Sixth-grade students in the Cape Accelerated Program at all three Cape Henlopen School District middle schools recently stepped into the role of entrepreneurs as they prepared and presented original business concepts during a Shark Tank-style pitch competition.

Over the past several months, students have immersed themselves in the world of business and finance, studying the stock market, analyzing company performance, evaluating corporate values and exploring what makes businesses successful. Building upon that knowledge, students were challenged to create their own companies from the ground up, developing products, services, branding and business models designed to address real-world needs and opportunities.

For the culminating activity, students prepared investor pitches and presented them to community members who volunteered  to serve as judges and potential investors. During the presentations, students explained their company’s mission, demonstrated the value of their product or service, and worked to convince judges  that their business was worthy of investment.

Local business owners played the role of Sharks at each of the schools. At Frederick D. Thomas Middle School, Sharks included Christian Hudson of Hudson Management; Jami Jackson, owner of Gingham + Grace clothing boutique; and Jack Berberian, co-founder of ThinkSecureNet. At Beacon MS, Sharks were Brittaney Reynolds, owner of Harvest Moon; Maryellen Kiernan, director of community events for Irish Eyes Restaurant; Queon Jackson, owner of Summer J Popsicles; and Katy Ackerman, Lewes Lettering Company owner and artist. Sharks at Mariner Middle School were Shaun Tyndall, owner of Inclind Inc.; Brett Murphy, operator of Murphy Strategic Advisors; and Brad Travis Jr., a managing partner of Sussex Wealth Partners. 

“This project gave students an opportunity to consider the many forms of investment,” said Jenna Burkhart, a Beacon CAP teacher. “They explored the economic impact of financial investments while also recognizing that time, knowledge and resources are valuable assets that can contribute to growth and success.”

Students worked through each phase of the entrepreneurial process, including market research, company development, branding and financial planning. The final pitches challenged students to synthesize their learning and communicate their ideas effectively to an audience.

“One of the most exciting aspects of this project was seeing students recognize that innovation can come from anyone,” said Ashley Archer, a Fred Thomas CAP teacher. “They learned that successful businesses are built on creativity, problem-solving and understanding the needs of others. Each year we do this, the students share how proud they felt after making their pitch. Watching them walk away with greater confidence in their ideas and their ability to speak in front of others is one of the most rewarding parts of the experience."

Community volunteers played an important role in the experience by providing feedback, asking thoughtful questions and offering students insight into the decision-making process used by investors and business leaders.

“This experience brings classroom learning to life,” said Brian Murphy, a Mariner CAP teacher. “Students are not only learning about business concepts, but also developing confidence, communication skills and the ability to defend their ideas, all skills that will benefit them far beyond the classroom.”

 The presentations highlighted the CAP program's commitment to providing rigorous, engaging learning opportunities that challenge students to think critically, solve complex problems and connect classroom learning to real-world experiences.