2018 YIBI YBLT International Grand Conference

2018 YIBI International Business Conference in Bay Area

This summer of 2018, the Youth International Business Initiative (YIBI) hosted yet another beneficial and successful business event in the Bay Area. Students from Fremont, San Jose, and other locations attended the one-week camp, which educated them in the business field with engaging activities. The camp allowed the students to apply their knowledge and experience into the real world through competitions. This year, the astounding camp has received well-earned praise from grateful and appreciative students not only from the Bay Area, but all around the world.

YIBI is an international organization dedicated to giving youth a top experience in business. President of YIBI, Erika Yang, founded this organization in 2014, and currently, there are 15 branches of YIBI in the United States, along with five other international countries: Zimbabwe, China, Japan, and Singapore. This international opportunity fosters an interest and familiarity with business that students all around the world can experience.

On a phenomenal afternoon, August 12, 2018, the Youth International Business Initiative’s selected top fourteen finalist teams arrived at Newark for the Final Grand International Conference. Fourteen assiduous teams strived to perfect their business pitches for months to present a seven-minute presentation of their start-up company to four remarkable venture capitalists. The judges inquired each of the teams for approximately three minutes, as well as provided beneficial feedback. This year’s event was a huge success, as everyone procured more wisdom and experience in not only the business field, but in presentation and teamwork skills.

There were several sessions this year in which YIBI hosted a one-week business camp, which included classes from experienced entrepreneurs, marketing activities, and sessions where we could initiate a start-up company in the time period of one week. Accomplished YIBI officers would offer constructive feedback for the students, which helped them learn and improve substantially. At the Final Grand International Conference, all the teams presented exceptionally and put in a tremendous effort, which YIBI recognized and rewarded.

From approximately thirty teams, YIBI picked fourteen teams from the winter, spring, and summer sessions to participate and compete in the final round. Each of the teams had their own unique features and ideas. Some teams were technological advancements, such as VR Education, which benefited the learning experience with VR. Others such as HA-LO, Foodiez, and Arrive Alize focused on the community’s safety and well-being, while teams like Shoeguard and FindR concentrated on improving everyone’s quality of life.

It was a difficult choice, but the judges ultimately decided on teams that would win the top three positions for this year’s YIBI Grand Conference. First place winners received a $400 prize, second place winners received a $200 prize, and third place winners received a $100 prize. Third place was awarded to three teams: Mira-Watch, which prevents cases such as kidnapped children or missing elderly men and women, QuickED, who provides easy access to tutors anytime for teens, and Track Buddy, which aided people in finding lost possessions. Second place was acquired by two teams: Lend n’ Rent, who is an app that allows everyone to save money as well as gain easy money handily by renting and lending items, and Parkway, who is an app that arranges parking spaces for customers when there is limited parking space available. Lastly, this year’s first place grand winner is NitePod, who helps people procure maximum comfort at an airport when a flight has been delayed. NitePod introduced the idea of compact, comfortable, and room-like pods situated in the airport for frustrated and waiting customers.

Through this year’s training, the students all felt as if this was a great opportunity to understand not only business finances, marketing strategies, and more, but to learn creative ideas and come to understand the business process. Everyone is extremely appreciative towards this valuable experience, and we thank YIBI for this great opportunity.

By Selina Kao