Schools
Young Ridgefield Entrepreneurs Compete for National Recognition
A 5th and 7th grader just presented their ideas to a panel of investors on Wednesday.
RIDGEFIELD, CT --- Two Ridgefield Academy students who are looking to launch their own companies, are now vying for national recognition.
Ava Derby, Grade 5, and Luisa Simon, Grade 7, were participants in a year-long program run by the non-profit Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA), located in Rochester, NY. The organization provides local middle and high school students an opportunity to develop business ideas, conduct market research, write business plans, pitch a panel of investors, and eventually launch their own companies.
Derby’s idea stemmed from her experience at the Russian School of Math where she takes enrichment classes on Saturdays. She generated an idea called AIM: Advancing Inquisitive Minds to provide afterschool and/or weekend enrichment classes to K-12 students in the subjects of science, history, filmmaking and creative writing.
Simon established My Threads, a t-shirt business with inspirational sayings of hope and positivity. Working with an artist, she came up with a logo combining the words community with humanity that resulted in “Cumanitee”. Her next steps are to develop a marketing strategy, create business cards and flyers, develop an online store, and attend vendor fairs.
On April 25, both students presented their formulated ideas to the Young Entrepreneurs Academy investor panel. The investors listened to not only Ava and Luisa’s ideas, but to all student participants. The winning idea will go on to the National competition in Rochester to compete with student entrepreneurs from across the country.
Pictured (l. to r.) Luisa Simon, Ava Derby
Photo: courtesy Ridgefield Academy
