Judges, Host and participants
PHILIPSBURG--Community Hub for Administrative Initiatives (CHAI) hosted its first ever “Teen-Preneur Build My Business” intensive during the week of Monday to Friday, July 16-20.
Five teenagers had a chance during the event to engage in a business development programme that “sparked their entrepreneurial mindset.” They were equipped to have an innovator’s eye and a founder’s grit – the skills to excel in an innovation economy, it was stated in a press release on Tuesday.
The teenagers ages 12-16 engaged in preparing business plans with Nzinga Lake. They also participated in branding and logo concept with Emmalexis Velasquez and concept-to-digital-logo creation by Ryan Daniel and Eusebio Richardson. Richardson’s business “High Line Custom Printing” provided the teens with T-shirts and logos.
The teens got a glimpse at financial and expense management from Kathy Woods. Professional image coach Semona Morton shared with them on personal and business image from inside out. Successful trade show setup and business pitch were covered by Jovanka Horsford. Bureau for Intellectual Property (BIP) St. Maarten also focused on copyrights and I-envelopes.
The culmination of the programme saw the teens participating in a pitch competition before three judges. Deina Liverpool won the pitch competition, which will give her an opportunity to be a vendor at the Food, Fashion and Beauty Expo in October.
CHAI said it is grateful to the participants and their parents, sponsors, judges and facilitators who contributed to the success of the programme.
“It is no news that over 71 million youth are unemployed (ILO [International Labour Organization – Ed.]), our current school system is limited in its approach to igniting the creative geniuses and our teens are not thoroughly prepared for the workforce and entrepreneurship,” the release said.
“Entrepreneurs are the backbone of our local economy. Whether we work in government, arts and culture, economic development, philanthropy, education or non-profit, we all have a part to play in supporting local businesses and entrepreneur development in our communities.”
Teen-Preneurs will be held again during the first week of October.
