By David Seduski | Development Associate
Unfortunately, NFTE DC Region’s project to fund five additional classrooms did not hit our funding goal. Thanks so much to those who did donate, we appreciate all the efforts you have made to bring our students entrepreneurial dreams to life. Even without bringing five new classrooms online, NFTE DC Region still managed to bring our unique entrepreneurial mindset to over 1,600 new students during the 2014 – 2015 school year. Today’s youth need a mindset that equips them to recognize opportunity, take initiative, and innovate in the face of challenges. NFTE brings that through our classroom programs, including the year end business plan challenge, which brings together all the lessons the students have learned throughout the course as the students create and pitch their idea for a new venture.
Microsoft hosted the 2015 NFTE DC Region Regional Business Plan Challenge on May 19th. Students competed in their classroom competitions throughout the spring, and the winners advanced to the Regional Challenge (having honed their pitches and begun the development of their businesses). The top two entrepreneurs won not just seed capital to help start the enterprises they presented plans for, but also a place at the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in October. At the National Challenge the two DC Region representatives will have the chance to win $25,000 in start-up capital and sponsorships, as well as the opportunity to pitch their plans to nationally respected entrepreneurs. With the chance to put their classroom knowledge, as well as their entrepreneurial mindsets, into action, NFTE DC Region’s students did not disappoint.
GetYourHeat, a shoe consignment and retail business founded by Justin G. and William L. of the District of Columbia, is one of the businesses that advanced to the finals. With their competitive pricing and unique consignment element, the two have joined the ranks of the few-and-far-between minority-owned, small businesses in the DC area. It is an idea the two young entrepreneurs are clearly passionate about, a fact which impressed the judges in the Regionals. The partners are thrilled to bring their company to the National Challenge stage, having overcome some nerves in the process of advancing through the preliminary rounds. Says Justin about rising to the occasion to win Regionals: “You can’t be shy. You just have to push through.”
Thank you again for your contributions to NFTE through the GlobalGiving platform! Your contributions are helping students like Justin and William fully realize the potential of their entrepreneurial mindset.
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