Break the cycle of poverty through education

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Communities in Schools

Entrepreneurship & Business Camp

  • October 2021

The Details

Program Goal

To help introduce high school students to business and entrepreneurship. Help students develop a business from idea to pitch!

Participant Break Down

29 students registered from across the country from California to North Carolina!

Our Coaches

Abhyuday Srivatsa
Organizer, Business

Suhas Oruganti
Organizer, Business

Sanjitha Venkata
Organizer, Business

Camp Overview

1

Introductions, ice breakers, team
formation and ideation introduction

2

Product Management

3

Finalize Business Ideas

4

Finalize Product

5

Marketing

6

Review Marketing Options

7

Learning To Pitch

8

Finalizing The Pitch Deck

9

Final Presentation Dry Run

10

Pitch Day!

Professional Mentors

Director of Customer Success Operations at Netscout

Maniam Palanivelu

Ideation
Director of Customer Success Operations

Mike Schiller

Marketing
Area Vice President

Brian Bonner

Product Design
Senior Director

Brian Bonner

Pitching
CTO Of Legal & IT Strategy

Brian Bonner

Pitching
Senior Director Of Product Management

The Judges

Yvonne Erdogan

Operations Director Managed Services

Lon Lowen

AVP - Engineering Operations

Students in Action

Pitches

Outcomes

Students worked together to create a business from start to finish

Students pitched these businesses to professional mentors and competed for first place

More than $550 distributed to participants in rewards and incentives

Students leave camp with a finished product, ready to be showcased in a college application or job interview

certificate_31

Certificates and winners declared and full class graduation

All students reported a dramatic increase in their understanding of and their comfort with entrepreneurial ideas and processes after the camp

Survey Results

  • 90% of participants reported their understanding of entrepreneurship increased by an average of 40% by participating in this camp
  • 100% of students reported that they would recommend this camp to their friends
  • Peer and professional mentor feedback was 100% positive
  • When asked if they would participate in a future SSF program, all responses were neutral or favorable

Feedback

“In this camp I learned to always believe in my ideas, that I have the power to change the world, and that my creativity is limitless.”
Lauren F
Participant
“I really like how the mentors were really in depth with their advice and always willing to help. I also liked how passionate the mentors were.”
Kelly C
Peer Mentor
I enjoy hosting camps like these as I can witness the growth and development of each student. Seeing how dedicated and interested they were truly makes me so happy!”
Abhy
Coach

Thank You Organizers!

Kristin Taylor, Jesus Becerra, and Chris Burger

Dania Roach

Diana Partlow, Renee Leak, and Andrew Ladd

Abhy, Suhas, Sanjitha, Usha, Latha, and Mariel

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Board Member

Jayashree Sundaresan

Jayashree Sundaresan is a Senior Technology leader with 24+ years of experience. A servant leader at heart, she strongly believes in creating positive impact to transform people beyond who they think they are and what they think they can achieve. Jayashree is very passionate about empowering women, guiding children, giving back to society and focusing on wellness as a priority. She is also a die-hard sports enthusiast and a singer. She thoroughly enjoys coaching & mentoring people to share and learn. Jayashree holds a Bachelors degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering and an MBA from Santa Clara University, USA.

“I am thrilled to join the Board of Directors at SSF and impact lives by helping with the education of underprivileged, deserving, bright, and passionate students. The vision and mission of SSF aims to pull families out of generational poverty through the skill building, mentoring, training and sponsorship of scholars. This energises me and resonates with my values and beliefs to lead change in communities through working with children, educating them and helping them gain confidence, perspective and a lifelong desire to be a force of positive impact.”

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Advisor & Board Observer

Uma Meyyappan

SVP, Head of Digital Innovation, LPL Financial

“Uma is an Innovation Technology Executive with over 20 years of experience in the Financial services industry where she accelerates business value with the use of emerging technology.

Uma’s extensive research in financial technologies such as digital payments, biometrics, augmented reality, and Internet of Things (IoT) has resulted in over 35 issued US patents to her name.

Uma is a Founding LP in Neythri Futures Fund and Founding circle member in Neythri, an organization that promotes south asian women. Being a strong believer of child literacy and education Uma is delighted to assist Shooting Stars Foundation eradicate generational poverty through STEM education.”

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Board Member

Kevin Lee

Program Manager at NVIDIA

“Kevin has over 10 years experience in leadership roles in the Finance and Technology sectors. Prior to joining NVIDIA, Kevin taught at University of California, Berkeley and helped the school transition from in-person learning to online learning.

Kevin is passionate about learning, teaching, and fostering innovation from future generations. Having witnessed first-hand the positive impact education can have on his students’ career prospects, Kevin is excited to contribute to Shooting Stars Foundation and its mission to break the cycle of poverty through STEM education. “

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Advisor & Board Observer

Brian McCann

President, Security Solutions at Neustar, Inc.

“High-energy business leader with passion for driving growth in organizations and cyber security technologies – and education foundations!

SSF’s founder and mission are rooted in empowering others to take control to improve their future. STEM education is a proven and scalable path to break generational poverty.”

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Board Member

Dawna Taylor

Regional Director with the Global Services Department for Cognia,

“Dawna L. Taylor is the Regional Director with the Global Services Department for Cognia, the largest School Improvement organization globally. Before joining Cognia, Ms. Taylor served as the Assistant Vice President of K-12 programs for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. She also led, designed, and oversaw an out-of-school STEM program for middle and high school students in Baltimore, MD, and Vicksburg, MS. She has been an elementary teacher, reading specialist, assistant principal, and principal in traditional public schools and charter schools.

Ms. Taylor served as Director of Blended Learning Programs for one of the nation’s largest public cyber schools. Her professional expertise is in developing, managing, and consulting for charter schools and STEM Outreach programs across the country. Ms. Taylor has a Bachelor’s Degree from Florida A&M University in Elementary Education and her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, Supervision, and Administration from Jones International University. She is the proud mother of two adult children, Raleigh and Morgan.”