Crews Middle School Site of Latest Entrepreneur Shark Tank

SNELLVILLE – More than 45 Alton C. Crews Middle School students are pitching their business ideas to county business leaders as part of the city’s expansion of the Shark Tank program.

It is the first time middle school students have taken part in the program since it was unveiled four years ago. Under the program, created by the city’s Economic Development Department, students are asked to develop a product or concept they will create and pitch to business leaders or “sharks,” named after the popular television show in which real-life entrepreneurs do the same. The students receive feedback about their product and learn valuable communication skills as well.

“They are getting a chance to do true-life communication,” said Crews business teacher Rod Hames. “To get up in front of an audience and to be able to articulate a concept, everyone needs that. Even if they don’t make a few dollars (selling their product), they’ve got the experience.”

Students are asked to create business and marketing plans and design sales, expense and profit projections.

All of this preparation led up to Wednesday and Thursday when the young entrepreneurs faced business leaders and pitched their ideas.

“The most important thing that you can provide to these young people is your feedback,” city Economic Development Manager Eric Van Otteren told the other evaluators.

Eighth grader Ajay Jossi pitched his product – $38 customizable iPhone cases – to his group of “sharks.”

“I learned more to make my business bigger and better,” Jossi said. “I’ll test what they said out to make it better and to see if it works.”

The Shark Tank program will return to the high school level in May of next year.

— Submitted by City of Snellville

(Photo: From left, Alton C. Crews Middle School student Ajay Jossi pitches his business idea to Chris Rey, Abhinab Sharma and Snellville Economic Development Manager Eric Van Otteren at the school’s Shark Tank program Wednesday.)