Four teams of students will be competing in K is for Kids’ 5th Annual Young Entrepreneur Scholarship Competition, or YES Comp. Mayor Bill Barnett will serve as one of the judges.
The finalists advancing to the live presentation event are (listed in alphabetical order): DBG from Barron Collier High School; ProtecPills from Lely High School; Safe and Sound from Lely High School; and Smart Brights from Gulf Coast High School. Congratulations and best wishes to all competitors!
The YES Competition will be held Sat, May 12th at Barron Collier High School. Joining the judges panel are David Fralick, Gary Indianer, Laurie Montes and Sammy Callari. (Visit again to read “Meet the Judges”.)
This year nine teams of entrepreneur students from area high schools applied for the competition. “The competition is fierce this year, the teams are so well-prepared,” said K is for Kids’ founder and executive director, Karen D. Clawson.
The judges went to work quickly, cutting the field of competitors in half and voting to advance four finalists to the live presentations. “The scores were so close,” said Karen. “All teams are to be commended for their high level of creativity, professionalism and resourcefulness. We realize the hard work that was required to get the teens to this point and we can’t wait to hear them pitch their ideas.”
About the YES Comp
The YES Comp was conceived and launched in 2014 by Karen with the help of her student leaders as an initiative to help foster students’ innovation and community involvement.
“The Y.E.S. Competition offers students in the idea and/or startup phase of their business the opportunity to research, develop and clearly articulate the critical elements that will compel K is for Kids Foundation (and others) to invest in their business, i.e. to award them a scholarship. In essence, competitors create a blueprint and present it. The judges assess the viability of the idea, product and/or service as well as its current and potential impact.”
— Vin Izzi, President of Izzi Business Consulting (IBC) and Judge of the YES Comp 2015
“The YES Comp is like a teen “Shark Tank” offering high school students an exciting venue to showcase their leadership and business skills outside of the classroom. It’s wonderful watching these kids take their idea to the next level — plus our judges are wonderful at sharing tips and strategies, so that no matter the outcome, all the competitors walk away empowered with new ‘tools on their toolbelts’,” said Karen.
The individual or team named “Young Entrepreneur” will receive a scholarship for $1,000; second place receives $500, third $250, and fourth $125.