2021 Shark Tank: 8th Grade Students Compete in Final Round

Ian Liu presents his business, Chronos during the final round of Shark Tank

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2021 Shark Tank: 8th Grade Students Compete in Final Round

Creating Business Plans, Selling Products and Services, Pitching Business Builds Lifelong Confidence, Self-Reliance, and Social Responsibility for 8th Graders

Greenwood Village, CO– May 14, 2021 – Students at Aspen Academy continue learning and fueling the future with new ventures despite the pandemic. After making it through two rounds of “shark tanks,” pitching their businesses to successful entrepreneurs, six Eighth Grade students were selected for the final round of pitching on Friday, May 7th. After last year’s virtual event, the auditorium was host to a socially-distanced event with live pitches and judging. Students received coaching, counsel and were asked questions by entrepreneur judges whose careers span industries from retail to educational non-profit. The finalists’ businesses range from decorative trays and subscription golf gear and accessory boxes to a hotspot app that tracks environmental data and shipping labels that track packages via RFID tags:

● Signal, Emma Schaff, CEO - hotspot app to track environmental data

● ForeBox, Hogan Phelps, CEO - subscription golf gear and accessories

● M Bands, Marlowe Connors, CEO - handmade athletic headbands

● Trak Pack, Jack Watters, CEO - shipping labels that track packages

● Chronos, Ian Liu, CEO - productivity app for students

● Tray Chic, Sofie Cooper, CEO - decorative, one-of-a-kind wooden serving boards

The Capstone project for Eighth Grade, the student businesses are the culmination of Future Holders (previously the Aspen Entrepreneurial Institute), the nation’s only Kindergarten through Eighth Grade wholly sequenced, yearlong curriculum incorporating leadership development, economics, personal financial literacy, organizational leadership, and entrepreneurship. The organization grew from successful years of trial at Aspen Academy and was launched nationally last July. Through the curriculum, students are exposed to a wide variety of lifelong financial skills that they take into the world for their personal savings and to contribute to the greater world. The Eighth Grade student businesses incorporate social responsibility with proceeds benefiting non-profit organizations.

“This is my most favorite project of all the things we do at Aspen Academy,” shared Kristina Scala, Founder & CEO of Aspen Academy. “My great hope for all these students is that they take these ideas and continue them. I hope one day a student will come back with the news that they’re now a millionaire because of the idea they started here. These students have the power to do something extraordinary in the world.”

And the winner is...

Ian Liu was named the 1st place winner for his student productivity app, Chronos. The app sources data from learning management systems and other student technology tools to schedule a student’s day in support of their focus, efficiency, and productivity. Second Place Winner was Emma Schaff, CEO of Signal and Third Place was awarded to Sofie Cooper, CEO of Tray Chic, and Jack Watters, CEO of TrakPack.

The sense of pride, confidence, resilience, and joy these students have as a result is palpable. In their pitches, they identified important market pain points and addressed these needs, noted revenue projections, and showcased their differentiators in the market. The skills these students learned enable them to create jobs for themselves and others, for a lifetime. Each of the six finalists were asked by the panel about their plans for the summer and how they would continue to grow their businesses.

“This experience opens doors for kids. They learn that it is possible to take a passion, hobby, or cause and turn it into a thriving business. They learn that even at a young age, they can create something of value for the world. In addition, the creativity we see out of our youth is remarkable. Students have unbelievable ideas and when we pair that with lessons about business, and involve community mentors, they take those great ideas to the next level,” shares Katie Becker, Executive Director of Future Holders. Becker is no stranger to shark tanks. Last fall, she and Future Holders earned third place in the competitive Denver Startup Week Business Plan Competition.

All 2021 Aspen Academy 8th Grade Students & Businesses

● Hogan Phelps: ForeBox

● Reid Wilfley: Hats Inc.

● Gray Fearnow: Beat The Vid

● Ian Liu: Chronos

● Sofie Cooper: Tray Chic

● Elise Ramsden: Plant Tie Dye

● Johnny Fisher: Soft Straps

● Samantha Lengsfeld: Samantha's Sunny Snacks

● Morgan Connor: Cause Socks

● Tyler Andringa: Delta Prints 3D

● Chase P: Hands for Hire