Application Now Open for First Open Kid’s Pitch Competition with Celebrity Judges held in Austin

ABC Bank’s Pitch YEA invites students far & wide to submit their application for a chance to pitch their big idea on stage in front of celebrity judges for cash

Online PR News � 24-August-2018 – Great ideas come from those of all ages, so Start-Up Kids Club is hosting one of the first ever national pitch competition for entrepreneurs younger than 18-years-old to capture the attention of celebrity judges, on January 27, 2019, in Austin, Texas at the Stateside at the Paramount theater.

Applications for students 18 and younger from around the country are now open through October 31st, 2018 for a chance to present their money-making ideas and seek funding from well-known judges such as:

-Shark Tank winner and successful twelve-year-old entrepreneur Jack Bonneau, who won funding for Jacks Stands and Marketplaces, which creates selling spaces for childrens lemonade stands and products.
-Brandon Boynton, who developed his BullyBox app in high school, taking him from bullied teen to proud entrepreneur. His app makes it possible to electronically and anonymously notify school administrators of bullying incidents.
-Serial entrepreneur Adam Toren, an Entrepreneur magazine contributor and author of the book Kidpreneur.
-Austinite Ben Doherty, co-founder of the on-demand delivery app Favor.
-Kathy Terry, co-founder of P.Terrys Burger Stands, Taco Ranch and inLieu.
-Other surprise guests are under consideration.

Lucky finalists will receive professional coaching prior to their final pitch from Boynton and other entrepreneurs. Halie Thomas, founder of www.thehappyorg.org, will also coach children.

Start-Up Kids Club was founded by teacher Amber Wakem in 2017. My daughter is dyslexic, and traditional classroom education doesnt address her strengths. She is bright, creative, driven and possesses the talents of successful entrepreneurs. But, the problem is, most schools dont teach children how to create a business.

Ironically, children make great entrepreneurs because they believe all things are possible, and use their creativity daily. They come up with exceptional ideas, but need to be taught how to monetize them. Thats why I started my 501(c)3 after-school program last year, to give children the tools to succeed, and forums to sell their ideas. Why should we wait?

Through Start-Up Kids Club, 150 students have created 79 businesses, fifteen of which sold their products in local stores.

Presenting sponsor is ABC Bank. Other sponsors include Global Agility, No Time for Social, and more to come.

For information about how to enter the competition, and about Start-Up Kids Club, please contact Amber Wakem.