Boca Raton, Fl. March 29, 2016 – On April 6, 2016, the Boca Chamber’s Golden Bell Education Foundation’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) students will present their business plans before local investors at FAU Tech Runway. This event is from 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Eighteen middle and high school students representing 14 businesses and social movements will have five minutes to pitch their plans to prominent business leaders in Palm Beach County. This “Shark Tank” style event will result in student’s receiving capital from Saint Andrew’s School, Florida Blue, the Office Depot Foundation, TouchSuite, Comerica Bank, Bluegreen Vacations, IBM, Flower Power & Light, Publix Super Market Charities and the Research Park at FAU.
The investor panel will include prominent executives from Palm Beach County including: Beth Johnston, Florida Blue; Angela Mastrofrancesco, Comerica Bank; Sam Zietz, TouchSuite; Diane Heard, Bluegreen Vacations; Allen Baum, Boca Bearings; Cathy Meehan, IBM and Andrew Duffell, the Research Park at FAU. Anthony Barber, FAU Board of Trustees, will be the moderator for the event.
“These students represent future innovators and job creators in Florida,” said Jenna Reed, Development Director, Golden Bell and YEA! “For the past six months they have been working on an original product or service, developed a fully functional business model and are now ready to present their ideas to the public. Local business leaders will award them funds to help launch their business which is really exciting.”
To RSVP, find out additional information or directions, contact Jenna Reed at jreed@bocachamber.com
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About Golden Bell: The Boca Chamber’s Education Foundation, also known as Golden Bell, is a 501c3 non-profit corporation that was created for the sole purpose of supporting the Boca Raton Public School System, grades K-12. Founded by the Chamber's Board of Directors, the Foundation funds educational programs that promote business skills. Golden Bell has now granted more than $1.2 Million since its inception in 1991. Our commitment to improving educational opportunities is best exemplified by our programs like the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!).
About The Young Entrepreneurs Academy: The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a groundbreaking class that transforms middle and high school students into real entrepreneurs. The class (comprised of students ages 11-18) meets after school one day a week from September through May. Classes are held at our Saint Andrews School in Boca Raton. Through the class, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors, and actually launch and run their own real, legal, fully formed companies.