Inaugural UWCSEA Bullpen

24 June 2021

By John Zobrist, Head of Innovation, UWCSEA East

On Saturday 12 June, 12 Grade 6–8 students from UWCSEA East pitched their dream businesses to a panel of investors, ranging from the Founder of Dulwich International, Karen Yung, to the Founder of HappyMarketer (Acquired by Dentsu International), Prantik Mazumdar as part of the inaugural bullpen. Bullpen is an after school activity that has been running all year on Tuesday after school for Middle School students by Ascend Now (an outside provider).  John Zobrist, Head of Innovation at UWCSEA East opened up the event with a quick speech and Nick Dunn, Director of Activities and Community Operations followed with the link to the ongoing support from the activities programme for these opportunities. 

We would like to congratulate all the participants who took part.

Grade 7 student Elliana Patel won first place and received a cash prize. Her business idea, mental nutrition, aims to support students who suffer from a range of mental health stressors while also providing peer mentorship. Her product is one that adds immense value to society and Ascend Now is here to mentor and support her so she can bring her idea to market.

The other entrepreneurs also brought their A-game to the competition, with ideas such as shoes made from recycled plastic and ergonomic chairs with an automated posture correcting signal. These students conducted thorough market research, designed visual prototypes and drafted unique revenue models.

All our participants demonstrated poise, eloquence and an ability to answer difficult questions.  They presented their pitch after taking the 'Ascend Now Shark Tank' Course with Ascend Now, which focuses on normalising Student-Entrepreneurs.  

For more information about this event, or to partake in the next August BullPen, please sign up before 20 July on www.ascendnow.org