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Community
UMass Amherst Henry Thomas Center at Springfield to Host By Youth, For Youth Entrepreneurial Pitch Challenge March 15
Fourteen area high schoolers and young adults will pitch their business ideas to a panel of local business leaders at the event in Tower Square
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Fourteen area youths will “enter the shark tank” to pitch their entrepreneurial ideas to local business leaders during the By Youth, For Youth Entrepreneurial Pitch Challenge, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, at the UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center at Springfield, located in Tower Square at 1500 Main St.
The By Youth, For Youth Entrepreneurship Program is a 20-week learning experience offered by Springfield’s Follow My Steps Foundation that is designed to equip young entrepreneurs with essential business skills, financial literacy and personal development tools. Through 10 weeks of structured lessons and real-world simulations, followed by 10 weeks of hands-on mentorship, the high school students and young adults who participate in the program gain valuable insights into starting and sustaining a successful venture.
The Pitch Challenge marks the culmination of the classroom half of the program and transition into mentorship, connecting the youths with industry professionals to further develop their enterprises.
Following a short welcome and kickoff at 10 a.m., including opening remarks from UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes, the pitch challenge will consist of two sessions separated by a 30-minute lunch break at noon, during which light refreshments will be served. The recognition of winners and closing remarks are scheduled for approximately 2:35 p.m.
Scheduled to serve as judges for the Pitch Challenge are:
- Tucker Bartone – Franchise owner and operator, Crumble Cookies and Playa Bowls
- Ray Berry – Owner, White Lion Brewing Company
- Andrew Brow – Culinary architect, HighBrow Wood Fired Kitchen + Bar and White Lion Brewing Company
- Myke Connolly – Founder and CEO, Stand Out Truck
- Chris DeVoie – Co-owner, Hot Table
- Fams Taal – Co-owner, FT Custom Printing & Embroidery
- Victor Woolridge – Former UMass Board of Trustees member and managing director of real estate debt capital markets, Barings Real Estate
Jayne Melendez, program manager for EforAll Entrepreneurship, will serve as moderator for the challenge.
“Seeing the growth of these young entrepreneurs in such a short time has been truly inspiring,” says Zane Foster, program manager of the By Youth, For Youth Entrepreneurship Program. “The By Youth, For Youth program is a reflection of what’s possible when young people are given the tools and support to succeed, and we’re proud that Follow My Steps Foundation has played a part in their journey.”
“Programs like this are pivotal to our goal of creating opportunities for the next generation of leaders,” says Lidya Rivera-Early, executive director of government relations and Springfield partnerships at the UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center. “We are incredibly fortunate to collaborate on work of this caliber with such a talented and inspiring group of young individuals.”
More information about the By Youth, For Youth Entrepreneurship Program and other programs and services offered by Follow My Steps can be found on the foundation’s website at followmysteps.org.