Six teams of students from four high schools in the Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey regions recently competed in a business pitch challenge hosted by the Philadelphia Eagles and Firstrust Bank. The competition marked the culmination of the Entrepreneurs Game Plan powered by EVERFI program, a digital learning platform implemented in 30 area high schools that uses case studies, interactive business simulations, and personal development activities to prepare students for a bright and prosperous future.

Forty-three business pitches were submitted, and the top six were selected to present their ideas at the Firstrust Bank Club at the Eagles stadium. The finalists included students from Central Bucks High School South, Cheltenham High School, Cherokee High School, and Springfield Township High School.

Chorefinder, a mobile app that acts as an accessible way for teens to complete odd jobs for profit created by students from Cheltenham High School, earned the top spot in the pitch challenge and scored $2,500 for their school.

The pitches were judged by a panel of executives from Firstrust and the Eagles, including:

• Frank Gumienny, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of the Eagles
• Peggy Leimkuhler, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Technology Officer at Firstrust Bank
• Jason Avant, former Eagles wide receiver
• Carleen O’Reilly, Senior Director of Account Management at EVERFI

“We congratulate and thank the winners in this year’s Entrepreneurs Game Plan competition for presenting innovative business models that were both creative and practical in nature,” said Gumienny. “This competition always serves as a great opportunity to recognize and award students for applying their skills in the classroom to real-world experiences. We are inspired by their passion and look forward to following their journeys into the future.”

“Through Entrepreneurs Game Plan, we’re equipping the next generation of business leaders with resources, knowledge, and financial literacy skills that will help them build their careers,” said Leimkuhler. “I’m inspired and excited by the creativity, passion, and professionalism displayed by the young entrepreneurs who participated in the pitch competition. Their ideas show great promise, and I’m hopeful that they will bring these ideas to fruition in the real world and make an impact in our communities.”

The five other finalist groups also received prize money for their schools. Everything Wallet, a wallet with advanced security features like a fingerprint lock and GPS locator created by students from Springfield Township High School, placed second and received $1,500.

MelodyRay, a compact laser projector that can project all 88 keys of a piano on a flat surface created by students from Central Bucks High School South, placed third and received $1,000.

Slides by U, a customizable rubber sandals with a design kit included created by students from Springfield Township High School; Calm Carts, push carts that carry crafts, games, video games, fidgets, and other activities for long term and short term hospital patients created by students from Cherokee High School; and Safe Cup,  a cup with a fingerprint locking mechanism to prevent others from tampering with one’s drink in social settings created by students from Springfield Township High School, each earned $500.

All student finalists received swag from Firstrust and the Eagles and a tour of the Eagles’ locker room and field.

In addition to developing a new business idea and pitch, students participating in the Entrepreneurs Game Plan program learned how to save startup capital and balance a budget, what it means to be an entrepreneur, and how to recognize business opportunities.

Learn more about Firstrust Bank, Philadelphia’s hometown bank for 90 years.