High School Entrepreneurs Win $50,000 in Cash and Scholarships in Pirates Pitch Competition 2024

Ten talented student entrepreneur finalists with start-up concepts or nascent businesses, out of an international field of 225 contestants, faced off at Seton Hall University’s tenth annual Pirates Pitch for High School Students competition, hosted by the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship on November 22, in Jubilee Hall Auditorium. The finalists were awarded $50,000 in cash and scholarships. 

Muhammad Haseeb, a senior from Wayne, NJ, attending PCTI STEM Academy, received the first-place award for Hydro DeFrost. Jeffery Liu, a junior from Basking Ridge, NJ, attending Delbarton School, came in second place for RemeMore. Caroline Kiernan, a sophomore from Ridgewood, NJ, attending Ridgewood High School, received the Audience Choice Award for startup idea Stress Less. Grace Rhine, a senior from Toms River, NJ, attending Toms River High School, won Honorable Mention for her business concept, Legally Chic Clothing.

This tournament also celebrated Global Entrepreneurship Week activities that took place in 180 countries around world from November 18 to 24. The 10 future business leaders who had successfully submitted original business proposals describing an innovative product or service in 350 words or less, or in a three minute video, had competed against 225 young entrepreneurs from 20 U.S. states as well as Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea and Singapore, to qualify for more than $50,000 in prizes and tuition scholarships.

"This year’s competition displayed the work of an exceptional group of teen entrepreneurs. The finalists demonstrated creativity and innovation in their well-developed pitches. Their ideas were wide-ranging, and I was impressed that many of them focused on health and societal benefits," said Susan Scherreik, M.B.A., founding director of the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Stillman School of Business. "These included eyeglasses designed to help seniors experiencing the early stages of dementia, a seat cushion to remind people working at computers to take breaks, and weighted clothing designed to alleviate mental health symptoms. Their achievements point up the popularity of entrepreneurship education courses, which are increasingly being taught in high schools and even middle schools."

Scherreik shared that adding to the vibrancy of the event were student volunteers from the Entrepreneurship Club executive board serving as emcees and volunteers. These students either have their own businesses or are working toward launching businesses. In addition, Seton Hall MBA student and entrepreneur RoseMary Stanchak, a 2018 winner and also a contest judge, delivered remarks. 

The 10 qualifying finalists will receive at least $4,000 in tuition scholarships to attend Seton Hall. Muhammad received a $2,500 cash award and a $10,000 tuition scholarship. Jeffery received a $1,000 cash award and a $6,000 scholarship to attend Seton Hall. Caroline, the Audience Choice Award winner, received $300 as well as a $4,000 tuition scholarship. Grace, the Honorable Mention awardee, received $100 and a $4,000 tuition scholarship.

Muhammad described his fledgling startup, Hydro Defrost, a product he created to easily remove frost and snow from car windshields without keeping the engine running, as a way to reduce car engine idling that hurts the environment. Muhammad praised the Pirates Pitch competition for providing him with an opportunity to help him reach his dream of becoming a full-time entrepreneur. “This is probably one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I am excited for the future,” he said. 

Also praising the competition was Jeffrey, who achieved second place. He shared: “Overall, the entrepreneurship contest was an amazing way to strengthen my presentation skills, and also to showcase my ideas to a larger audience. Most entrepreneurship competitions are virtual, but participating in an in-person event like this one is really different and definitely was a lot of fun. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to win second place and share my idea with everyone."

The finalists conveyed their startup ideas in five-minute presentation followed by five minutes of questions from a prominent judging panel including Stillman business faculty and alumni entrepreneurs: Elizabeth McCrea, Ph.D., associate professor of management and entrepreneurship; Victor Gomez, '17, manager of Seton Hall Esports who has been instrumental in the founding, creation, and growth of the University’s Gaming Sector club and the current esports program at Seton Hall, M.B.A. student Rosemary Stanchak, the prior Pirates Pitch for High School Students contest winner, and Kadean Dennis,’20, senior consultant, Ernst & Young. 

“I enjoyed seeing the teenagers’ energy, creativity, and courage.  It is not easy to get up on stage to present your work to a group of judges, parents, and strangers!  The students’ projects represented a wide range of interests, including auto accessories, social support for teens with scoliosis, beaded jewelry, and business fashion, to name a few.  The quality of all the finalists’ presentations made it very difficult to pick the winners, but I was glad that all the finalists were awarded scholarships to Seton Hall.  They earned that with their hard work and resilience,” said Dr. McCrea, one of the competition’s judges.  

Scherreik noted that more than 50 alumni entrepreneurs visit the Seton Hall campus annually to guest lecture in courses and network with students at extracurricular events. 

"At Seton Hall University, we are similarly seeing a growing number of students enrolling in our entrepreneurship concentration, starting businesses in their dorms and taking advantage of the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s many resources, including mentoring by alumni entrepreneurs," Scherreik explained.  

Event Finalists included:

• Nifemi Adeyemi, a senior from Newark, NJ, attending Newark Collegiate Academy. Business Idea: Irahs_Collection
• Ryan Kim, a junior from Fort Lee, NJ, attending Bergen County Technical High School. Business Idea: Smat Pitch; Vivica Electronics
• Rishabh Nambiar, a senior from Fishkill, NY, attending John Jay High School.
  Business Idea: Research Chat
• Eve Parrott, a junior from Livingston, NJ, attending Livingston High School.  
  Business Idea: Scolipoly
• Jacqueline Perez, a sophomore from Park Ridge, NJ, attending Park Ridge High School. Business Idea: Digital Insurance and Car Registration
• Ayden Pinto, a junior from Manalapan, NJ, attending High Technology High School.
  Business Idea: Eco-Smart Trash Pickup

The High School Pirates Pitch competition livestream can be watched here.  

A video interview with first-place winner Muhammad Haseeb can be watched here. 

The High School Pirates Pitch is based on the Center's highly successful collegiate-level Pirates Pitch Competition, which awards $16,000 to Seton Hall University student entrepreneurs annually. To learn more about the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and its activities, please visit here.  

Categories: Business