The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce hosted its 11th annual Young Entrepreneurs Academy Investor Panel earlier this month, offering 14 students the chance to present their business concepts and compete for funding. Here, the competitors pose for a picture after the presentation, which was held at Staten Island Academy. (Courtesy of Steve White, Staten Arts Photography)(Courtesy of Steve White, Staten
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce hosted its 11th annual Young Entrepreneurs Academy Investor Panel earlier this month, offering 14 students the chance to present their business innovative concepts and compete for funding in a “Shark Tank” style competition.
Sponsored by Con Edison, the Investor Panel is the culminating event of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, a 16-week program in which students learn how to create their own business.
Anna Lau, a sophomore at Staten Island Technical High School, took the first-place spot and earned a $1,500 investment for her business, Snugshi, which creates heat-able, weighted, and portable stuffed animals that are rechargeable for on-the-go pain management.
Anna also received the newly introduced Board of Directors award, a $1,000 scholarship that goes toward the chosen student’s education or workforce training.
Chloe Yuen, a junior at Tottenville High School, came in second place and received $1,200 for her business, Charmed by You. Gabriella Shalmiyev, a junior at Staten Island Technical High School, took third and received $850 for her business, Nutrio Power.
All three students will be moving on to the national competition.
The program was sponsored by State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and Councilman David Carr, who kicked off the event with opening remarks. Scholarship sponsors include: Avid Architecture; Chick-fil-A; Lynne Pershing; Northfield Bank; Person Centered Care Services; and The Rab Wilkinson Foundation.
Ed Burke, chief of staff at the Staten Island Zoo, served as emcee for the event and introduced the panel of judges, which included: Josh Rivera, Con Edison; Laurie Guinta, Northfield Bank; Martin Mathis, Person Centered Care Services; Kamilah Briscoe, Staten Island Academy; Sean Conaghan, Valpak; January Nuzzo, Rotary Club of Staten Island; Ed Piszko, Small Business Development Center; and Mike Sanicola, Amazon.
Additional Investor Panel Sponsors included The Lois and Richard Nicotra Foundation and National Grid.
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