2015 Youth Business Plan Competition Winners Announced

5th 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 12th. Today’s winners were chosen in the categories of Best Business Plan and Most Innovative. The competition included 62 teams from nine high schools across Arkansas. Y.E.S. 2.0 students from across the state and their teacher advisors work to develop and market a business concept. The winners in the two competition categories are as follows:

Best Business Plan

• First Place – SchEDU, Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock
• Second Place – GroGetters, eStem High Public Charter School in Little Rock
• Third Place – Life Light, Rogers New Technology High School in Rogers
• Fourth Place – Ultron Computer Repair, Rogers New Technology High School in Rogers

Most Innovative

• First Place – GroGetters, eStem High Public Charter School in Little Rock
• Second Place – Cupcakes by Me!, Rogers New Technology High School in Rogers
• Third Place – Life Light, Rogers New Technology High School in Rogers
• Fourth Place – SchEDU, Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock

Winning team members for first place in each category received a $100 cash prize and a certificate. The teacher advisor of the first place teams took home an additional $500 and a trophy. Second-, third- and fourth-place winners in each category also received prizes. Team winners of the Y.E.S. 2.0 business plan competition are selected by Arkansas business, education and community 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.