VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – Students from Kempsville High School’s Entrepreneurship & Business Academy won a national pitch event this summer.
In July, the four students went to Chicago to pitch their innovative device SheClasp at the INCubatoredu National Pitch Event during the Uncharted Learning National Summit. SheClasp is a device that helps users clasp jewelry easily, like bracelets and necklaces.
The local Kempsville team was only one of five teams selected to compete in the pitch night across the nation and Spain. Over 60 teams entered the competition.
The team presented SheClasp to a board of startup business investors as they compete for funding against the other four teams.
There was stiff competition but SheClasp was able clinch the win. The young entrepreneurs won $2,000 to put toward their new business as well as some helpful mentorship opportunities.
Here’s a video of SheClasp, below.
According to the Entrepreneurship and Business Academy at Kempsville High School, the inventors of SheClasp are the first ever school team to make it this far in the competition and have the opportunity to pitch nationally.
The event provides real funding to students. According to the National Summit, more than $150,000 to date has been awarded to young founders.