Families across Canada came together virtually, this Monday, to watch an event that many would have thought impossible: an entrepreneurship challenge for elementary grade students - as young as four years of age! In this contest that one could call a “Junior Dragon’s Den,” students presented their business pitches to three judges, prepared to respond to any tough questions about anything from profit margins to market research. Ultimately, six winning positions were up for grabs for various individual, group, and grade-based categories, two positions of which were determined by a Community Choice vote from the audience. Watching the active engagement from younger audience members as they voted for their favourite pitches was almost as awe-inspiring as the brilliance of the pitches, themselves.
Organized by the Canada School Review to support financial literacy objectives across the nation, this challenge included participation from the hosting school, Toronto’s Sidney Ledson Institute, and from Mensa Canada’s Gifted Youth Group. Several respected representatives from the Gifted Youth Committee joined in for the momentous event, as well as esteemed entrepreneurial expert judges from BNS' very own Winning Circle:
- Nicole Pollock: a former Toronto Raptors cheerleader who leveraged her experiences to co-found an innovative and award-winning brand ambassador company, Cotton Candy Events Staffing
- Chef DK: a passionate culinary inventor, who turned a business that he started at home during the pandemic into one of downtown Toronto’s most popular new Korean fusion restaurants (Taste Bender)
- Chanelle Fleming: an award-winning entrepreneur, who at only 22 years of age founded her Calgary skin care clinic, OneSkn Inc.
Jasmine Kara, Winner Magazine’s editor in chief, kept the crowd laughing and cheering, as students, judges, and audience members, alike, were reminded that they were all winners for having played a part in the enriching and one-of-a-kind event experience.
Originality was abundant in the pitch rounds with a number of ideas that were hard to forget! Some presentations that stood out included a vehicle-themed cookie business by Everett Omoto (age 4), the Animal Health Scanner by Arielle Chan-Kim (Gr 1) and Arianna Wang (Gr 2), Chunky Goodness Healthy Chocolate Bars by Maya Kara (Gr 3), and a versatile dog coat, called “Pup-Oat,” by Gr 5 and 6 students, Janine Gangani, Rodvin Ardalan, and Maryam Fleming.
As impressive as these pitches were, it is the following finalists that demonstrated the extra bit of compelling presentation needed to win over judges and audience members. Vying for features in the upcoming Juniors Edition of Winner Magazine, these young entrepreneurs left no stone unturned in formulating business plans that any investor would dive right into!
This is the list of official winners for the 2022 CSR National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge:
Judge's Choice Winners:
- JK/SK individual presentations: Sidney Ledson Institute’s Adelaide Martin in SK for Marshmallow Lassi
- Gr 1/2 group presentations: Sidney Ledson Institute’s Aiden Chen and Kenji Omoto in Gr 2 for Chess Lessons
- Gr 3 - 6 individual presentations: Mensa Canada GYG’s Caden Phui in Gr 4 for L.P.P. Toys Inc.
- Gr 3 - 6 group presentations: Sidney Ledson Institute’s Khaleel Lakha and Mikael Ladak in Gr 4 for the Dinner+ app
Community Choice Vote Winners:
- JK - Gr 2 Junior Division: Sidney Ledson Institute’s Adelaide Martin in SK for Marshmallow Lassi
- Gr 3 - 6 Senior Division: Sidney Ledson Institute’s Khaleel Lakha and Mikael Ladak in Gr 4 for the Dinner+ app
Judge, Chanelle Fleming says it best: "I am absolutely blown away by all the innovative ideas, creative presentations and confidence I saw from each contestant. Each and every one of you is such an inspiration with ambitious young energy."
Stay tuned for these finals winners' well-earned exclusives in Winner Magazine Juniors Edition, in which their full pitch videos and judge comments will be featured.
As a proud sponsor for this initiative to support critical learning outcomes for the young leaders of tomorrow, BNS looks forward to featuring next year’s challenge, as well. You can count on all the registration dates being posted on BNS so you don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity for children to challenge themselves in a way that is guaranteed to pay dividends. Who knows - perhaps, one of the ingenious ideas inspired by CSR’s NYEC will turn into the next ground-breaking invention of our time!
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