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TriDistrict Students Pitch Business Ideas to Local Entrepreneurs

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TriDistrict Students Pitch Business Ideas to Local Entrepreneurs
student pitching her business idea

Students in the TriDistrict Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) Business and Entrepreneur Pathway participated in a “Shark Tank” style pitch event hosted by Reve Academy. Students presented their business ideas to a panel of  five judges for the chance to win a micro-internship and grant money. They prepared slide decks and presentations ahead of time and each student had about 15 minutes to pitch their idea. The panelists then gave the students feedback and asked questions. 

Four students pitched their ideas to the judges:

  • Emily- Nailed by Emily, Acrylic nail business
  • Maddie- The Little Library, Technology device shopping app
  • Braden- Moving company, for people who need help moving items around their home
  • Henry- Work Seek, app connecting young workers with people looking for small job help

The judges included:

  • Nikos Raleigh, Senior Vice President, Head of Integration, Small Business Digital Team
  • Tim Farrow, Business Advisor, Small Business Team and Vice President and Business Access Advisor at U.S. Bank
  • Cynthia Hanson, Assistant Vice President, Senior Scrum Master at U.S. Bank
  • Jeremy Segal, CEO of Proozy.com
  • Dave Lundy, Owner of Evolve Workspace 
student giving her business pitch

All four students walked away with the chance to continue their business with Reve Academy. The micro-internship is modeled after a corporate Entrepreneur in Residence role, popular with companies that empower their own employees to innovate around an aspect of their current business. The students will receive a $250 grant and targeted mentorship from business professionals who volunteer their time to help students level up their business concepts.  Students will also have an option of earning free college credit through ACE/Credly, transferrable to thousands of colleges across the nation. These students will also be eligible to do multiple rounds of their residencies as they further develop their businesses.

The TriDistrict Career and College Readiness Initiative is for students enrolled in South St. Paul, Simley, and Two Rivers High Schools to have a wide range of opportunities to engage in authentic, real-world career exploration activities. The Business and Entrepreneurship Program is an opportunity for students to gain a broader understanding of the world of business first-hand from business leaders in our communities. Along the way, students learn professional skills and practice these skills as they develop a professional resume, digital profile, and engage in practice interviews, site visits, and guest presentations. If you are an organization that would like to learn how you can partner with TriDistrict to train the next generation of business professionals, visit: https://careercollegeready.org/employers/.

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