8th Annual Pitch Night LIVE from RMA
is a HIT with the CROWD & JUDGES!
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At this year's Pitch Night, we once again had a live audience in the Raymond Moore Auditorium at LFHS. As people arrived for the event, they were able to learn about some of the 15 businesses developed in the Business Incubator this year. Four teams presented on stage during Pitch Night, delivering their pitches and participating in on-the-spot Q & A with our panel of judges. Brush Bestie, last year's Foundation Cup winner, provided the audience with a business update as the judges deliberated. Michelle Gramza, a long time volunteer in the Business Incubator, shared her perspective on the program. At the end of the night every team was awarded funding because our judges were so impressed with these teams. This is only the beginning for these businesses. View the livestream at https://youtu.be/YjzAbC0zA7w. |
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SIMPLY NAV WINS FOUNDATION CUP! |
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EZ Plugs Wins Best Pitch! |
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FOUNDATION CUP WINNERS
Awarded $4,500
Donations $1,275 so far
Simply Nav
Our company, SIMPLY NAV, provides a quick and easy-to-use GPS system in high schools for students, parents, and teachers looking to reduce stress by minimizing travel time from point a to point b.
Website:
Simply Nav can also be found on Facebook & Instagram.
Group Members
Brennan Riley
Josh Dueringer
Tessa Poulton
Molly Kelly
Mentor: Julie Currie
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BEST PITCH WINNERS
Awarded $2,500
Donations $1,275 so far
EZ Plugs
Provides an adjustable power strip in which you can add/subtract outlets with international ports to families, office workers, and international travelers who need to save time, money, and space.
Website:
EZ Plugs can also be found on Facebook & Instagram.
Group Members
Connell Sassen
Pride Haggerty
Sarina Vora
Sean Kupperman
CoMentors:
Michelle Gramza & William Schwartz
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In addition to participating in the Business Accelerator class at LFHS next year, Simply Nav will get the full incubator experience with support from Lifeworking's CIC Business Incubator during the 2022-23 school year. CIC Business Incubator is a dynamic multi-level “real life” Incubator program with industry mentors and professional advisors. From the Initial engagement to Offboarding, a Lead mentor will be assigned and responsible to guide the team throughout the entire process, engaging additional mentors and industry advisors as needed.
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Tasty Recovery & Decentraschool Moving on to Business Accelerator with Funding |
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Awarded $2,000
Donations $150 so far
Tasty Recovery
Our product has amazing taste and great nutritional value without fake vitamins and "natural flavor".
Website:
Tasty Recovery also be found on Facebook & Instagram.
Group Members
Jack Griffin
Maeve Bradley
Kareem Alsikafi
Cole Graham
Mentor:
Eric Cooper
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Awarded $1,000
Donations $450 so far
Decentraschool:
Cryptocurrency Explained
Our company provides a unique online program that combines paper resources with online instruction and support for people interested in learning about cryptocurrency but who may be technologically challenged.
Website:
Decentraschool can also be found on Facebook & Instagram.
Group Members
Vincent Nottoli
Caroline Lee
Sophie Delhey
Van Dugan
Harry Moore
Mentor: Rob Wilder
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PARTAKE, PARTICIPATE & GET INVOLVED!
Do you have an interest in supporting these entrepreneurs or the Business Incubator program? It's not too late! We are keeping our event site up until Friday, May 27, 2023. Visit today to DONATE or INVEST.
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GRATITUDE & APPRECIATION FOR 2022 BUSINESS INCUBATOR VOLUNTEERS & STAFF
The teams benefit tremendously from your
guidance and support throughout the year!
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Business Incubator Mentors
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Rob Wilder - Wilder Management
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Samina Waggoner - Abbott Diagnostics
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Matthew Sunderman - HBR Consulting
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Michael Reinhardt - Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
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Julie Currie - Quad
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Lena Benjakul - HSBC Bank
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Hal Davis - Collision Solution
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Sonia Boundreau* - Certified Professional Coach
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Eric Cooper - Pressed Vibrance
- Michelle Gramza
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William Schwartz - Accenture Strategy
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Shawn Folkes
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Peter Silvestri - Sanara Med Tech
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Mike Obiala* - Independent Insurance Broker
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Tom Condon - PricewaterhouseCoopers
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Samantha Borland - Kopp Consulting
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Ned Borland - Keeley Teton Advisors
*Also serve as coaches.
Coaches
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Kathryn Haydon - Sparkitivity
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Corbett Lamb - Inneraction Communications
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Peter Leech - The Partnering Group
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Lisa Simone Porter - New York Academy of Art
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Corey Holmer - LFHS EdTech Studio
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Jennifer Gattari - Pfizer
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Mark Allen - CPS Electric
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Craig Collister - RoundTable Healthcare Partners
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Jennifer Abernathy - Attorney
Judges
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Jeff Yehle - Gallagher
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Greg Strauss - BlueCross BlueShield Assoc.
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Chris Hartrich - ReNew Communities, NFP
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Steven Whittington - Lifeworking Coworking
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Kate Jackson - Lake Forest College
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Diane Flemming - JPMorgan Chase
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Laura Crandall - Wintrust
Accelerator Mentors
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Suan Milanak - GEM Financial Advisors
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Laura George - Laura George Consulting
Teachers & Volunteer Leaders
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Joe Pulio - LFHS Business Teacher
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Phil LaScala - LFHS Business Teacher
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Peter Clemens - Business Incubator Vice Chair, LFHS Foundation
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Stu Scholly - Business Incubator Co-Chair, LFHS Foundation
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Susan Loiacano - Pitch Coordinator, LFHS Foundation
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An Update from the Business Accelerator |
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Best Wishes to Brush Bestie |
These 2021 Foundation Cup winners have gone on to continued success in the Business Accelerator. They have participated in additional competitions, attended and pitched at SXSW EDU, and were featured on WGN. In their update, they mentioned being in negotiations to sell their business idea in a deal that will provide them with future royalties. Way to go, Brush Bestie!
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THANK YOU TO OUR PITCH NIGHT PARTNERS |
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Your support provides prize money used as start up funding by LFHS student businesses & in-kind support for our teams. |
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2022 UNDERWRITING PARTNERS |
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This was a 2020 Pitch Night Team that shut down their business when they graduated from LFHS. |
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The LFHS Business Incubator program is always looking for committed community members, engaging business leaders, and enthusiastic entrepreneurs to help guide and mentor our students through the process of developing and implementing their business plans. Learn more.
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