BUILDFest 2025:
A Night to Remember
Celebrating Youth Innovation, Community, and Impact
Team Rainnet
4th Place
Theodore Roosevelt High School
Team Bringing Down Stress (BDS)
3rd Place
Theodore Roosevelt High School
Team DareShift LLC
2nd Place
Alexandria City High School
Candlit Creations who took home the 1st place prize of $1,500 with their standout concept and pitch – creative, confident, and completely unforgettable!
Want to see more photos from the event? View the gallery here.
BUSTLING STUDENT MARKETPLACE
Guests browsed, bought, and supported our young entrepreneurs at the Student Business Marketplace, where 15 student business teams set up booths and sold their innovative, handmade, and mission-driven products. From custom apparel to wellness items, the creativity on display was unmatched. Thank you for showing up, shopping small, and celebrating the next generation of CEOs!
EDUCATOR AWARDS & RECOGNITION
We proudly recognized Catherine Lewis of Alexandria City High School with the Spark Award, Jasmine Blanks of Theodore Roosevelt High School as Teacher of the Year, and Carleather Ponder received the Legacy in Entrepreneurial Education Award for her lasting impact and leadership in BUILD classrooms. Congrats to all of our educators and thank you for your outstanding commitment to our youth.
INSPIRING ALUMNI SPEECH
We were also inspired by a powerful alumni moment from Tony Nobles, a BUILD graduate and now our National Director of Strategic Partnerships. Tony shared his journey from student entrepreneur to national leader, showing us all what’s possible when young people are given the tools, and the platform, to thrive.
Thank You to Our Judges & DJ!
BUILDFest DC 2025
Christelle Louis
Startup Partner Development Specialist, AWS
David Toney
Principal & Senior Vice President Development, Akridge
Dora Gougoufkas
Managing Vice President – Head of International Talent Expansion, Capital One
Veronica Santos
Community Affairs Consultant – Washington Metro Area, Comcast
And of course, DJ Analyze kept the celebration going all night long with high-energy tracks that had the room buzzing.
Thank you for setting the vibe and making BUILDFest unforgettable!
Success Begins With You
BUILDFest DC 2025
While BUILDFest DC 2025 is over, we’re not done yet! We’re close to reaching our [XYZ] fundraising goal, and we need your help to get there. Please consider making a donation today. With your support, BUILD DC can continue to empower youth like Mohamed to achieve their dreams. Together, we can build a brighter future!
Career Success
Entrepreneurial Mindset
Thank you to our judges for putting together a transformative pitch competition. Your dedication and encouraging words mean the world to BUILD and our students.
Opportunity
Want to see more photos from the event? View the gallery here.
