Ten High School Entrepreneurs Compete for $50,000 in Prizes and Scholarships During Pirates Pitch 2024

Ten high school entrepreneurs committed to launching their own start up or receiving support for nascent businesses will compete as finalists in Seton Hall University’s tenth annual Pirates Pitch for High School Students competition, hosted by the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Stillman School of Business from 3 - 6:30 p.m., Friday, November 22, in Jubilee Hall Auditorium. This tournament also celebrates Global Entrepreneurship Week activities taking place around the world from November 18 - 24.

These future business leaders have successfully submitted original business proposals describing an innovative product or service in 350 words or less, or in a three minute video submission. The students next face off in an in-person "Shark Tank"-style competition, after passing their first hurdle against 225 young entrepreneurs from 20 U.S. states as well as Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea and Singapore, to qualify for more than 50,000 dollars in prizes and tuition scholarships. They will convey their startup ideas in five-minute presentations to an independent judging panel of faculty members and successful alumni.

The University community and the public are invited to watch these pitches and cheer for their favorite contestant at the event on campus. For those who cannot attend in person, the event will be livestreamed here. All viewers will be invited to cast a vote to select the Audience Choice Award. The contest will include a five-minute Q&A session, and all finalists will receive valuable feedback from the judges.

"I am always so impressed by the talent and business savvy demonstrated by our pitch contestants. I’ve also enjoyed, over the years, watching several of the contestants thrive in their studies and their business ventures. It’s wonderful to see so many young people taking advantage of this opportunity to build their skills and refine their startup concepts," said Joyce A. Strawser, Ph.D., dean, Stillman School of Business.

This year’s projects are wide-ranging, with students using their creativity and talent to help improve the world through caring for the environment and providing a variety of innovative solutions for better physical and mental health. The projects also include a professional clothing line for young women, digitalized car registration and a defrosting device for car windshields.

"Our participants gain valuable business experience and receive entrepreneurial advice from our judging panel so they can become innovators and change-makers in today’s complex business climate," said Susan Scherreik, M.B.A., founding director of the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Stillman School of Business.

Scherreik pointed to a recent survey by Junior Achievement USA that indicated three in five American teens, approximately 60 percent, would be more interested in starting their own business than having a traditional job. She noted that those who practice entrepreneurship in high school and college get a head start on learning how to make their startup dreams a reality.

This year’s prominent judging panel includes Stillman business faculty and alumni entrepreneurs: Elizabeth McCrea, Ph.D., associate professor of management and entrepreneurship; Kadean Dennis ’20, senior consultant, Ernst & Young; RoseMary Stanchak, ’23/MBA ’24, former first place winner of Pirates Pitch for High School Students; and Victor Gomez, ’17, manager of Seton Hall Esports, and an accomplished alumnus who has been instrumental to the founding, creation and growth of the University’s Gaming Sector club and the current esports program at Seton Hall, BIG EAST League of Legends Champions and Rocket League Champions.

Seton Hall University’s popular teen start up competition takes place during the third week in November to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week, which spotlights the millions of people around the globe who are unleashing their ideas to start and scale new businesses. This year, GEW will sponsor 40,000 events and activities in 200 countries.

All qualifying finalists will receive at least 4,000 dollars in tuition scholarships to attend Seton Hall. The top finalist will receive a 2,500 dollar cash award and a 10,000 dollar tuition scholarship. The second-place winner will receive a 1,000 dollar cash award and a 6,000 dollar scholarship. The Audience Choice Award winner will receive 300 dollars.

The Pirates Pitch Competition for High School Students helps to develop and showcase entrepreneurial skills that align with the World Economic Forum’s list of the top skills that professionals need to thrive, including complex problem-solving, critical thinking and emotional intelligence. The competition also introduces students to the Stillman School of Business, its Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the nationally ranked Center for Leadership Development within the Buccino Leadership Institute.

This year's finalists include:

• Nifemi Adeyemi, a senior from Newark, NJ, attending Newark Collegiate Academy. Startup Idea: Irahs_Collection
• Muhammad Haseeb, a senior from Wayne, NJ, attending PCTI STEM Academy. Business: Hydro DeFrost
• Caroline Kiernan, a sophomore from Ridgewood, NJ, attending Ridgewood High School. Business Idea: Stress Less
• Ryan Kim, a sophomore from Fort Lee, NJ, attending Bergen County Technical High School. Business Idea: Smat Pitch; Vivica Electronics
• Jeffery Liu, a junior from Basking Ridge, NJ, attending Delbarton School. Business Idea: RemeMore
• Rishabh Nambiar, a senior from Fishkill, NY, attending John Jay High School. Business: Research Chat
• Eve Parrott, a junior from Livingston, NJ, attending Livingston High School. Business Idea: Scolipoly
• Jacqueline Perez, a sophomore from Park Ridge, NJ, attending Park Ridge High School. Business Idea: Digital Insurance and Car Registration
• Ayden Pinto, a junior from Manalapan, NJ, attending High Technology High School. Business Idea: Eco-Smart Trash Pickup
• Grace Rhine, a senior from Toms River, NJ, attending Toms River High School. Business Idea: Legally Chic Clothing

For more information, please visit this page. You will be able to watch the livestream here.

Categories: Business