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| Kendall Ideas Competition finalist and A-Lister Martim Castro, 1st prize winner and A-Lister Eric Neverman (back row), 3rd prize co-winner and A-Lister Jose Cuadros (front row), yours truly Valerie Beck, Kendall College President Paul Lussow (back row), 3rd prize co-winner and A-Lister Mikaela Turner, finalist Henry Sakhel, 2nd prize winner Rick Wong! Congratulations! |
The inaugural Kendall College Ideas Competition was a brilliant success!
The Kendall Incubator run by Rob Watson invited students to enter the Ideas Competition by submitting business ideas with a social justice or sustainability element, and we saw 27 entrants, 9 finalists, and 4 cash prize winners!
I'm excited that I was one of the Competition coaches, along with fellow part-time instructor Cindy McCarthy, and proud that 4 of the finalists and 3 of the winners were A-Listers, meaning that they earned an A in a class with me!
I'm also proud that 2 of the winners used craft chocolate to which I was able to introduce them through my Chocolate Uplift sustainable chocolate distribution business!
The winners of the first-ever Kendall Ideas Competition:
- 1st Place: Eric Neverman, PCS Stars, military family relocation services
- 2nd Place: Rick Wong, indoor edible insect farming
- 3rd Place: tie between Mikaela Turner, Mikki Chewz sustainable confections promoting PoC mental health awareness, and Jose Cuadros, Millette luxury watches made from recycled materials
Well done!
Prize money:
- $1,000 for our 1st Place winner,
- $750 for our 2nd Place winner, and
- $250 for each of our two 3rd Place winners.
Information will also be forthcoming to the winners about possible advancement to the Laureate McGuire Business Plan Competition, where additional cash prizes and recognition are available! (See this earlier post about our Kendall team that won 2nd place in the McGuire competition previously!)
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| For the judges' consideration: Mikki Chewz confections, using sustainable Violet Sky Chocolate, by 3rd prize co-winner Mikaela Turner! |
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| Judges also tasted chocolate covered crickets, and cricket flour chocolate chip cookies, using sustainable Xocolatl Chocolate, by 2nd prize winner Rick Wong! |
Deep appreciation to our esteemed judges from from the business community:
- Leslie Lancry, Founder of Language Stars
- Laura Ortega, Executive Director of the International Council of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce
- Adam Zmick, Founder of Gardeneers
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| Mini Harvard reunion at the Kendall Ideas Competition: yours truly with my fellow Harvard Alumni Association members and friends Leslie Lancry and Adam Zmick, who along with our other fantastic entrepreneurs and professionals kindly accepted my invitation to join the day as judges |
Heartfelt thanks as well to our esteemed judges from Kendall College:
- President Paul Lussow
- Vice President of Academic Affairs Ryan Bartelmay
- Culinary and Hospitality Program Director Leigh Uhlir
We applaud our judges and value their thoughts and expertise!
Finalists and their ideas, in last-name alphabetical order:
- Aysel Ayata, wearable safety tech to prevent rape or other attack
- Martim Castro, rehabilitation school to integrate ex-prisoners into society and the workforce
- Jose Cuadros, online retail of affordable luxury watches made of recycled materials, with a portion of proceeds going to environmental organizations
- Armande Luguenot and Lisette Fortoso, wardrobe styling app from customer's closet, plus clothing donation service
- Eric Neverman, PCS Stars, military family relocation services, staffed by veterans and military family members
- Ngan Nguyen, organic nail salon with non-toxic products and recycled furniture
- Henry Sakhel, Purchase, app for small business supplier comparison and ratings
- Mikaela Turner, Mikki Chewz sustainable chocolate confections, with a portion of proceeds supporting mental health awareness in the black community
- Yik (Rick) Wong, indoor edible insect farming
The Ideas Competition was a wonderful all-school event that added vibrancy to Kendall and to the student experience, combining learning, fun, and professional development, in a meaningful and memorable way.
Congratulations to our Kendall Ideas Competition winners and to each of our finalists! It was a great pleasure coaching and working with you, and we are fantastically proud of you for your innovative ideas which include or are based upon social justice or sustainability elements, and for your professional behavior, huge efforts, and shining success!
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| From your Kendall Incubator team: yours truly Valerie Beck, Incubator Director Rob Watson, Cindy McCarthy! |
"...put trust in ideas, and not in circumstances." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Onward and upward!
Valerie Beck
