Las Vegas, NV, November 8, 2018 – Three teams of Clark County student entrepreneurs earned the opportunity to pitch their business ideas at CES 2019 – owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) – at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The business pitch competitors are students who have successfully completed the digital entrepreneurship program Future Innovators, powered by Washington, DC-based education technology provider EVERFI and sponsored by CTA. The student pitches are focused on business ideas that help solve pressing issues for the county and state.
During Thursday’s semifinal round, 17 teams of students pitched their business plans to four judges: Cindy Hoag, senior director, CES Las Vegas Office, CTA; Britney Davis, STEAM/STEM director for girl scouts of Southern Nevada; Christina Alda, owner, LG Designs; Joshua Leavitt, regional manager, Tech Impact. The teams advancing to the final round at CES are:
- Team Aver from Southwest Career and Technical Academy
- Team MoneyByte from Northwest Career and Technical Academy
- Team GamerCool from Rancho High School
Qualifying teams with their faculty mentor
“CTA’s Future Innovators program help to close the skills gap by going straight to the source and teaching entrepreneurial skills in America’s classrooms,” said Jennifer Taylor, vice president, U.S. Jobs, CTA. “Learning how to start a new business encourages young minds to think critically about solving real-world challenges. These are exactly the kind of innovators we hope to see on CES show floor for years to come.” Since its inception, the program has reached more than 5,700 students.
“The Future Innovators students are thrilled for their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present their business ideas on the CES 2019 mainstage,” said Snehal Bhakta, education lead, Clark County School District Career & Technology. “I want to thank CTA for investing in the future entrepreneurs and innovators of Nevada.”
“CTA stands for innovators and the promise of technology, and I can’t think of a better organization to partner with on this student business pitch competition,” said Jon Chapman, president of global partnerships, EVERFI. “Together, we’re proud to provide students the opportunity to put their newfound creative and entrepreneurial skills to the test before the Las Vegas community and the world’s leading tech innovators.”
The GamerCool team was represented by students Aiden Adams, Nicholas Meconi and their teacher Scott Weiler. MoneyByte, was represented by students Cherese Lisama, Jaslin Estavillo, Jose Lugo and their teacher Denise Cale. Aver was composed of students Anish Chejerla, Ishaan Raja and their teacher Denise Snow. These participants will present their business plans at CES 2019 on Jan. 11, 2019.
CES is open to consumer technology professionals who are at least 18 years of age.
EVERFI is the leading education technology company that provides learners of all ages education for the real world, through innovative and scalable digital learning including topics like Financial Education, Digital Citizenship, STEM Career Readiness, Diversity and Inclusion, Entrepreneurship, Social and Emotional Learning, Character Education, Health and Wellness and Corporate Compliance. Founded in 2008, EVERFI is fueled by its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) subscription model and has certified over 18 million learners in critical skill areas. Some of America’s leading CEOs and venture capital firms are EVERFI investors including Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, Twitter founder Evan Williams, TPG Growth, The Rise Fund, Advance Publications, and Rethink Education, and Rethink Impact. The EVERFI EducationNetwork powers more than 4,200 partners in their education initiatives across all 50 states and Canada. Learn more at EVERFI.com
About CES:
CES® is the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for 50 years-the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace. As the largest hands-on event of its kind, CES features all aspects of the industry. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)TM, it attracts the world’s business leaders and pioneering thinkers. Check out CES video highlights. Follow CES online at CES.tech and on social.
About Consumer Technology Association:
Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™ is the trade association representing the $377 billion U.S. consumer technology industry, which supports more than 15 million U.S. jobs. More than 2,200 companies – 80 percent are small businesses and startups; others are among the world’s best-known brands – enjoy the benefits of CTA membership including policy advocacy, market research, technical education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CTA also owns and produces CES® – the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. Profits from CES are reinvested into CTA’s industry services.
Izzy Santa
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Sonya Udler
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