Youth Business Plan Competition Breeds Bright Ideas and Innovators

As far South Florida’s next generation of go-getters are concerned, the era of the Innovation Nation is upon us – and it started right here at home.

Yesterday, young entrepreneurs from 21 area schools put their clever business ideas on display at the NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship) South Florida Youth Business Plan Competition semi-finals.

Armed with creative ideas and the business skills they’ve learned through the NFTE curriculum taught at their schools, these ambitious students are ushering in a new period of economic growth and innovative thinking throughout South Florida and the nation.

The NFTE South Florida Business Plan Competition semi-finals featured a batch of fresh and diverse business ideas that range from niche photography services to delectable frozen treats.

Move over, Silicon Valley!
Some of the students have even gone so far as to invent their own products. One tech-savvy Broward teen has invented a retractable headphone cord designed specifically for iPhone and iPad users. Not only does the product remove the hassle of tangled, messy cords; it also comes with a handy belt clip for Apple users on the go.

Other students combined their passion for their favorite hobby with the business savvy they learned through their NFTE entrepreneurship class at school. One student’s idea, a photo graphy business for luxury cars, has already generated a steady flow of business from eBay sellers looking to put their vehicle’s best face forward in online auctions.

The consumer’s sweet spot was also a target at this year’s competition: a student from Miami Central High School concocted a delicious idea for a frozen yogurt business specializing in a line of tropical flavors.

The top six business plans from the semi-finals will be on display at the NFTE South Florida Regional Business Plan Competition on May 12, an annual event that gives young entrepreneurs from low-income communities the opportunity to perfect and pitch a business plan and receive valuable feedback from top business leaders.

The stakes and the excitement are high – join students from Broward and Miami-Dade schools as they rise to the challenge of presenting complex business concepts and demonstrate that they have the gumption –and the goods – to take control of their destinies and embark on their own unique pathways to entrepreneurial success. To learn more about the NFTE South Florida Regional Business Plan Competition on May 12th, 2010, please contact Erin Schmidt at eschmidt@thinkinkpr.com.