
We had the immense pleasure of judging elevator pitches and table displays at the Kempsville High School Entrepreneurship and Business Academy pitch night. The evening culminated in seven outstanding teams pitching their ideas to a distinguished panel, including Bruce Thompson of Gold Key | PHR, Drew Ungvarsky, Michael Burt, Gilbert Bland, and Morgan Davis.
It was incredibly gratifying to witness these students excel in their presentations, and we were honored to support their journey from their first pitch practice in December at Assembly Norfolk with 757 Collab, to their final preparations in April. Watching their growth firsthand was both inspiring and rewarding.


Beyond their impressive public speaking skills, what stood out most was their exceptional ability to take direction. Teenagers are often underestimated, but these remarkable students shattered expectations. They embraced rounds of constructive criticism, implemented feedback with determination, and confidently faced a stage full of seasoned investors who challenged them with tough questions.
As judges, we couldn't help but feel immense pride in their achievements. Seeing their dedication, resilience, and willingness to learn made us even more excited about the future of entrepreneurship.

A huge shoutout to Ashley Houchins and Meghan Timlin for their dedication in coaching and guiding these teams to success. Their unwavering commitment played a crucial role in making this event a resounding success.

At RedwoodRISE Ventures, we're passionate about fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs, and events like this remind us why we do what we do. Here's to building businesses around innovation—together!
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