A smart pet deterrent system and customizable copper charm bracelets designed to alleviate arthritis pain were just some of the product ideas ten young entrepreneurs pitched during a Shark Tank Jr. event marking the culmination of Chicago Youth Advancement Initiative’s (CYAI) business and entrepreneurship program.
The ten entrepreneurs, ages 9-12, participated in the 10-week program through Chicago Youth Centers’ (CYC) Sidney Epstein Center. The April 11 event featured pitches to a panel of community judges, followed by a Q&A session with both judges and the audience. The judges evaluated each pitch based on creativity, market potential, presentation skills, teamwork, and financial knowledge, awarding gold, silver, and bronze prizes. A total of $500 in prize money, generously donated by Wintrust Bank & Trust, was distributed among the participants.
Clarence Hogan, director of CYC’s Sidney Epstein Center said, “CYC’s Jr Shark Tank Pitch Contest was a huge success! It was the culmination of the Chicago Youth Advancement Initiative (CYAI) working with 9-12 year old students for 10 weeks of entrepreneurial and financial literacy training. Hats off to Maclane, Nick and Michael for a job well done.”
The program began in January and provided students with comprehensive lessons in financial literacy and business fundamentals through interactive games and engaging activities. Throughout the program, students learned about income, budgeting, profit, advertising, marketing, competitive pricing, and product differentiation. The program’s second half focused on preparing for the Shark Tank-style event where students developed innovative products.
The Chicago Youth Advancement Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was created last year by high school students Michael Francis, Nick Derbis, and Maclane Zich, all current juniors at Benet Academy in Lisle.
“We wanted to share the knowledge and passion we’ve gained as students with the next generation, hoping to inspire them to continue learning,” said Michael Francis, CYAI co-founder. “As current students, we believe our unique perspective allows us to connect with younger learners and make learning both fun and engaging.”
The high schoolers created the curriculum and taught the courses, fostering strong relationships with their students. Friday’s event marked the successful completion of CYAI’s first full program, and the organization plans to refine its curriculum based on feedback and expand to other youth centers across Chicago.
CYAI is currently preparing to launch its next program, focusing on computer science and robotics, also at the Sidney Epstein Center. This new initiative will introduce students to the basics of computer science through the construction and programming of LEGO robots made possible by a grant secured by CYAI. For more information about CYAI, please visit cyaichicago.org.