St. Petersburg, FL – May 7, 2018 – On May 23rd, 2018, St. Pete’s local version modelled after the critically acclaimed and multi-Emmy® Award-winning reality show, SHARK TANK®, called SHARK TANK® Lite will present 15 young entrepreneurs and their businesses with hopes of convincing four judges that their business will undoubtedly launch them to entrepreneurial success.
CATCH LITE St. Petersburg participants – who range in age from 17 to 24 – have participated in a nine-week cohort self-employment training program facilitated by the 2020 Plan Taskforce and the Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation.
Contestants will be judged on the viability of their concepts in front of a live audience for business types that include a before and after-school children’s transportation service, personalized crafts & gifts, mobile detailing, social media marketing, sweet treats & décor, cell phone and laptop repair.
The 15 young entrepreneurs will vie for first, second and third place monetary awards based on criteria similar to the national reality show that inspired this St. Petersburg competition.
Upon successful completion of the nine-week CATCH Lite training series, the SHARK TANK® Lite competition, and the completion of a business action plan, each entrepreneur will be presented with a $2,000 stipend funded by Bon Secours Health Systems and The 2020 Fund.
The panel of judges for the evening will include Chitra Naidu (Bon Secours), Dr. Mendee Ligon (Ligon Dentistry), Ramon Hernandez (Callaloo & Pipo’s to Go), and J.P DuBuque (Greater St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation).
Please mark your calendars and plan to support economic opportunity for our community with the hopeful success of these 15 future leaders. Each venture welcomes mentoring and investment opportunities. The SHARK TANK® Lite presentations are free and open to the public. This is the first of its kind and there is active solicitations for donations to help fund the next class of 2020 CATCH Lite future business owners.
For more information, please contact Deborah Figgs-Sanders at (727) 420-2819 or 2020catchlite@gmail.com.
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