Youth to pitch business plans before panel of judges

Inner-city youth eager to start their own businesses will make their pitches Wednesday.

Mentors in Greater Hamilton Teaching Youth (MIGHTY) is a partnership between the Industry-Education Council of Hamilton and Innovation Factory.

About a dozen students from Cathedral High School, Parkview, Delta and the Strengthening Hamilton Aboriginal Youth program will pitch their business concepts to a panel of judges.

Among the business ideas are photography services, an organic body scrub, landscaping and a mobile car-detailing operation.

The panel will make a choice and attendees at the by-invitation event will also make a people’s choice, said Cesare DiDonato, executive director of the IEC.

The hope is that more community members will offer mentorship to the students, he said.

During about 13 weeks of the program, participants were taught the basics of starting their own business through a series of workshops with the help of alumni of McMaster, Mohawk and Redeemer and IEC staff.

All the participants have applied to the provincial government’s Summer Company program.

This was the first year for the program, which is meant to encourage inner-city youth to explore entrepreneurship as a viable career option.

The IEC has received provincial funding to run the program again next year.