2014 Youth Business Plan Competition Winners Announced

4th Year of Youth Entrepreneur Showcase 2.0 Business Plan Statewide Competition for Ninth through Twelfth Grade Students

Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation (AEAF), an affiliate of The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group, today announced the winners of the Youth Entrepreneur Showcase 2.0 (Y.E.S 2.0) statewide youth business plan competition for grades ninth through twelfth. Today’s winners were chosen in the categories of Best Business Plan and Most Innovative. The competition included 43 teams from seven high schools across Arkansas. Y.E.S. 2.0 students from across the state work in small groups, led by their teacher advisors, to develop and market a business concept. The winners in the two competition categories are as follows:

Best Business Plan

• First Place – The Hangover, Conway High School
• Second Place – Soteria Lock & Safe, Central High School in Little Rock
• Third Place – The Hole Thing, eStem High Public Charter School in Little Rock
• Fourth Place – Mrs. Cursive, Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock

Most Innovative

• First Place – Soteria Lock & Safe, Central High School in Little Rock
• Second Place – On The Go, Central High School in Little Rock
• Third Place – GC Custom Lures, Northside High School in Fort Smith
• Fourth Place – Next Step Enterprises, Central High School in Little Rock

Winning team members for first place in each category received a $100 cash prize and a medal. The teacher advisor of the first place teams took home an additional $500 and a trophy. Second, third and fourth places winners in each category also received prizes. Team winners of the Y.E.S. 2.0 business plan competition are selected by Arkansas business leaders who serve as volunteer judges. The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group of companies empower entrepreneurs by providing capital in conjunction with community banks to businesses through its capital availability products and advocating for entrepreneurs through capital, educational, and technological improvements. The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group serves as the platform from which new opportunities are launched. In addition to the flagship company, Arkansas Capital Corporation, there are seven affiliate and partner companies, including, Six Bridges Capital Corporation, Arkansas Capital Relending Corporation, Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation, Heartland Renaissance Fund, Connect Arkansas, Pine State Regional Center, and SouthWind Analytics. To learn more, visit www.arcapital.com. AEAF was established in 1999, and is a private, non-profit corporation dedicated to education-based initiatives that promote and foster the development of innovation and entrepreneurship within Arkansas. With broad support from the state’s business community, AEAF’s purpose is to nurture people and ideas to generate future Arkansas entrepreneurs.