After Sarah Rossi presented her sugar-free, lactose-free ice cream made from coconut milk to a panel of judges that included business-owners and venture capital partners, Bill Sarris, owner of the candy business, asked her why it was sugar-free. She responded that sugar isn’t good for you.
“Please don’t say that,” he joked.
Joking aside, Rossi said she designed her Coco Cabeza ice cream in response to her father developing a metal toxicity that required drastic dietary changes. The Brownsville High School senior, who plans to study chemistry in college and develop more such products, was among the first-place winners at the Entrepreneuring Youth annual George W. Tippins Business Plan Competition.
All the winners were participants in Entrepreneuring Youth’s multi-year program aimed at youth in economically challenged areas in and around Allegheny County and had previously participated in regional iPitch competition. All their products, drive and achievements were celebrated at the Ignite Possibilities event following the final judging at the Rivers Club in Pittsburgh June 4.
Products ranged from one-of-a-kind decorative scented candles to custom decorated sunglasses. All conceived, developed and produced by middle school and high school students. Greg Spencer, president and CEO of Randall Industries, has been a judge in the competition since its inception and said he is privileged to participate.
David Motley, a partner in the Blue Tree Venture Fund, a first-time judge, said he was very impressed with the program and the students.
“This is really delivering on its promise of creating youth entrepreneurs,” he said.
Some of the other judges included Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, Insurance agency owner Grace Robinson, fish market owner Jim Wholey and African American Chamber of Commerce Director of Program Development and Membership Shawn Hicks.
Contestants vied for first, second and third place awards in the competition’s three divisions: Start-Up—students who’d been in the program for more than a year, and actually made and lost sales, Up-Start High School, and Up-Start Middle School, both with lesser levels of experience. Though the bulk of this year’s winners came from Brownsville School District, not all did.
Amira Jackson and Kira Joseph, both from Manchester Academic Charter School on Pittsburgh’s North Side, won for AJ’s Paradise cookies and Savonette bath soaps, respectively. Cheyene Rhone-Hopes, who attends program sessions at the Entrepreneuring Youth’s Hilltop E-Center, also won for her Hopes For The Best custom bracelets.
The other winners were Caleb Kirkland and Maddie Angelioni, whose Holy Cannolis are already in two retail establishments—and who generated calls about possible catering at the Ignite Possibilities event; Kara Rolf for her Flavorful Fudge; Anastasia LaCotta for her Lucky Elephant candles; Erin Stump for her Spectaclez sunglasses, and Derek Orbash for Natures All Natural granbola bars. Byron Mayers and Christian Onesko received Honorable Mention for their, Let’s Tripp tie-dyed T-shirts
Entrepreneuring Youth Executive Director Jerry Cozewith said he is continually impressed with all the program participants—seeing them go from quiet and inarticulate to assured and able to say who they are, what they are about and why you should invest in them is priceless.
“They don’t all master the skills, but being able to say, ‘I’m the president of a business’ and learning that people will pay for something they created helps them realize that they have value,” he said. “And when you talk about youth of color, the racism and discrimination that closes a lot of doors, they often have to create their own doors. This is the way to do it.”
(Send comments to cmorrow@newpittsburghcourier.com.)
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