Clockwise from top-left: Orphan Socks, Razzle Dazzle, Roll N Go, Double Charge.
Our 9th grade students have been hard at work this year developing business ideas, pitching to investors, and selling their products to real customers for the first time. Last week, they competed in the BUILDFest Pitch Challenge Preliminary Round Competition in front of over 30 business and community leaders serving as VIP Judges. The students were judged on their product innovation, business content, reflection on their first few months of operation & growth, and presentation quality.
All 26 teams showed up professionally dressed and ready to win. It was an incredibly close competition. But only 4 teams could advance to the Final Round on June 6.
And the finalists are…
Orphan Socks, Another Course to College | SPONSORED BY Endurance International Group
Handmade, lost-in-the-wash themed sock puppets that come with their own unique backstories and adoption certificates.
Roll N’ Go, Dearborn STEM Academy | SPONSORED BY EY
A handmade, roll up cloth travel kit for toiletries and other travel necessities
Razzle Dazzle, Charlestown High School | Sponsored by Goodwin
Painted and hand-decorated ceramic spoon holders for everyday kitchen use.
Double Charge, Madison Park Technical Vocational High School | Sponsored by Bain Capital Ventures
Handy water bottle and portable charger to keep both you and your phone charged!
What’s Next?
These four teams are polishing their presentations for the Final Round Competition on June 6, where they will compete for thousands of dollars in startup funds and cash prizes. They will present in front of celebrity judges – including former Governor Deval Patrick and NFL player Jerod Mayo – and 500 guests representing Boston’s top business, philanthropic, and community leaders. The other 22 teams are hard at work manufacturing their products to sell to 500+ customers at the Student Business Expo portion of the event.
Want to join in on the fun? It’s not too late to come to the BUILDFest Pitch Challenge. Click here for ticket info.
Thank you to our Preliminary Round VIP Judges
Michael Abramson, Partner, Intellectual Property Group, Holland & Knight
Laura Acosta, Director, Diversity & Inclusion, Goodwin
Karley Ausiello, SVP Community Impact, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
Adam Beard, Senior Vice President, Jefferies, LLC
Paul Blandini, Director of Business Operations, Autodesk
Christopher Byner, Deputy Commissioner, Boston Centers for Youth & Families
Michael Cam-Phung, Principal, Highland Consumer Partners
Kate Castle, Marketing Partner, Flybridge Capital Partners
Chris Comparato, Chief Executive Officer, Toast, Inc.
Maryalice DeCamp, New England Business Development Leader, EY
Page deGregorio, Vice President, Community Relations Administration, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co
Todd Donahue, Chief Financial Officer, SessionM
Robert Erman, Managing Director, Technology Solutions, BNY Mellon, Eagle Investments
Terry Fitzpatrick, Vice President, Children’s Media and Education, WGBH
Richard Gavegnano, Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer, East Boston Savings Bank
Harvey Hill, Director of Human Resources, UPS
Roy Hirshland, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, T3 Advisors
Carolyn Jones, Publisher, Boston Business Journal
Justin Kang, Executive Director, City Awake
Michael Kesselman, EVP, Innovation & Market Growth, Endurance International Group
John Kinzer, Chief Financial Officer, HubSpot
Amir Madjlessi, EVP, Managing Director Business Banking, Santander
Erin McCormick, Director, Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, UMass Boston College of Management
Pat Petitti, Co-Founder & Co-Chief Executive Officer, Catalant
Deb Phillips, Designer/Partner, JDP Designs
Jose Luis Rojas, VP, Commercial Banking, Small Business Loans, Boston Private Bank & Trust Company
Michael Shuhy, Director, Corporate Finance Group, Silicon Valley Bank
Joe Theis, Partner, Goodwin
Jennifer Tribush, Senior Vice President & Head of Business Development, State Street Corporation
Georgette Verdin, Global Human Resources Executive Director, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
Amy Villeneuve, Former President & Chief Operating Officer, Amazon Robotics
1. iPhone, iPad, Zoom and Loom are all choices of recording tools for their video presentation
2. Record with both students and their presentation in view
3. Record horizontally for the best view of the students and their presentation
4. Follow Presentation Diagram to the Right
PRESENTATION TIPS.
- Make eye contact with the camera
- Notecards may be used as cue cards
•Pro Tip: Notecards should avoid having a full script
- Even when you are not speaking, don’t forget the camera is still recording!
•Be aware of your body language while you and your business partners are speaking
- Everyone has an opportunity to speak
- Professional dress is encouraged
- Practice makes perfect
•Practice how you will transition from each speaker
•Project your voice when you speak
Follow positioning format Above
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