Bronx Students Win JA of New York’s Business Plan Competition

June 3, 2016

Bronx Students Win JA of New York’s Business Plan Competition

Last week, Matthew Chan, Xinyu Lin, and Neeraj Sakhrani from Bronx High School of Science took first place at the JA of New York Ninth Annual High School Business Plan Competition. Their winning business idea is an event-listing app—called Nearby NY—for New York City high school students to discover events and after-school activities. The team received a trophy for their school, and each team member received a cash prize of $2,500.

Team Song Sense (Justine Guinaw, Nicole Kritikos, and Nicole Kent) of Kings Park High School in Suffolk County finished in second place with their business plan to provide hearing-impaired individuals the opportunity to enjoy concerts by using wrist bands that translate music into impulses.

Third place went to team MuZam (Alexis Capasso, Michelle Wolk, and Giavanna Yopp) from Commack High School in Suffolk County for their app that supplements and/or substitutes for tour guides in museums. 

All students participated in a three-month-long entrepreneurship boot camp, during which they each conceived of, researched, and wrote a feasible and innovative business plan for their big idea. Students were encouraged to use entrepreneurial skills to solve New York's most pressing business and social issues. More than 7,000 students from New York City and Long Island have received business and entrepreneurship education from the Business Plan Competition. Thanks to generous sponsors, 100 students have also received $140,000+ in cash prizes.

Read full coverage of the event and view a beautiful slide show in The Wall Street Journal.