Winners Announced In Stamford Schools' Dolphin Tank Competition

From Stamford Public Schools: Stamford Public Schools (SPS) announced that Academy of Information Technology & Engineering (AITE) Junior Abigail Desyr earned First Place, AITE Freshman Dante Ayars earned Second Place and Stamford High School (SHS)Freshman Neil Gawande took third place, in Stamford’s first-ever Dolphin Tank Competition. The competition, based on the popular “Shark Tank” pitch-show concept, was sponsored by the Connecticut Small Business Development Center, Entrepreneurial Society of Stamford, Ferguson Library, Innovate Stamford and the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship.

"Innovate Stamford was thrilled to support the Dolphin Tank teen pitch competition in Stamford,” said Innovate Stamford Program Director Sam Gordon. “The energy was contagious, and the students clearly spent a lot of time preparing."

In recognition of National Entrepreneurship Week, Stamford Public Schools students, between the ages of 15 and 18, presented their original business plans to a panel of judges in late February at the Ferguson library. Each presenter received scores for originality, creativity and viability (both technical and business) of the ideas.

“The creativity, courage and professionalism demonstrated by all the entrants was very impressive,” said SPS Superintendent Earl Kim. “These students and their teachers are certainly reflective of our district’s mission to cultivate critical and creative thinking –habits of mind—in all of our students. We are justly proud of their efforts and accomplishments.”

Desyr, a student of AITE Entrepreneurship Teacher Brenda Zanga, had been working on the “The Lady Spotless Service” business plan since the fall. Her concept is a closet, attic, garage and basement organizing service that partners with Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity to donate the unwanted items to benefit others. The service includes documenting tax receipts for clients. As the first place winner, Desyr was awarded $100.

Ayars, the second place contestant, presented his concept for “Garbage Pal.” Garbage Pal is a mechanism that automatically re-lines a trashcan with a fresh bag when the full bag is removed and sprays an odor eliminator. As the second place winner, Ayars, also a student in Zanga’s, class was awarded $50.

Gawande’s earned third place for his proposal for “1Push Care,” a simple, affordable device with a long-life battery and new technology that will connect elderly, young, and disabled individuals to emergency services and loved ones at the press of a button. He was awarded a gift certificate for his presentation.

In addition to remarks from SPS Superintendent Kim, the more than 30 attendees heard from Stamford Entrepreneur Shannon Daniels, Founder of Encaptiv, a presentation software company. All winners and runner’s up received advice and feedback utilizing the app, Funding Founding, developed by Stamford Entrepreneur Sarbjeet Rayat.

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