i.Invest National Youth Business Competition Now Accepting Applications

NEW ORLEANS, LA - March 1, 2019 -  i.Invest is pleased to announce that the 2019 national youth business competition is now accepting applications. Young entrepreneurs between the ages of 13 – 19, with a demonstrable product or service, can showcase their innovative ideas in a real-world business competition designed for aspiring leaders. Starting today, youth from across the country can apply to participate in a six-month web-based program that includes three rounds of scoring, virtual group coaching, and one-on-one mentoring from industry and academic leaders belonging to organizations such as, Coca-Cola United, Microsoft, USDA, and University of Maryland.

Now in its' fourth year, i.Invest has attracted young business leaders from across the United States. Competing teams can win a share of $10,000 in cash and in-kind prizes, as well as receive numerical scores and written feedback from experienced professionals who volunteer their time to help young entrepreneurs build scalable businesses. Past winners have gone on to raise over $250,000 in pre-seed funding, create jobs, enroll in the best business schools in the nation, and earn recognition from media outlets across the country. The 2018 top winner, Pulse Wearables, the creators of a medical device that allows people struggling with heart disease to monitor their heart-rate levels, joined past winners, PrepUP and Beacon Health, in earning the title of i.Invest Youth Business of the Year.

“Our goal is to attract students who have learned the fundamentals of business development and are eager to test their business model. We believe age doesn't limit the innovator; instead, it is a key factor in what makes them creative and ambitious,” said Michelle Jackson, the competition's executive director. “We have developed a platform that allows youth from all walks of life to show off their innovative business ideas, connect with their peers from across the country, learn from experienced professionals and win money to help them grow their business. Whether the product is urban gear or a mobile app, we welcome young leaders to participate in this year's competition.”

To qualify for round 1 scoring, applicants must submit a concept profile, executive summary and pitch video via the Reviewr online application platform by May 1st. The application fee is $29. Scholarships are available for students from economically underserved communities through LifeSkills Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for youth and youth entrepreneurs.

All application submissions, mentoring, and scoring are done virtually. Applicants must have access to a PC, tablet or smartphone to participate. To apply, go to www.i-investcompetition.com. To become a sponsor or to learn more about the program, email info@i-investcompetition.com.

This year's cash prizes are sponsored by ASI Federal Credit Union - New Orleans, Premier Pediatrics of Houston, VentureWalk, and PR Solutions LLC. To see a complete list of prizes visit the website.

POC: marketing@prsolutionsllc.org

2018 i.Invest National Youth Business Competition Winners Announced

Today PR Solutions LLC announced the winners of the third annual i.Invest National Youth Business Competition. Four teams consisting of youth entrepreneurs, 13 to 19 years-old from across the U.S. have been selected to receive cash and in-kind prizes after successfully completing a six-month web-based mentoring program and competition that included three rounds of scoring led by business and academic leaders from organizations, including: Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), Alerion Ventures, and Urban League of New Orleans. In addition, teams were required to complete group coaching, one-on-one mentoring, and a virtual finale pitch event. Winners were selected based on each team's ability to develop a scalable business model using the guidance and recommendations of experienced industry leaders.

This year’s winners are:

First Place - Pulse Wearables. Developed by Richa Krishna, 17, of Los Altos, CA, William Barkoff, 16, of New York, NY and Anna Pertl, 17, of Munich, Germany, the Pulse Wearables' medical device allows people limited by heart conditions to monitor their heart rate levels using a non-invasive patch that is easy to use, inconspicuous, and does not require any companion devices to operate. Prize: $2,000, title of i.Invest 2018 Youth Business of the Year, and a one-hour consulting session with Don Morrison, serial entrepreneur and chairman of deal flow at BlueTree Allied Angels and former President and CEO of American Eagle Outfitters.

Second Place - Skippit. Created by 19-year-old Brown University student, Winnie McCabe and Babson College student, Marc Baghadjian, Skippit is an iOS voice and video speed-dating platform designed to redefine online dating for people ages 19-28 who are interested in building intimate connections. Prize: $1,000 and a one-hour consulting session with Don Morrison.

Third Place - Trofi. Navami Jain, 17, Megan Wu, 17, Michelle Bao, 17, and Vincent Xia, 18, of Durham, NC are the creators of the Trofi online platform that enables suppliers of food by-products, such as fruit and vegetable pulp and spent grain, to connect and sell their “waste” products to livestock farmers who can then incorporate these nutrient-rich products into livestock feed as dietary supplements. Prize: $500.

Community Investment Award - Pumpkins Helping People. Gabriella Howard, 15, Alexandrea Howard, 13, and their younger brother, Sam, all from Canal Winchester, OH are the founders of Pumpkins Helping People (PHP), a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to fight hunger through the sale and distribution of pumpkins. Prize: $250.

In addition, all the winners will receive a one-hour consultation with PR Solutions LLC, a strategic marketing and public relations firm and the founder of the i.Invest Competition; the opportunity to be a vendor and/or speaker during the #EYECON Youth Conference in May 2019 at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD; and the chance to participate in a "Ask the Start-Up Attorney" no-fee virtual consulting session with Cherin Law Firm located in Pittsburgh, PA.

"The i.Invest competition was a wonderful experience," said Pulse Wearables co-founder, Krishna. "We loved the mentorship we received from several business leaders both through one-on-one and group sessions. It helped us identify what is truly essential in building our business and focusing on our goals. I also appreciate how well i.Invest was organized and how smooth it was for young entrepreneurs from all over the country to participate. I would love to thank everyone who was part of i.Invest for providing a supportive environment for young entrepreneurs like myself to try without fear of failure."

To learn more about each team, visit the i.Invest blog.

The 2019 competition will start accepting applications on March 1st. Applicants must be between the ages of 13-19 and have a demonstrable product or service to compete. The application fee is $29. To receive event updates, sponsorship information and to view the list of mentors and judges visit, the i.Invest website or contact Michelle Jackson at mjackson@i-investcompetition.com.

About PR Solutions LLC

PR Solutions LLC is a strategic marketing and corporate event planning firm that specialize in working with new and established ventures to build viable business models and to integrate innovative marketing tools into for-profit and nonprofit business strategies. PR Solutions is the parent company of the i.Invest competition. i.Invest is a grassroots effort that receives funding and support from donations to LifeSkills Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization, and the entrepreneurial community. The program's 2018 principal sponsor was Premier Pediatrics of Houston. To learn more, visit www.prsllc.org. 

#youth #iinvestcompetition #pulsewearables #skippit #trofi #entrepreneur #pumpkinshelpingpeople #youthentreprenuer #ship

Meet i.Invest Mentor, Alejandra Guzmán, VP of Performance Management & Strategy for the New Orleans

Professional growth is essential to the success of an entrepreneur. Regardless of their age or background, no entrepreneur succeeds alone. It is this belief that inspires the i.Invest Competition to recruit judges and mentors with various experiences to help us shine a light on business development, innovation and creativity. It is also this belief that made working with New Orleans economic development professional, Alejandra Guzman, and others like her, the best choice when building our dynamic line-up of mentors.

1) Tell us about your current job, why you do what you do and how it prepares you to mentor youth and youth entrepreneurs?

I serve as VP of Performance Management & Strategy for the New Orleans Business Alliance, (NOLABA), a public-private partnership with the City of New Orleans and the business community focused on promoting economic development. Through my NOLABA role and additional civic engagements, I work hard to design and execute programs that achieve equitable and inclusive economic growth for all New Orleanians by working to attract new businesses, grow our local workforce and small business ecosystem, and most importantly, to connect people to opportunities.

My vision for New Orleans is one of an inclusive and sustainable city that provides all of the tools for its people - regardless of their background - to succeed.  I am honored to be able to share these experiences with youth entrepreneurs.

2) If you were a youth entrepreneur, tell us about the very first business you started and why?

At 11, I started selling candy door-to-door and during school recesses.  At that time, I discovered that I could buy candy by the bulk, or even make some myself, and have a slightly lower price than some corner stores. I started having so much success that soon I had competitors! Another young girl decided that she could also make and sell candy. This was one of my earliest business lessons in life.

3) What three things should all young entrepreneurs be prepared for before they create a business?

#1: Follow a process and have patience. 

More often than not, it takes a long time to convert prospects into customers. There should be a thoughtful and well-planned out process to be able to have successful conversion rates. This is true both in the business and non-profit sector.

#2: The importance of connections.

Building a network can make a big difference to your business. Luckily, there are multiple organizations throughout the nation that facilitate these connections. Even if the benefit of knowing someone is not evident at first, connecting with people and building relationships is always beneficial in the long term.

#3: Having cash flow does not mean your business is profitable.

It is important to pay attention to your cost structure. Some new businesses discover that they cannot sustain their operations despite having a flow of cash. Taking a close look at what it takes your business to operate can help you make other decisions that will support the sustainability of your business.

4) Tell us about your biggest business failure and success.

One of my biggest learning experiences has been understanding that there are projects that will require you to go through a process. There are instances in which decisions can’t be rushed. This is true, particularly in those projects that are depending on the buy-in of multiple stakeholders. Failing to understand this concept has cost me delays on my projects and failed partnerships. I was fortunate enough to later have a mentor who taught me the importance of this. With their mentorship support, my team and I were able to establish a public-private partnership that benefited the quality of life of thousands of people.

5) Why is nurturing entrepreneurship important to you?

My work focuses on creating economic opportunities for all. It is very much like the work of an entrepreneur. Creating solutions for pressing problems require an entrepreneurial spirit.

My work experience was developed mostly in the private sector where my main focus has been to create and operate inter-sectorial partnership programs combining non-government organizations (NGO), government agencies, and private-sector companies focused on solving community and economic development challenges in the United States, in Mexico and other Latin American countries. Early in my career, I discovered that to be more effective in the programs I was designing I needed to increase my business acumen. This is why I pursued a Master's degree in Business from Tulane University.

What drives and inspires me every day is the belief of the unlimited human potential and that we all deserve an opportunity to thrive. This can be accomplished through entrepreneurship.

6) Name up to three educational classes, business programs or real-world experiences that played a key role in your success and why.

My first internship was crucial for me to discover my passions! When I started working for CEMEX as an intern, I discovered that they had a robust portfolio of programs dedicated to the improvement of communities around the world. It was great to realize that I can build a career while helping others. I would encourage young people to go through internships, so they are able to discover what may be a great career for them.

#Youth #neworleansbusinessalliance #nolaba #alejandraguzman #neworleans #entrepreneur #iinvestcompetition #ship