May 8, 2025 – BUILD, a national non-profit, is proudly showcasing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders and changemakers through its innovative BUILDFest Youth Pitch Competitions in New York City, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Boston, and Washington, D.C. over the next month. BUILD has successfully used entrepreneurship education to ignite the potential of youth from under-resourced communities for over 25 years, enabling students to build Career success, Entrepreneurial mindsets, and make their own Opportunities. These dynamic gatherings not only highlight the incredible talent and drive of youth entrepreneurs regardless of background, but also create unique opportunities for business leaders, corporate partners, young professionals, and philanthropists to connect, network, and invest in the future of American innovation.
“As the future of work changes faster than ever, one thing is clear: young people need entrepreneurial mindsets to thrive — resilience, creativity, and problem-solving,” said Thais Rezende, CEO of BUILD.org. “At BUILD, we’re not just teaching students to launch businesses; we’re helping them build the skills to navigate an uncertain world and drive innovation for all of us.”
BUILDFest D.C. – Wednesday, May 14, 2025
BUILD Metro DC will be kicking off the event season on Wednesday, May 14th with their BUILDFest Youth Pitch Competition hosted once again at the wonderful Capital Turnaround in Washington, DC. Student teams will present their business plans to the audience alongside a Student Business Expo and Showcase, where attendees will have the opportunity to meet student entrepreneurs and purchase their unique products.
BUILDFest SWPA – Wednesday, May 21, 2025
On Wednesday, May 21st, the energy at OneValley at the Roundhouse will be palpable as student business teams gather for BUILDFest SWPA, the culminating event of the 4th Annual SWPA Youth Pitch Competition! Be there to witness the final three teams go head-to-head in front of VIP judges and join for a pre-showcase of semi-finalist team business ideas. This will be the first year BUILD SWPA’s students sell their products to guests in their Student Sales Bazaar. Come for the shopping – stay for the local drinks!
BUILDFest Boston – Tuesday, May 27, 2025
On Tuesday, May 27th, Boston’s beloved Fenway Park will come alive with the energy of teams from Boston and Randolph public schools pitching their business ideas. Event participants can also shop through incredible student products before the pitch event! The view from home plate has never been better.
BUILDFest Los Angeles – Thursday, May 29, 2025
On Thursday, May 29th, BUILDFest Los Angeles will take center stage at Loyola Marymount University from 5-8pm PST. Three high school team finalists out of more than 35 across LAUSD will compete in the final round and the evening also includes a Student Sa
BUILDFest New York – Wednesday, June 4, 2024
Close out the season with a bang at BUILDFest New York on Wednesday, June 4th, at the BRIC House Arts and Media Center in Brooklyn. The evening will commence with a Shark Tank-style pitch competition. Guests will then have the opportunity to meet our youth and learn about their businesses at the Student Marketplace.
Join us as we celebrate BUILD’s 25 year legacy, shaping a future where every student’s potential is unleashed—one student at a time. BUILDFest events uplift our whole national community by empowering youth entrepreneurs, and offering mission-aligned sponsors, corporate partners, and young professionals a chance to directly fuel the next generation of leaders while networking with other innovators, change-makers, and future-forward companies.
About BUILD.org
Founded in 1999, BUILD is a national nonprofit organization whose mission
is to ignite the power of youth from under-resourced communities to build Career success, Entrepreneurial Mindsets, and Opportunity. BUILD utilizes entrepreneurship education to elevate youth and propel them to college and career success while empowering them to become the CEO of their own lives. For the last 25 years, BUILD has offered programming in over 2000 cities across the country, reaching over 350,000 youth with its digital offerings and in-school entrepreneurship programming. For more information, visit www.build.org.
Media Contact:
Julie Tumasz
BUILD, Marketing Team
jtumasz@build.org
571-481-8117
