Venture Advisors

A kid building a business is a kid that stays in school.
Come be a part of BUILD – where business and brilliance is born.

Look… we get it. BUILD is out to save kids. If cupcakes and good intentions did it, we’d be first in line at the bake sale. Trouble is… it doesn’t. Know what does? Teaching them how to make money, giving them both a sense of their own power to change the world, and a reason to go to college.

BUILD is in the business of saving kids. And business is good.

Low-income kids think making money is cool, just like you. We help them connect the dots between making money and going to school, and you know what happens? They stay in school. Not some of them… all of them. That’s right… 100% of BUILD seniors – from some of the most challenging and dropout-prone school districts in America – have graduated from high school and been accepted to college.

BUILD’s mission is to use entrepreneurship to propel disconnected, low-income kids through high school to college. Through a four-year program that helps students develop and run their own small businesses, BUILD supplements traditional school with real-world business experiences and critical skill-building for the future.

BUILD has been supporting student-run startups and saving kids since 1999, first in East Palo Alto and Oakland, then in Washington DC. This year saw the launch of BUILD Boston, powered by a group of local executives and venture capitalists who saw the power of BUILD to make a difference right here in our community.

The Youth Business Plan Competition

The highlight of each year’s BUILD program is the Annual Youth Business Plan competition, or “BPC” which represents the culmination of a year of hard work by our 9th-graders and their mentors. Teams present their innovative business ideas and prototypes during two rounds of competition. Winners receive start-up funds to launch their business. The BPC celebrates our students’ creativity and energy, on a day of competition where one team will emerge victorious, and everybody wins.

Be a part of it. Become a Venture Advisor.

We need Venture Advisors who can sponsor a team of BUILD ninth grade students, and help them grow their businesses as they transition into sophomore year. A small investment of $1,500 or more, along with 2-3 coaching sessions per year, is all it takes to set student businesses on a path to success.

Join us and other community-minded business leaders in Boston for a celebration of the power of entrepreneurship to change the lives of economically disadvantaged kids.

VENTURE ADVISOR $1,500

As a Venture Advisor you will:

Meet with a student team 2-3 times per year for a small group coaching session. Student teams include 4-5 students, and 2 adult mentors. Coaching sessions can take place at the Partner School or at your own office.
Participate in Showcase 3, if possible. This will be a special “sneak peak” to view student teams in May as their practice their pitch. This is your chance to pre-select the products and students you are most interested in sponsoring.
Attend the annual Youth Business Plan Competition in June. Root for your team, along with colleagues from your VC firm. This is a family friendly event held on a Saturday. All are welcome.
Make a tax-deductible donation to BUILD of $1,500 or more to support your student team. In addition to helping student businesses thrive, your donation will support tutoring, test preparation, college tours, academic coaching, and other services designed to ensure student success in high school and college.
Time Commitment: Just 8 to 10 hours per year.

Benefits Include:

Listing of your name in the Program as a Venture Advisor
VIP seating at the Business Plan Competition for you and your family
Take a tour of one of our four Partner Schools and meet the Headmaster
Watch a class led by one of our amazing BUILD Teachers
Serve as a Judge at Showcase 3 in May or during First Round of the Business Plan Competition in June

Profile of Student Products:

We have 102 students and 20 student teams in our inaugural BUILD Boston class. Their products include t-shirts, cookies, jewelry, and more. Here is a sampling of the products our students are working on and where you can help make a difference.

Spongies – Cleaning gloves with built-in sponges and soap
Dream Cases – Customizable cases for iPhones with inspirational messages
Elite Gloves – Sports gloves made for athletes and fans
Tissue To Go – A bracelet with refillable tissues to use when you’re on the move
Sticky Fun – Bumper stickers that are surface-friendly, reusable, and customizable
Picture This – Pillowcases with pictures of your loved ones
Pocket – A portable pocket that you can place anywhere
Tempo – A device that inserts into your coat or jacket that controls temperature and keeps you warm
Original Glasses (OG’s) – Customizable clip-on designs for eyeglass frames that make wearing glasses fun and appealing to kids
Squirtables – A kitchen device that dispenses sauces and seasonings to add flavor to your food while you’re on the go

Join BUILD

Join BUILD and other business leaders in celebrating the power of entrepreneurship to save lives, as a Sponsor of the annual Youth Business Plan Competition.

Saturday, June 1, 2013
9:00am–4:00pm at Northeastern University

For more info, please contact Ayele Shakur, Regional Executive Director at ashakur@build.org or 617-600-0532