Teenage entrepreneurs from local Denver high schools are headed to Atlanta, where they will compete against other student teams across the U.S. at Future Bound by JA, a summit-style event introducing teen entrepreneurs to real-world business skills.
High schoolers at VALE (Venture Academy of Leadership and Entrepreneurship) in Parker collaborated with JA-YE (Young Entrepreneurs) in Israel to compete in the JA Social Innovation Challenge. In this competition, students demonstrate the power of innovation on social and societal issues, showcasing their team’s innovative idea, creativity, and entrepreneurial savvy in a competitive environment. The students from VALE will be heading to Atlanta to participate in the national competition.
Together, the teens created a product to help young people take charge of their mental well-being by providing accessible, stigma-free resources. CalmPulse is a heart-shaped smart stress ball that adapts to stress in real time. It learns how users experience anxiety by gathering input over time through an app. Personalized anxiety relief can be received through connections with loved ones who are also connected to the app, who can send hugs, causing the ball to warm to a calming temperature. Over time, CalmPulse, made from eco-friendly materials, learns user patterns and offers ways to relieve stress.
In addition, two Denver-area high schools qualified for the JA National Stock Market Challenges, an online simulation where students are given a hypothetical $1 million to invest in the stock market. This fast-paced competition requires students to track their investments and strategize for an hour, with each minute representing a new day. Students will have the opportunity to buy and sell stocks, analyze market trends, and make strategic decisions to maximize their returns as they compete to achieve the highest return on their investments.
A team of four students from Denver Academy of Torah earned their way to the national event by winning their session at the Metro Denver competition this spring. Finalists Avi A., Jonah R., Ami G., and Yonatan N. were guided by English teacher Michael Bazany. A team of three students from Legacy High School in Broomfield earned their way to the national competition by finishing second in their session during spring’s local competition. Their team members include Caleb Jaramillo, Isaac Oliver, and Quinn Scheffel, guided by teacher Donni Scheffel.
The final presentations and competitions will take place June 9-12 at Georgia State University in Atlanta. The VALE students will present their company and product to a panel of experts to vie to be JA Social Innovation Challenge winners, as well as earn other awards, scholarships, and prizes. Teams competing in the National Social Innovation Challenge will vie for five distinct awards. These include: JA Social Innovation Challenge Winners – First, Second, and Third Place, Chick-fil-A Community Impact Award, and Johnson & Johnson STEM Innovation Award. Future Bound by JA is supported by Chick-fil-A, Delta, the Pacific Life Foundation, and Staples, which will share insights with the students during the event.
