Atman Patel, an Indian-American student from Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore, Maryland, has emerged as the first-place winner in the NFTE Capital regional Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, an annual competition hosted by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE).
The competition, modeled after the popular TV show Shark Tank, judges original business startup idea pitches from contestants. As the winner, Patel got $1,500 for his innovative business idea, “Story Crafters”, which creates custom digital books tailored to individual customers to spark a love of reading in children.
He along with three other standout student businesses, evaluated by a panel of distinguished judges, will advance to the national finals in New York on Oct. 10, competing for the National Champion title and cash prizes.
The judges included NFTE alumna Jan Baker, experience and service designer at the Innovashion Group; Anthony Calderazzi, assurance partner at Ernst & Young LLP (EY US); Andrew J. Sherman, partner at Brown Rudnick Inc; Daniel Vogel, assistant director of the Veloric Center for Entrepreneurship at American University; and Tim Wills, principal, Wills Companies.
Meg Stewart, NFTE Capital Region Executive Director, praised the participants for their entrepreneurial spirit. "I was blown away by the caliber of student finalists this year. They are a true testament to the power of NFTE programs. These students showcase how an original idea, with support and training, can be turned into a full-fledged business pitch. That's what NFTE is all about, igniting a spark and giving students the tools to own their future."
The NFTE Capital Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge was presented by EY US and American University’s Veloric Center for Entrepreneurship, with significant support from Shopify, the Citi Foundation, PayPal, the Benjamin B. Wills III Charitable Foundation, and Santander.
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