As Prep for Prep students, Gabriel C., Iliana B., Dominic G., and Matthew S. are keenly aware of the difference having academic support can make in a student’s success. When tasked with developing a business plan for their Institute for Entrepreneurship (IFE) final project, they developed TuTeach, a service that would ensure that any student who needs academic assistance would have access to it. This concept took first place at the annual IFE Final Business Plan Competition.
The event was the culmination of a five-week summer program in which students learned how to leverage the power of technology to address a need in their community. During the first week, 41 rising 10th and 11th graders were introduced to the principles of entrepreneurship and the basics of coding. They then chose between the program’s business and coding tracks and spent the remainder of the weeks diving deeper into these areas.
Those on the business path learned a host of skills, including how to generate a problem statement and fact sheet, conduct consumer and competitive research, develop a business idea and pitch, determine financial models and projections, and create a marketing strategy. Coding students were introduced to a variety of computer languages and skills, including Python, HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, and Flask. Working together in small teams that included representatives from both the business and coding sides of the program, students identified an issue and created an idea that incorporated technology to address the issue. Each of the nine teams was paired with three to four mentors from Google who provided guidance along the way.
One highlight of the program was a Global Youth Fireside Chat, hosted by Google. The event featured a discussion led by Liz Reid, Google’s Vice President and General Manager of Search Experiences. Students representing four of the IFE teams had the opportunity to share their business pitches—which focused on education, mental health, and safety—with Liz and the audience.
In the final week of the program, all nine teams participated in a virtual venture fair. A virtual semifinals the next day determined the fours teams that would participate in the final competition at Google. At the finals, the teams presented their ideas to a panel of judges that included Dr. Marian Croak, VP, Responsible AI & Human Centered Technology at Google; Jesse Haines, Director, Grow with Google at Google; Kimm Alfonso (VIII), VP, Creator and Backer Success at Kickstarter; and Kareem Cook (VI), Chief Marketing Officer, Owner of Naturade/VeganSmart.
While the judges deliberated, attendees experienced a panel discussion of Prep alumni who are currently working in the tech industry. This panel featured Diógenes Brito (XXIII), Head of Design at Air, and the following Googlers: Melody Ward (XXXIII), Communications and Public Affairs Associate; Oumy Kane (XXXIII), People Operations Associate; Ismatou Bah (P9 XXV), Account Manager Associate; and Owen Abaatu (XXXII), Associate Product Marketing Manager.
The results of the final competition are as follows:
First Place: TuTeach
Team Members: Gabriel C., Iliana B., Dominic G., and Matthew S.
TuTeach aims to give high school students free, accessible, and meaningful math and science tutoring through peer volunteers.
Second Place: Ayuda Rápida
Team Members: Oliver A., Ozochi O., Giana C., and Lola B.
Ayuda Rápida assists new immigrants with overcoming language barriers and inaccessibility to public information and helps them integrate into American society.
Third Place: Culinaid
Team Members: Hunter Y., Kristopher L., Kaiya B., Sufian M., and Timmy D.
Culinaid de-stigmatizes food insecurity and provides necessary food resources for more than one million food insecure New Yorkers.
Fourth Place: Chimera
Team Members: Mamadito C., Hannah W., Vivian G., Eden’s A., Myca B
Chimera assists marginalized teens and young adults through their mental health journeys by creating a safe community.
For many students, participating in IFE has changed their perspective on entrepreneurship and their own confidence. “It’s not just about making money. It’s not about starting my own company,” said Josh E. (P9 XXXIV). “It’s about ‘What can I do for the people around me? What’s something that I really care about, and how can I affect that?’” “Now that I’ve gone through the program, I want to keep striving for the best because that’s what Prep taught me to do,” said Hannah W. (XLI).
We congratulate all of the IFE participants for their innovation and leadership and thank Prep staff and the following individuals and organizations for sharing their time and resources:
Dale Allsopp (VII), Director, Operational Transformation at Google
Savitri Bishnath (P9 VIII), Director of Venture Architecture at BCG Digital Ventures
Cambio Labs
Michael Chen (XVII), Product Manager at Meta
Jackson Collins (XII), Executive Director at Prep for Prep and Founder of Cards On Race
Gari François (XXVIII), Facilitator, Community Gatherer, at Care.Coach
Gabrielle Green (XXVI), Global Brand Director at LOreal
Jocelyn Marie Goode (XVI), Founding Director of the African-American Roller-Skate Museum
Google and the host of employees who served as mentors
Adam Jones (XXV), Implementation Manager at Meta
Gina Lam (IV), Founder of GinaDreamsInColor
Diamanté Logan, Associate Merchandiser, Tommy Hilfiger Men’s Wholesale, USA | PVH
Alexsis Blakely McKinney (P9 IX), Co-founder of Rosewood Strategies LLC and Surrey Hospitality
Louis Melendez (XXIII), founder of Have Better Conversations
Stefan Oliva (XXVI), Senior Associate, Office of the CEO at Gro Intelligence
Etzerson Philitas (P9 XII), Credit and Infrastructure Investor
Trevor Price, Founder of Oxeon Partners and Co-Founder of Town Hall Ventures
Dr. Michael Morris, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation at the University of Notre Dame
Justin Ng (XXV), Data Scientist
Upperline Code
Jennifer Rosado (VII), Chief Customer Officer at JOOR
Lev Steshenko (X), Retired Tech Entrepreneur
Andres Tello (P9 XVII), Co-Founder and Financial Officer, LiRA