The second annual Millennial Business Pitch Competition is scheduled for June 1, at Planet Hatch. This competition is designed for Fredericton-area high school students to connect with the business community and show industry sponsors their ideas.

Participating high school students will pitch their ideas to a crowd of teachers, industry experts, and several judges including Heather Boyd-Kinnie from the Pond Deshpande Centre and Chris Ramsey, the co-owner of Crabbe Mountain. Those participating could win $500 in prize money.

Dominyka Taylor started the competition in 2017.

“I came up with the idea for this competition when noticing the lack of student participation in the business startup community,” said Taylor, who will graduate from Fredericton High School this spring.

“I noticed that every entrepreneurial event I’d attended that year had lacked high school student involvement. The event has shifted high school students into future entrepreneurs and their ideas into not just ideas, but into real startup businesses.”

Taylor says presentations this year will range from clothing brands that donate to mental health organisations, to watches that can detect UV rays and signal when it’s time to get out of the sun.

Eight businesses pitched at last year's competition, and this year Taylor is expecting there to be more. She also hopes to see more involvement from surrounding schools.

“The Millennial Inc. Pitch Competition only has room to grow,” said Taylor. “Since last year, we have connected with more people in the business startup community such as sponsors, mentors, judges, teachers and business gurus.”

She says the competition helps business leaders take youth more seriously.

“Too many people in the business startup community don’t appreciate the many talents and ideas high school students offer. Millennial Inc. brought together these two groups, giving confidence to the students and giving the business startup community a reality check.”

The event will be held Friday, June 1 at 5 to 9 pm at Planet Hatch, where dinner will be provided.