Our inaugural pitch competition at College of DuPage, where young entrepreneurs competed for $750 in prizes, mentorship, and resources to launch their businesses. Garrett Hauk won the first Fish Tank with Garrett's Gourmet Dog Treats.
Hosted at the College of DuPage on July 24 and 25 with some of Naperville's biggest business owners and leaders, where participants took their big innovations to an even bigger stage.
Form a team of 1–3 students and register to compete. Define your business concept, conduct market research, and develop both a marketing and financial plan. Prepare a 5-minute presentation to bring your idea to life.
July 24, 2024
Present your business concept to a panel of six high school business leaders, including DECA state officers and international finalists. The top 12 teams (approximately 25%) advance to the final round on July 25.
July 25, 2024
Pitch your polished business idea to a panel of Naperville's top business owners and government leaders. Winners receive funding and ongoing support to help launch their ventures. The inaugural Fish Tank champion receives an interview from NCTV17.
All participants keep access to BizBuzz Camp resources, detailed feedback from the Fish Tank judges, and contact information for our high school judging panel. Reach out anytime: support does not stop after the pitch event. We can't wait to see what you build, create, and innovate next.
Students gain real-world entrepreneurial experience by developing a business concept from ideation to pitch, learning critical skills in market research, product development, and financial planning.
All participants receive detailed feedback from our high school judges, while finalists also receive feedback from our panel of professional judges. All students get contact information for our high school business leaders, for continued support as they build their ventures.
Fish Tank winners receive a total of $750 to help launch their businesses: $250 for first place, $200 for second, $150 for third, $100 for fourth, and $50 for fifth. All participants also gain access to year-round support and resources to further develop their ventures.
Celebrating the innovations that rose to the surface with bold ideas, polished presentations, and the potential to make waves far beyond our tank.
1st place · $250
Garrett Hauk
Garrett's Gourmet Dog Treats offers organic, natural, and delicious snacks made with fewer than five ingredients. As a healthier, modern alternative to conventional options, they ensure man's best friend enjoys treats that are both simple and satisfying.
2nd place · $200
Taksh Taware & Rohan Patwardhan
ChitChat Lingo empowers immigrants, tourists, and global professionals to speak confidently and fluently in new languages. By focusing on real-life, emotion-filled scenarios, it makes meaningful conversations more natural and accessible than ever.
3rd place · $150
Sara Jayaseelan
Cuisinify makes cooking accessible for everyone by tackling ingredient substitutions, leftover use, and nutritious meal prep. With AR technology that identifies recipe substitutes in real time, it empowers anyone to cook anytime with what they have on hand.
4th place · $100
Mirav Patel & Mishi Patel
ECOVision sees something different with corn waste. Instead of leaving it to rot, burn, or decompose, it uses a complex process that extracts leftover compounds in the waste to create yarn, foam, and paper, revolutionizing food waste management.
5th place · $50
Claire Shen & Catherine Shen
Pathway streamlines the process of finding communities, activities, and interests for high schoolers, removing the need for expensive college counselors and wasted time on web searches. Pathway creates a pathway for those finding their journey.
11 judges across a preliminary round and a final round.
Five business leaders, government officials, and innovators passionate about growing the next generation of entrepreneurs and changemakers who will solve issues in their communities and beyond.
Phil Ramos
Owner & President, Office Furniture Solutions
Phil Ramos is the owner and president of Office Furniture Solutions in Naperville, where he has built a respected business providing new and refurbished office furniture. Known for his commitment to community involvement and mentorship, he actively supports local initiatives and youth programs.
Raymond Munch
Director of Finance, City of Naperville
Raymond Munch serves as the Director of Finance for the City of Naperville, overseeing financial operations and managing the city's substantial budget. His career includes over a decade in law enforcement with the Village of Glen Ellyn, followed by leadership roles in city management in DeKalb, Illinois.
Janet Yang Rohr
State Representative, Illinois' 41st District
Janet Yang Rohr is a state representative for Illinois' 41st District, serving since 2021 and focusing on education, healthcare, and economic issues. Before entering politics, she held leadership roles in finance and served on the Naperville District 203 school board.
Brad Wilson
Executive Director, Naperville Park District
Brad Wilson has been the Executive Director of the Naperville Park District since February 2022, after a distinguished 23-year tenure with the organization. He has been with the district for over two decades, beginning as an intern and working his way up through various leadership positions.
Isha Elandassery
Founder, Naperville Rising Women in Business
Isha Elandassery is the founder of Naperville Rising Women in Business (NRWIB), an organization dedicated to empowering young girls to become future leaders. She also created Salus Security, a startup focused on developing discreet emergency wristbands for students.
Six high school judges experienced in business competitions and running their own companies, excited to help students like themselves grow in both entrepreneurial thinking and public speaking.
Athena Chen
Founder, Naperville Children's Business Fair
Athena is an incoming freshman at the Haas School of Business at the University of California-Berkeley. In 2020, she founded the Naperville Children's Business Fair, an entrepreneurship event incubating 200+ businesses run by over 350 kidpreneurs (ages 5-14) selling to 3,500 visitors over the past three years. She is so excited that the Fair is partnering with BizBuzz this year!
Olivia Fisz
State President, Illinois DECA
Olivia is an incoming freshman at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where she will study finance. She currently serves as the Illinois DECA State President, leading over 5,000 members in the world's largest high school business organization. She hopes to show young students how they can use their voices, ideas, and courage to create meaningful change.
Soohyun Cho
Student Representative, City of Naperville
Soohyun is an incoming freshman at Rice University majoring in Finance. From working at a sales company to being involved in business organizations at school, he has taken his talents far and wide. This past year, he placed nationally in personal finance and investing competitions, eventually becoming a state champion in DECA.
Isabel Yu
Founder, Suki Jewels
Isabel is a rising freshman at UIUC's Gies College of Business, studying marketing and finance. As an upcoming D203 Business Incubator mentor, she is excited to help students further their passion for entrepreneurship. She is also the co-owner of Suki Jewels, a handmade jewelry business that has generated $3,000+ in revenue and 8,000+ supporters to date.
Ria Pande
DECA International Finalist
Ria is a freshman at the University of California, Santa Barbara, studying business and entrepreneurship. As a finalist at DECA's International Career Development Conference, she has developed strong experience in turning ideas into impact. Ria is passionate about helping students find their voices and couldn't be more excited to support this year's Fish Tank participants as they prepare to pitch and pursue their own entrepreneurial visions!
Nathan Mendoza
Founder, Stall Secure LLC
Nathan is a rising senior at Naperville North, aspiring to become an entrepreneur while uplifting others. He is the current CEO and Co-Founder of Stall-Secure, which has won first place in three major pitch competitions. To date, he has secured over $9,000 in funding for his company and is looking forward to seeing BizBuzz participants' creativity!
14 photos from Fish Tank 2024. Select any photo to see it full size.
