Tuesday, Sep 1, 2015
Area high school students competed in the end of July at Rider University in a contest sponsored by the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies in the College of Business Administration. This first-ever 2015 High School Business Concept competition was designed to recognize exceptional entrepreneurial skill and creativity among these students. Students were asked to submit a 300 word business description identifying a particular product or service, the intended audience, why this group would want this product or service and how the product or service would be distributed.
Initial submissions were narrowed down, and the top finalists presented their concepts to a panel of judges consisting of entrepreneurs who are members of the Entrepreneurial Center’s Advisory Board The judges looked at the following factors: the clarity of the product or service description, specificity of audience and their interest in this concept, illustration that a market exists and the feasibility of delivering or distributing the product or service. This live final was conducted in a “shark tank-like” format with the students first explaining their ideas and then responding to the judges’ questions.
Congratulations to the winners, listed below:
First place:
Elizabeth Christie, Bridgewater-Raritan High School, The Spill-Saver Game Tray
This project outlines a new way to carry belongings at baseball and football games. A plastic tray has a concave hole for beverages and is rectangular with dividers separating the food. It will hold tickets horizontally behind a plastic covering and have a zippered section for cell phones. Simple to hook up to stadium arm chairs, the tray is also easy to balance while watching the game.
Second place:
Saikshaj Paturu, Bridgewater-Raritan High School, Q
This project introduces a smartphone app that would help people know wait times at popular places or warn people about how crowded places are so that they could better plan their evenings.
Third place:
Kevin Hanie, Bridgewater-Raritan High School, Tutor Tim
This project described a smartphone app that connects students to live tutors via Skype or Facetime, who will then assist the students by guiding them through their studies while offering advice, encouragement and knowledge.
Fourth place:
Jeamy Nguyen, Cape May County Technical High School, The Shred Shed Skate Park & Shop
This is an indoor skate park/shop located in the Cape May New Jersey. Its primary target customer will be males aged 14-25 who are actively interested in skateboarding.
For more information about other programs and opportunities available, visit the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies website.
