8th Annual NFTE LA Regional Challenge

LOS ANGELES, May 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- NFTE Greater LA showcased their top four young entrepreneurs selected from nearly 2,000 NFTE students across Greater Los Angeles.  NFTE's Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge provides a platform for the Los Angeles business community to launch their next generation of entrepreneurial leaders.

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in Century City graciously held the regional competition last night. 

Jaspar Weir, Co-Founder/President of TaskUs, was the enthusiastic keynote speaker.  Distinguished judges on the panel were Paul Chen, Ernst & Young LLP; Moctesuma Esparza, CEO Maya Cinemas; Moez Kaba, Irell & Manella LLP; Esther Nordinger, CAA Ventures; Kamran Razavi, RGM Group; William Hsu, Mucker Capital; Nichol Whiteman, Dodgers Foundation and Antonia Castro, Cool Sleeve; first place winner of NFTE LA Regional Challenge 2013.  Castro says, "NFTE has taught me to really have the confidence in myself to keep pushing forward.  Being in the NFTE program has definitely opened many doors for me and shifted my direction in life." 

First Place — $3,000
TIME'S UP developed by Joshua Fajardo & Eddy Giron, Hawthorne Math and Science Academy
TIME'S UP is a toothpaste that turns blue after two minutes of brushing—the recommended time suggested by the Dental Association.

Second Place — $1,750
Keypenn developed by Jose Soto, Dorsey High School
Keypenn organizes up to 4 keys in one convenient, attractive holster—the ideal promotional item.

Winners will advance to NFTE's National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in Silicon Valley in the fall.

According to Executive Director Estelle Reyes in Los Angeles,  "We are enormously proud of this year's winners who have put so much thought and energy into their business plans and products.  NFTE provides exciting and academically rigorous entrepreneurship curriculum to keep young people engaged in school.  Through experiential activities and real world business concepts, students develop skills to dream big — pursue higher education and prepare for a career."

Since its launch in 2007, NFTE Greater LA has empowered over 7,800 students from low-income communities with entrepreneurship education programs relevant to the real world.  NFTE empowers students to own their educations in and out of the classroom and to find their own path to success.

https://www.nfte.com/

Contact:
Barbara Hodgson, Public Relations, 424-256-2909
[email protected]
Estelle Reyes, Executive Director, 213-241-9011

SOURCE Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Greater LA