Startup Corps: 9 student startup projects at inaugural pitch night

Fifteen high school students competed in the first ever Startup Corps Hub Pitch Competition held last Thursday at First Round Capital in University City. The pitch competition is planned to be an annual event that will put Philadelphia high school student entrepreneurs in contact with each other.

Startup Corps is a nonprofit organization that helps teens in and around Philadelphia launch businesses. The group was formed in 2009 and serves a diverse array of teen entrepreneurs in and around the city through mentorship, business coaching, micro-loans, and other resources. The Hub cohort launched in January, and over the past two months, the students have developed their business ideas and have already started to implement their plans.

The winning business was the “Keep it Decent” clothing brand. This business wins a $250 grant to further develop their business and will compete against the winners of the other cohorts on Monday, March 18th in front of Mayor Nutter and several other prominent Philadelphia entrepreneurs for a $1,000 grand prize.

Below is a list of the competing businesses for the March 7th pitch competition.

• Prettyinabox — Prettyinabox is an ecommerce business that sells authentic Korean skin care products in a subscription-based replenishment model.
• LickYourSole — LickYourSole cleans and details all types of shoes and sneakers, also applying a revolutionary protective product that keeps shoes clean for months.
• for.sight. jewelry — For.Sight Jewelry makes and sells Braille-stamped jewelry, donating 5% of profits to the American Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
• Raising The Bar — Raising the Bar sells wholesale cell phone chargers to school stores, providing schools with a unique fundraising opportunity to lease and resell the chargers.
• Reboot — Reboot incorporates parts of salvaged electronics into handmade jewelry, and half of the profits generated go to a local nonprofit organization, known as Tech Girlz, which promotes the role of women in STEM careers.
• The STEP Program: Students Tutoring and Encouraging Peers — The STEP program is an affordable tutoring service available for students in grades K-8th; all tutors are successful high school students who strive to help other students succeed in school with confidence. See the website here.
• Aboriginal Clothing — Aboriginal Clothing creates urban streetwear that incorporates international designs to reflect the globalizing world. See the website here.
• Keep It Decent — This winning team is a clothing company that designs clothing with a positive influence. See the website here.
• Urban Development Apparel — A clothing line that promotes individuality and creativity.

The program, which is a finalist in the Startup PHL call for ideas, has continued to grow its offering to student participants.