A student from Ophan Socks at Another Course to College closes the deal with a secret shopper judge at our 9th Grade Sales Showcase.

Yesterday, over 150 young entrepreneurs from six Boston high schools came together at MIT to sell their products for the first time at our 9^th Grade Spring Sales Showcase.

This wasn’t an ordinary sales expo: BUILD recruited 50 volunteers from businesses across Boston to serve as “secret shoppers” who evaluated students on their product, sales pitch, customer service, and display. The judges selected five winners to receive a special prize: forgiveness on the loan they took out to start their businesses.

And the winners are…

• Razzle Dazzle, decorative ceramic spoon holders for everyday kitchen use, from Charlestown High.
• My Doll, multicultural dolls with hand-sewn clothing and unique character stories which promote cultural awareness, from Another Course to College.
• Roll n Go, a handmade travel kit for toiletries and other travel necessities, from Dearborn STEM Academy.
• Stay Fit, a gym fitness kit for athletes on the go, from Community Academy of Science and Health.
• Peacock Deodorant, an all-natural travel size deodorant free of harsh chemicals, from Another Course to College.

At the end of the day, every young entrepreneur went home with something in their pockets: their first profits from the businesses they have poured their hearts into this year. In one afternoon, BUILDers made over 250 sales and grossed almost $3,000.

What’s next?

The students will be busy manufacturing more products over the next six weeks to get ready to sell again at our big event: the BUILDFest Pitch Challenge on June 6. At BUILDFest, the four student businesses with the best pitches will compete for a cash prize of $1,500 in a Shark Tank style competition.

BUILDFest guests can meet BUILD’s student entrepreneurs and purchase their unique products at our family-friendly reception and Student Business Expo, then they will head into the theater to watch the competition and vote for their favorites. You don’t want to miss it! Buy tickets here.