NJ Business Idea Competition
Attention all New Jersey High School Students!
The Rothman Institute is pleased to announce the tenth annual New Jersey Business Idea Competition!
Students were given the challenge to create a business idea and submitted it to a panel of judges comprised of University professors and experts in business and entrepreneurship. Students with the most innovative ideas and business proposals were awarded cash prizes and recognized at our awards ceremony, where they met other high school students from across New Jersey who are creative and innovative, as well.
View the Poster: Link
The perks:
1. Recognition for your original idea at our awards ceremony
2. Prize money and awards (over $13,500 available in cash prizes)
3. Publicity through traditional and social media
4. Looks great on your resume and college application!
5. You may be eligible for extra credit at your school
Awards
Northern New Jersey Southern New Jersey
Bergen, Passaic, Sussex, Morris, Essex, Warren
Winner-$500 plus a prize from the New York Jets
4 finalists-$250, 8 Semifinalists-$100
Central New Jersey
Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, Hudson
Winner-$500 plus a prize from the New York Jets
4 finalists-$250, 8 Semifinalists-$100
Atlantic, Burlington, Cumberland, Cape May, Camden,Gloucester, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem
Winner-$500 plus a prize from the New York Jets
4 finalists-$250, 8 Semifinalists-$100
2013 New Jersey Business Idea Competition Winners
Northern Region (Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Warren counties)
Finalists Semifinalists Finalists
Jihoon Choi, Livingston High School – The Biolight Bulb
Nathan Gupta and Sahil Parikh, Academy of Math, Science & Engineering – Steering Away from DUI’s
Tina Jagtiani, Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest – Can’t See It? Hear It!
Scott “Scooter” Lingle, Ridgefield Park High School – Smart Fish Feeder
Semifinalists
Donald Chisholm, Jr., Ridgefield Park Junior Senior High School– SFS: Safety Foam System
Huda Gohar, Passaic Valley Regional High School – Alzheimer’s Awareness Suited Just for You
Fred (Seung Woo) Kim, Livingston High School – Preview Mirror
Kaitlin Kupferschmid, Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest – RunMaster
Thomas O’Connor, Park Ridge High School – Collextor.com
Leanne Shen, Bergen County Academies – Share-A-Ride to BCA
George Taishin, Ridgefield Park High School – Self Gym System: Powering Your Workout
Jelanie Vasquez, Bergen County Academies – DecomposaBags: Eliminating Stink, Helping the Environment
Jiajing Wang, Pope John XXIII Regional High School – The Natural Enemy of Insects
Central Region (Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, Union counties)
Finalists
Michael Armstrong, Cranford High School – Emergency Light
Nikhil Patel, Scotch Plains Fanwood High School – Drive2Live with Road Mode
Sarah Ross, Cranford High School – Patient Friendly Bottle Cap
Kaitlyn Schujko, Ewing High School – Visual Connections
John Armstrong and Luke Christiano, Cranford High School– Handicap Helper
Micah Bergstrom, Ewing High School – Hands for the Handicapped
Jason Cabrita, Cranford High School – Statsketball Hoop
Diego Castro, Cranford High School – iPet
Kasey Donahue, Cranford High School – OrganiCare
Rachel Garofola and John Pijanowski, Cranford High School – The Trash Talker
Tim Lisowski and Mike Palumbo, Cranford High School – MagicWrap
Jack Shapiro, Cranford High School – Focus Filter
Southern Region (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem)
Matthew Bailey, Point Pleasant Borough High School – Trak Pack-The Better Backpack
Paige Kristensen, Point Pleasant B. H.S.– LemonAID:When Life Gives you Lemons, Make LemonAID
Matt McLeod, Washington Township High School – LaceLock
Olivia Zitarosa – Point Pleasant B. H.S. – SmartHome: Designed for Retirement and Disabled Centers
Semifinalists
Pearis Bellamy, Cherokee High School – House of Hydroponics
James Cardone, Point Pleasant Borough High School – Corner Organics-Organic Agriculture of the Future
Madison Emery, Point Pleasant Borough High School – Children First-Bringing School to the Kids
Sabrina Hammell, Point Pleasant Borough High School – Clean Water Control Capsule
Samantha Hoplock, Point Pleasant Borough High School – Helpful Helpers for the Special Needs
Sebastian Kressley, Cherokee High School – Craigsafe/
Justin Lek, Cherokee High School – E-Cycle
Joseph Nardone, Marine Academy of Science & Technology–Ocean Thermal Energy for Developing Countries
Nicholas Porter, Cherokee High School – Rent-a-Diner Restaurant
Julia Santacroce, Cherokee High School – The Final Chapter
Facebook Competition Results:
Winners who increased their prize money (Getting at least 100 Likes for their Business Ideas.)
Thank you for your enthusiasm and participation!!!
Northern Region
Tina Jagtiani (Doubled prize money)
Thomas O'Connor (Doubled prize money)
Fred Kim (Doubled prize money)
Jelanie Vasquez (Increased prize money by 50%)
Jihoon Choi (Increased prize money by 50%)
Leanne Shen (Increased prize money by 50%)
Southern
Joseph Nardone (Doubled prize money)
Sebastian Kressley (Doubled prize money)
Matthew Bailey (Doubled prize money)
James Cardone (Increased prize money by 50%)
Special Update!!!
*All winners will get the chance to double their award money using Facebook and social media! The Facebook component of the competition ended at 1:00 p.m. (EST) on April 2, 2013. Thank you for your enthusiasm and participation!!!
Please note: Winners who are unable to attend the awards ceremony (due to spring break field trips) are required to have a teacher or parent/guardian/relative attend and accept their award on their behalf. Due to IRS guidelines and University policy, any winner receiving a cash prize is required to provide their Social Security number. It is the responsibility of both the teacher/advisor and student applicants to notify the student applicants' parents/guardians of this policy.Winners will be contacted via phone for this information.
If you have any questions, e-mail us at rothman@fdu.edu with "Teen Biz" in the subject line or call 973-443-8842.
Sponsors
Partners
We encourage you to enroll in the Online Creativity and Innovation module to receive a certificate. This may help you develop a winning idea, and it looks great on your resume and college application! All competition applicants can participate in this online module at no charge. Let us know if you need financial assistance for any other modules.
Discover Business Teen Camp special discounts:
Regional winners receive full camp tuition, a $510 value!
Semi-finalists and finalists receive $200 off!
Applicants receive $100 off!
Visit www.fdu.edu/bizcamp for details on this popular teen camp.
Connect with us on Facebook.
Take a look at our previous NJ Business Idea Competition winners below!
Past Awards
The 2012 Awards Ceremony took place on the evening of Friday, March 30, 2012, in FDU's Lenfell Hall, in the historic Hennessy Hall/Mansion, followed by the Female Entrepreneur Lecture, given by Kathleen DiChiara, President and CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.
Northern Region (Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Warren counties)
Finalists
Regional Winner: Peri Becker, Livingston High School – NutriPlate: The Plate That Measures the Nutrients in Your Food
Rony Edri and Yejean Ok, Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest – The Multi-Sneaker
Brielle Malanga and Breanna Polewka, Nutley High School – Food Donation Across the Nation
Michelle Silverstein, Livingston High School – Shades of Scenery- Have a Home Anywhere You Wish
Semifinalists
Christian Ali and Andrew Romeo, Park Ridge High School – Tech Station
Joshua Cooper, Passaic Valley High School – Sun Phone
Sloan Genzer and Rachel Roth, Livingston High School – Morethanastudent.org
Alexa Moss and Alison Verp, Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest – Sonic Sleep
Ryan Mountain, West Morris Mendham High School – Crowd Control
Warveen Othman, Ridgefield Park High School – Economically Friendly Toilet: e-Flush
Erika Sarajian and Nan Zhong, Livingston High School – The Gabby Grabby
Ilay Silkov, Bergen County Academies – Green Meter
Central Region (Hudson, Hunterdon, parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, Union counties)
Finalists
Regional Winners: AJ Buono and Jeffrey Kaiser, Cranford High School – Vibrating Wi-Fi Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarm
Kathryn Jordan, Cranford High School – iBus App
Matthew Ghiretti, Cranford High School – Finger Print Hand Gun Matcher
Devon Green, Ewing High School – Teen Alliance Group (T.A.G)
Semifinalists
Nayan Bhat and Vijay Murugan, Bridgewater Raritan High School – Local Listings App
Erica Chiari, Cranford High School –Sugar Baby
William Daly, Cranford High School – Click It Forward
Elizabeth Flatley, Oak Knoll Schoolof the Holy Child– Costume X-change-Making Fun Affordable
Kathryn Hehl and Michael Polyviou, Cranford High School – Cell Freeze
Walter James and Daniel Murphy, Cranford High School – Clean Rails
Erica Kripaitis, Cranford High School – U-Pro
Kayla Piatkowski and Valerie Podbelski, Cranford High School – The Stocker
Southern Region (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, parts of Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem counties)
Finalists
Regional Winner: Keanu Taylor, Timber Creek Regional High School – My Best-Friend (MBF)- The Virtual Therapist
Jake Fine, The Peddie School – CarbStick-The First Tool to Calculate Beverage Carbs
Cassidy Iarussi, Cherokee High School – The Deer Chaser
Joseph Nardone, Marine Academy of Science and Technology – Small Business Internet Liquidation Service
Semifinalists
Marc Bagnato, Cherokee High School –The Professor
Mary Elizabeth Bayruns and Elizabeth Patel, Haddon Township High School –Attachable Shoe Inhaler Pocket
Mackenzie Bidwell, Lacey Township High School – Donate Through Colors-“Colure Couture”
Samantha Smith, Washington Township High School – Swap Me
Michelle Swayze, Washington Township High School –Bristle Protein Straightening Iron
Sarah Ranieri, Washington Township High School –ABC Parking
Liam Wall, The Peddie School – The Handheld Genome Sequencing Device (HGSD)
Liam Wall, The Peddie School – GoLocal-Capital for Creators
