DC team with mentor at BPC

Peninsula team waiting to present at BPC

Sales Bazaar at Oakland BPC

 

2009 Youth Business Plan Competitions

The 2009 Peninsula BPC was full of celebration and innovation! After working on written plans and power points for 4 months, 21 teams of 9th grade entrepreneurs came to the event prepared to inspire. The first round determined the top four business teams who would go on to the final round: Laced (fashionable shoelace belts); D’Vyz (locker organizers with a mirror, so you can always look your best); Le Stylo (gum in a pen!); and Montage (sweat swipers, the newest innovation in perspiration management). Creativity and innovation were in the spotlight as Montage was awarded first place – and automatic admission into BUILD’s Youth Business Incubator - for their inventive product to help athletes manage sweat.

The BUILD Oakland third annual Business Plan Competition was the largest and most memorable in Oakland history. With 22 teams competing from five different high schools, our Entrepreneurs 1 students brought their best to U.C Berkeley. After a competitive first round, the competition was narrowed to four teams. In the thrilling final round Cube-Tastic from Oakland Tech presented their custom Rubik’s cube, Yummy Yum Cakes from Lionel Wilson Prep Academy brought delicious Red Velvet cupcakes, and Emery Secondary’s Heaven Sent Jewelz team sported its own customized jewelry. In the end, it was Cal Prep Academy’s ZEDS team which took first prize with its all purpose dish glove and wowed the crowd with a live demonstration. With a panel of esteemed judges including Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, the talents of all our BUILD students were on display.

Metro DC will forever remember May 30, 2009 as the day of the inaugural Business Plan Competition. The day was beautiful, and students and staff were excited and nervous, and were busy working to make sure the day was a success for all that attended. The first round of competition was very exciting and close! It was anyone’s game. The winning teams from each room won by a small margin. During the final round, the top 3 teams charmed the judges and the audiences, and although it was close, We Go Friendly won the final round. They also won the Written Plan Competition. Needless to say, we had a very happy team! Congratulations to Fragrant Oils and Planet Socks who came in 2nd and 3rd place, respectively. Metro DC’s first BPC was a success and the students, staff, families, judges, and everyone else really came to understand how this program allows for others to see how brightly our students shine!