had little business or entrepreneurial background when they started the camp. But Institute for Entrepreneurship director Sandra Kauanui told the judges and spectators gathered in Lutgert Hall for the presentations that she wasn’t worried about their prospects.
“They have energy, enthusiasm, dedication and tenacity – all the things you want kids to have to be successful,” she said. “This generation is really concerned about doing something meaningful and purposeful in their lives.”
- Learn more about FGCU’s Institute for Entrepreneurship