The 2023 JA Entrepreneurship Summit has wrapped and we couldn't be more thrilled with the incredible achievements of all the student teams involved. Over the course of a week, students gathered at JA Finance Park in Prince George’s County and collaborated on how to address the following social causes; mental and physical health, homelessness, pollution, and climate change.
During the Summit, guest speakers, who are accomplished business leaders, shared valuable advice on topics ranging from building customer retention to understanding marketing budgets. These sessions provided students with practical knowledge and inspiration to further develop their business plans.
In addition to the intensive strategizing sessions, the students also participated in engaging team-building activities. One memorable activity was the "Human Caterpillar," where teams worked together to move their balloons across the finish line. This activity emphasized the importance of effective collaboration, a vital skill in the business world.
The culminating event of the Summit took place at the Edward St. John Learning and Teaching Center at the University of Maryland College Park. Here, all ten teams pitched their well-crafted business plans in front of an esteemed audience, including business leaders, family, and friends. The students showcased their creativity, problem-solving abilities, and commitment to making a positive impact in society.
Congratulations to the top three winning teams of the “Pitch Competition” (pictured: l-r):
1st place - Eco-Excursions
2nd Place - Tranquil
3rd Place - Wheels to a Fresh Start
Thank you to all participating teams: Modify, Affoodable, Rapid-E, Arbor Grove Causemetics, Mental Message, A Wear-ness, and Fitquest.
We commend all the students for their hard work, dedication, and passion throughout this year’s Summit. Their business plans reflect their ability to think critically, create innovative solutions, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. We look forward to witnessing their future successes in the business world. (view picture gallery)
THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone that helped make this year’s Summit a great success!
Guest Speakers:
Jordana Cole, Leader Enablement Coach at Custom Ink
Justin Drummond, President/CEO of SparkC, LLC
Michael Hyman, Founder of Soles of Imagination
Pitch Judges:
Haley Firetti (Custom Ink)
Maxwell Gocala-Nguyen (George Mason University)
Craig Adams (State Farm)
Nima Farshchi (University of Maryland College Park)
Event Sponsors:
Custom Ink
George Mason University
State Farm
UPS
University of Maryland College Park Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship
Robert H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland College Park