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February 14, 2017 | Tom Ballard

“YEA!” investor pitch event will feature 15 different ideas

YEAThe pitch event for real dollars for area middle and high school students who are participating in the second cohort of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, better known as “YEA!,” is next Tuesday night (February 21).

The program which launched on October 20, is a project of the Knoxville Chamber with financial and other support from Pilot Flying J, Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee’s Knoxville campus, Clayton Bank, Arconic Foundation, and WATE-TV.

Local entrepreneur Haseeb Qureshi, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Audiohand, has served as the instructor for the weekly sessions, and offered insights on this year’s class in this teknovation.biz article that posted in January.

According to Megan Wright of the Knoxville Chamber, 15 different ideas will be presented during the two-hour event that begins at 6 p.m. February 21 at the Relix Variety Theater, 1208 North Central. To register, click here.

The ideas and those who will pitch them are:

  • Corporate Keystone, a human resources development software to be presented by Connor Allen of the Clayton Bradley Academy.
  • Heart-to-Heart, a community building and story-sharing website to be presented by Jaylen Baylock of the L&N STEM Academy.
  • Zer0 Power, decorative safety wall outlet covers to be presented by Ella Blair of Gresham Middle School.
  • Onward Electronics, a built-in retractable wall phone charger to be presented by Aidan Cantu of Farragut Middle School.
  • Sleep Gear, a hood with a built-in pillow for travel to be presented by Rylan Cantu of Farragut High School.
  • RefugeeLikeMe, a website to humanize refugees through story sharing and also to raise fund for local refugee resettlement agencies. This is a joint effort of John D. Cobb of the Clayton Bradley and Alexander YarKhan of the L&N STEM Academy.
  • Team Huddle, a tool to conduct surveys and collect big data from high school athletes that helps improve product development to be presented by Cole Davis of South Doyle High School.
  • iConsole, a pocket sized product that will allow users to download video games and take them wherever they go to be presented by Tejes Gaertner of West High School.
  • Stay Rosy, an upcycled and repurposed vintage clothing line to be presented by Sophie Foster of West High.
  • In-house Greenhouse, an indoor container for herb gardens. This is a joint effort of Lillian Patty of Nature’s Way Montessori School and Courtney Lam of Bearden High School.
  • Hands & Paws, dog collar charms that raise money for animal abuse. The two collaborators are Lezly Monterrosas of Eagleton Middle School and Callie Fulghum of CAK Homeschool.
  • Living HisStory, a wholesome online book and toy store supporting traditional values to be presented by Graylin Nocus, a homeschooled student.
  • My Cut Counts, a campaign to raise money for cancer research while donating hair to be presented by Sanam Patel of West Valley Middle School.
  • Bewachen, 3D-printed marker tags for paintball and airsoft players to be presented by Joshua Walker of West High.
  • Puppy Hut, a dog bed with built-in storage for travel to be presented by William Walker of Bearden Middle School.

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