2022 LWSD Teen Startup Challenge Finalists

From providing self-care advice, up-cycling second-hand clothing, creating school lunch alternatives, to developing online forums to debate sustainability issues worldwide, participating students from across the district showed their innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit.  

All total, 14 Teen Startup Challenge applications were submitted from high school students from around the district, with six selected to create a 10-minute video pitch "Shark Tank”-style for a panel of judges representing various professions. All student submissions and judging was completed remotely. Students were competing for a chance to pitch their ideas at the Kirkland Investor Sharks Event held virtually November 17, 2022 with a grand prize of $2000, courtesy of local businesses. 

The high school finalists selected to advance were:

• Redmond High School – Nishita Bhakar  
  • Nishita is pitching her company, Niblet, for the second year in a row. Niblet is a subscription-based service that aims to fulfill fresh produce needs of families by providing an indoor container farm to give them access to fresh and nutritious food every time they cook. 
• Tesla STEM – Anika Joshi
  • Anika pitched her product SipSafe, a device that snaps on to regular water fountains and instantly makes a touch-based water fountain touchless, preventing the transmission of bacteria and viruses that takes place due to shared contaminated surfaces like buttons.
• Lake Washington High School – Shivali Panda and Weilson Geng
  • Shivali and Weilson pitched their product HydroDaily – a Bluetooth attachment to your water bottle to remind you to drink water.
• Inglewood High School (Finn Hill Middle School alumnus) – Laney Brackett
  • Laney pitched her product Alerchic - Alerchic is a thin, easy to wear bracelet with a tubular feature, inside a cartridge of epinephrine with a needle. Its purpose is to be used for the emergency treatment of an acute allergic reaction 

We want to extend our thanks to this year's judges and event team who include: Hans Gundersen, Ret. Chief Financial Officer, Redmond Rotary, Dr. Paul Rossman, Ret. Boeing Engineer and College Professor, Paula J. Del Guidice, Executive Director of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding center, Jasper Adams, Juanita High School College and Career Guidance Specialist, and Pam Brown, LWSD College and Career Readiness Administrative Assistant. Kate Atvars was the lead facilitator for the LWSD College and Career Readiness Department. After viewing each student's formal business pitch, judges gave virtual constructive feedback and encouraged students to continue in their business endeavors. 
 
LWSD Teen Startup is coordinated by the Lake Washington School District College and Career Readiness Department, in partnership with The Greater Kirkland Chamber and Redmond Rotary.