Chicago’s Student Entrepreneurs Win Big at Future Founders Challenge

May 14, 2015

The Future Founders Foundation, a non-profit organization that inspires youth in Chicagoland to explore and practice entrepreneurship, hosted its inaugural Future Founders Challenge on April 24 at Motorola Mobility in downtown Chicago. Nearly 150 students, volunteers and teachers from the Future Founders Connect program gathered for this “Amazing Race” meets entrepreneurship event.

After a morning of engaging activities that tested students’ entrepreneurial skills, DePriest Elementary School and Hyde Park Academy were crowned winners in the middle and high school categories, respectively, with Perspectives IIT Math & Science Academy finishing as the runners up.

“It’s thrilling to see such energy and enthusiasm for entrepreneurship coming from our incredible students and volunteers,” said Scott Issen, President & CEO, Future Founders Foundation. “The effort, ideas, and innovation that students demonstrated bodes well for the future of Chicago’s entrepreneurial community.”

The competition was the culmination of a year-long program during which 900 students from a dozen middle and high schools on Chicago’s South and West Sides explore entrepreneurship through a series of hands-on workshops. Only 100 of the top students from 10 schools were invited to participate in this highly competitive event.

Students competed in a series of hands-on events that tested their entrepreneurial skills. After a morning of elevator pitches, mobile app wireframing, and innovative product design, points were tallied and three winning teams were announced. Each winning student walked away with a prize package worth over $300 that included Lenovo tablets, Skullcandy headphones, and box seats to an upcoming Chicago Cubs baseball game.

Congrats to the Future Founders Challenge winners:

• 1^st Place, Middle School Division: DePriest Elementary School
• Aaron Carey, 8^th grade – Takira Haggins, 8^th grade – Rahmir Harris, 8^th grade – Pharrish Mapp, 8^th grade – Hope Spann, 8^th grade
• 1^st Place, High School Division: Hyde Park Academy
• Roniesha Hayes, senior – Johnquail Lyons, senior – Adorah Ousley, senior
• 2^nd Place, High School Division: Perspectives IIT Math & Science Academy
• David Emerson, sophomore – Nikia Smith, sophomore – Asia Thomson, sophomore

Additional schools participating in the Challenge include the following middle schools: Alain Locke Charter School, Catalyst Circle Rock, DePriest Elementary and Holden Elementary. Participating high schools include: Chicago Tech Academy, Hyde Park Academy, Holy Trinity High School, Kenwood Academy High School, Perspectives IIT Math & Science Academy, and South Shore International College Prep.

Future Founders Connect is an entrepreneurial exposure program that helps middle and high school students explore entrepreneurship and develop key professional skills. Through a series of in-person, highly interactive experiences in which professionals visit classrooms throughout the school year, students engage in experiential learning to develop their 21st Century skills and raise their sights about what is possible.

Future Founders Connect is generously supported by Capital One, CME Group Foundation, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Keywell Foundation, Chick-fil-A Foundation, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Accenture, Google, Hoyt Family Foundation, Motorola Mobility Foundation, and PCMA Education Foundation.

For more information, contact Ethan Kenvarg at ethan@futurefounders.com.