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About this Talk

The Defeat the Odds pitch competition stage will host a live business pitch session for finalists competing in the inaugural competition hosted by Fetch. The featured finalists, all local high school students, will have 5 minutes to pitch their original business ideas to a panel of industry pro judges, including Wes Schroll, Founder and CEO of America’s Rewards App, Fetch, for the chance to win a $10,000 cash prize.

The student founders who will be pitching:

  • Soulstice Shades with Eli Hession
  • BUDget App with Gabby Lopes
  • TelePark with Sarada Koppana, Vani Mittal and Deepika Bhardwaj
  • GreenBox with Matthew Bruce
  • SafeSip with Susanna Bie, Emily Zhang and Nasiba Alikulova

Join us in supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs and their innovative ideas!

September 12, 2024, 10:00 PM

10:00 PM - 11:00 PM

About The Speakers

Alexa McGovern

Alexa McGovern

Founder, Dirigo Sea Farm

Alexa McGovern is the Founder of Dirigo Sea Farm, a bioplastic materials company based in Maine.


Wes Schroll

Wes Schroll

CEO & Founder, Fetch

Wes Schroll is a visionary leader known for turning the impossible into reality. Hailing from Acton, Massachusetts, Wes headed to the University of Wisconsin with two startups under his belt and soon found inspiration for his third venture—Fetch.


Collin Yip

Collin Yip

Managing Partner, Rafi Properties

Collin Yip is the founder and managing partner of Rafi Properties, a real estate investment, development, and asset management firm with offices in Boston and Hong Kong.


Vani Mittal

Vani Mittal

CEO of TelePark, TelePark

Vani Mittal is a rising junior at Acton Boxborough Regional High School, MA.


Gabby Lopes

Gabby Lopes

Founder, BUDget

Gabby Lopes is an incoming freshman studying finance and technology entrepreneurship at Babson College, as well as a 2024 graduate of Plymouth North High School.


Sonia L. Alleyne

Sonia L. Alleyne

Faculty, Executive In Residence, Suffolk University - Sawyer Business School

Sonia L. Alleyne is originally from London, England. Ms. Alleyne currently serves as Executive in Residence, and a member of the Faculty in the Sawyer Business School Department of Public Service and Healthcare Administration.


Nasiba Alikulova

Nasiba Alikulova

Co-Founder, SafeSip


Susanna Bie

Susanna Bie

Founder, SafeSip

Susanna is a senior at Sharon High School dedicated to making a positive impact in her community.


Emily Zhang

Emily Zhang

Safe Sip

Emily Zhang is a rising high school senior at Sharon High School, and is deeply involved in her school community, holding various leadership roles in multiple clubs such as Key Club, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and Science Olympiad.


Eli Hession

Eli Hession

Founder, Soulstice Shades

Eli Hession, an 18-year-old entrepreneur and Marshfield local, has been passionate about creative projects since childhood, from arts to small business ventures.


Michelle Morris

Michelle Morris

Chief People Officer, Fetch

Michelle Morris serves as the Chief People Officer for Fetch, bringing more than 20 years of experience building world-class teams, driving exponential revenue growth, and executing innovative business strategies across leading technology and advertising companies.

Location

Suffolk University

120 Tremont Street, Boston

Commons - 5th Floor

Fetch

Fetch, America's Rewards App, empowers consumers to Live Rewarded and helps brands create lifelong customers through the power of Fetch Points.

Session Sponsor

Want to sponsor this event? Contact Startup Boston