‘Reverse Shark Tank’ exposes middle-schoolers to entrepreneur’s path

A group of middle-schoolers was invited by Summer Collab, in conjunction with 1313 Innovation, YMCA and Fraim Boys & Girls Club, to participate in a “reverse Shark Tank” event in an effort to educate students on real-world investing opportunities and scenarios.
Carvertise, Digital Vikings, Awaken Kitchen, The Fun Department, Delaware Sports League and Symbiosys were among the companies invited to present business ideas to 45 Summer Collab campers. The children were given $10 million in Monopoly money that they could invest in each business idea. In return, the campers were then asked to pitch a new business idea to the entrepreneurs.
“The main idea of this event is to expose these kids for different opportunities that are out there,” explained Megan Anthony, community manager at 1313 Innovation. “The goal is to make sure these kids know that in today’s world they can make their own way. They don’t have to do the traditional college-then-9-to-5-job route. You can create your own company and be successful at it. We want to make them aware of these opportunities.”
This is one of many programs Summer Collab is putting on to eliminate summer learning loss. (We profiled the effort last summer.)
These programs are important, said Summer Collab founder Cat Lindroth, “for less-privileged kids that don’t have the opportunities that more-privileged kids get over the summer. So they can compete in school with their peers.”

Paul McConnell “pitches” to Summer Collab campers. (Courtesy photo)