The Dwight School’s (NY) solution to that problem is Spark Tank. This incubator program, inspired by the hit TV show Shark Tank, gives students from kindergarten through high school the opportunity to develop and pitch new products and services. Students with the best pitches earn money from the Dwight School Foundation to help them bring their ideas to market.
Spark Tank participants have the opportunity to create product prototypes, develop their presentations, practice their public speaking skills, and receive advice and guidance from judges (Dwight parents) who work in the sectors in which the students are innovating.
Chancellor Stephen Spahn and the Dwight faculty strongly believe that the next big ideas this century will come from the under-18 sector. Therefore, helping to prepare students for the realities of business and entrepreneurship early will give them the hands-on training they need to become successful leaders.
Here are a few examples of Spark Tank in action:
Hunter Alves turned her concerns about safety during her visits to college campuses into HOLT (Hidden Observation Location Tracker), a GPS device that pairs with students’ phones to track their safety and provide real-time emergency assistance.
Daniil Frants created the Live-Time Closed Captioning System, a device that’s worn on one’s head and designed to help people with a hearing disability “hear” a conversation as it’s happening. In 2015, he earned a 10 Under 20 award at New York City’s annual CE Week technology showcase.
Maria Guerrero started her own fashion line in elementary school, getting fashion-world advice from three Spark Tank judges (Dwight parents), including maternity designer Liz Lange. One of her fashion shows at Dwight was covered on the Spanish-language channel Telemundo. Maria recently moved back to her home country of Colombia, where she continues to expand her clothing line.
For videos of past Spark Tank presentations, visit dwight.edu/community/foundation/spark-tank.
