Sandy Chamber Corner
May 22, 2015 08:14AM ● By City Journals Staff
All of the 2014-2015 Sandy Chamber YEA students at the YEA Investor Panel Shark Tank Event.
Sandy Chamber Young Entrepreneurs Investor Panel Shark Tank Event
The event of the year has come and gone for 24 Sandy Chamber Young Entrepreneurs. The Young Entrepreneurs Academy Investor Panel Shark Tank Event was held at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium on May 6, 2015 with hundreds in attendance. At the event, the aspiring CEOs pitched their business ideas to a premier panel of 10 local business and education leaders for real funding and scholarships. With a pool of $12,500 in potential funding, a $1,000 scholarship to the U of U Lassonde Institute, a $500 shopping spree to Sam’s Club, free VIP Prototyping with Salt Lake Community College, and an opportunity to move on to semi-finals in Phoenix, Ariz., created a fierce competition between the 15 businesses that were presenting.
Laura and McKinley, Co-CEOs of Socquet, being awarded $1,600.00 in funding for their business and a chance to compete at YEA semi-finals in Phoenix, Ariz.
All businesses that presented were awarded a portion of the $12,000 funding pool. The winners of the $500 Sam’s Club shopping spree were Peter and Ethan, CEOs of We Change Filters. The free VIP prototyping with SLCC was awarded to Cameron, CEO of CampLite, and Ben and Cannon, CEOs of Board Armor USA. Peyton, CEO of Pull and Fit Trashbags, was awarded the prestigious $1,000 scholarship to the U of U Lassonde Studios. And last, but not least, the grand winners of the YEA Investor Panel Shark Tank Event were McKinley and Laura, CEOs of Socquet.
Our “Sharks” (from right to left): Mike Winder, Zions Bank; Kathy Hajeb, U of U Lassonde Institute; Fred Kraut, Rocky Mountain Care; Jed Call, Utah Media Group; Amy Rees Anderson, Rees Capital; Karen Gunn, Salt Lake Community College; Matt Sterbenz, 4frnt Skis; Brent Andersen, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium; Jeff Barnes, J & J Technical; Corey Thayn, BD Medical.
Laura and McKinley will be competing at the YEA semi-finals in Phoenix, Ariz. on Friday, May 15, 2015. To follow their journey through semi-finals and into finals, follow them on Instagram at www.instagram.com/playsocquet. For product information, visit www.PlaySocquet.com.
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA) is an after-school program for 11-18 year old students to learn how to build a business. This is not vocational training, but real-world experience as the students’ build a full formed and functioning business. Through a six month course, these students choose to form a business with a business partner, go on field trips and have guest speakers, and mentored by business professionals in the community. A highlight of the program is the Investor Panel event where the students pitch their polished business plans to 10 investors for real funding. At the end of the program, the students launch their businesses and graduate as CEOs.
If you would like to be a student of the 2015-2016 Sandy Chamber Young Entrepreneurs Academy, contact Kimberly Watkins at 801-727-4504 or [email protected]. Applications are being accepted now!
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