BELLEVUE, Pa. (KDKA) — Many kids are competing in WPIAL athletic championships this time of year, but there's a group of high school students who are trying out something with potentially even higher stakes: entrepreneurship. Masu. It's a “Shark Tank”-like program called Startable, which is part of Innovation Works.
At Northgate High School in Bellevue, a group of girls is working on a business plan for apparel for people with limb disabilities, such as amputations or prosthetics, with snaps that can be adjusted to fit their needs.
“We wanted to create something that looked cool, but we also wanted to create something that didn't make people think, 'Oh yeah, this kid has a limb defect.'” It’s like,” Northgate High School senior Skai Jackson said.
They won last year's Startable competition and continued their classes and after-school programs to learn more and further develop their ideas.
“We recognize that there are grand challenges around the world and across the country that today's entrepreneurs cannot necessarily meet, so we encourage our students to develop new creativity and new possibilities. We want to make sure we're ready to address some of these challenges that require eyes,” said Sherry Brown, Startable's program manager.
Startable provides funding to support the cost of teachers and supplies for the nine-week high school program. Startable specifically seeks out people who are underrepresented as entrepreneurs, including women and people of color. Northgate is one of her six schools in her nine counties in the Pittsburgh region to have her Startable group this spring. Each student who completes the program will be awarded $100 and will compete for $1,000, which will be given to the winning team.
Charles Walker is a junior at Northgate University and is working on a business plan.
“My idea is actually called HydroMotors, which are engines that run on water,” he explains.
The Junior Cadenne Kemp team came up with the idea for a bracelet that would act as an alarm to wake you up with electrical stimulation.
“Most people have trouble getting up in the morning, so we designed something to help with that: a wristband that connects to your wrist,” Cadenne said.
Each group will come up with their own ideas, create a business plan and presentation for the competition, and learn many important skills.
Kadenne says she learned a lot. “It's definitely communication. It's like speaking in public. Sometimes you're thinking something in your head, but when you say it out loud, it doesn't make much sense. So when you actually speak it. “You learn things,” he said.
Startable inspires people to go beyond the classroom and pursue entrepreneurship, like Jay Shane, who decided to go to college for business rather than get a job right away, and Skye, who is already on that path. There are also students.
“I discovered that I really loved photography,” Skye said. “So now I'm starting my own photography business. That's what inspired me to become an entrepreneur.”
At the May 11 contest, a team from Northgate High School won a $1,000 Trailblazer Award for their team with an idea called “Budget Boss.” This is his AirTag-like device that alerts students when they are near or near a specified budget. Helps you stick to your spending plan.
During the program's 10 years, some students have gone on to pursue their ideas after high school and create successful businesses, such as Self-Leveling Cups.
You can find out more on the Startable website. If you would like to see if your school can participate, please email Shelly Brown at [email protected].
The Kidsburg website also offers a number of programs across the region to help kids learn about careers.
KDKA is proud to partner with Kidsburg.
