YOUNG IGNITE! VENTURE COMPETITION WINNERS SPARK INNOVATION WITH FUN AND IMPACTFUL VENTURES
February 5, 2024
Greenwich, CT – Girls With Impact (GWI), the national nonprofit business education program for young women, announced the outstanding winners of its latest venture competition.
GWI’s IGNITE! Venture Competition, occurring quarterly, takes place in the course of a rigorous 10-week business and entrepreneurial Academy that has already motivated over 16,000 young women. This competition acknowledges students for their creativity, commitment, and the potential positive impact of their ventures in their communities and beyond.
“These young CEOs are living proof of the boundless potential within our next generation,” states Jennifer Openshaw, CEO of Girls With Impact. “We eagerly anticipate the transformative impact they’re destined to make nationally and globally.”
The winners, who received 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place cash prizes of $1,000, $750, and $500 respectively, are set to participate in Girls With Impact’s annual competition scheduled for June 2024.
Winners are as follows:
First Place: Kashifa V., 16, San Diego, CA - Taqwa Threads
Kashifa’s groundbreaking streetwear brand beautifully integrates Islamic aesthetics, focusing on trendy styles, Islamic-themed graphics, and modest, comfortable clothing.
Second Place: Hailey G., 12, Delano, CA - EcoInvest
Hailey secured 2nd place with EcoInvest, an innovative app promoting sustainable living and empowering communities for better recycling practices.
Third Place: Vithasree K., 12, Plano, TX - Barks and Tails Cafe Lounge
Barks and Tails Cafe Lounge creates a heartwarming space where people connect with shelter dogs, promoting adoptions through an engaging dog cafe experience.
GWI’s Ignite Venture Competition evaluates submissions based on seven criteria: Business Description, Market Analysis, Creativity, Feasibility, Growth Potential, Operations, and Overall Presentation.
“The Girls With Impact program has provided me with valuable knowledge, helped me discover more about myself, and boosted my confidence,” Hailey says. “It has also ignited my aspiration to become a businesswoman and establish my own business in the future.”
Girls With Impact graduate Hailey G, 12, front and center of her venture EcoInvest
GWI’s Ignite Venture Competition is a testament to the impact of early business and leadership education, especially in young women. It is an integral part of GWI’s Business & Leadership Academy, a 10-week instructor-led program where students bring an idea to life, gaining foundational business and work success skills. The outcomes include increased confidence, college readiness, and professional skills such as tech, financial management, and public speaking.
The program is offered tuition-free, thanks to the support of corporate sponsors, foundations, and donors. Young women and girls aged 14-24 can register for classes held year-round at www.girlswithimpact.org.
Girls With Impact graduate Kashifa V, 16, shows off a prototype of her design on a T-shirt
Girls With Impact graduate Vithasree K, 12, with her dogs for Barks and Tails Cafe Lounge
About Girls With Impact
Girls With Impact (GWI), a 501c3, is the nation’s only online business and leadership program for young women 14-24. Its mission is to level the playing field for all women in business through education, mentoring and networking. To date, GWI has served over 16,000 with a goal to reach 1 million by 2026 with its tuition-free education. Visit www.girlswithimpact.org. Watch our sizzle reel.
For more information, please contact:
Emily Adji
(203) 314 4011
emily.adji@girlswithimpact.org