By Vivian Yenson, Staff Writer & Vivian Le, A&E Editor
Last Wednesday, Virtual Enterprise had invited administration to their class to present their three business plan “Shark Tank” style: “Grow N’ Go,” “Tiny Houses” and “ReLeaf.” The next day it was decided that the class’s official project would be “Grow N’ Go,” a company that would produce energy bars that had a decomposable wrapper, imbedded with a plant seed.
The staff attending the event included Principal Morgan Smith, Assistant Principal for Guidance Nancy Peterson, Assistant Principal for Curriculum Josh Lamar, Assistant Principal for Supervision and Athletics Elliot Skolnick and Regional Occupational Program Director Marvine Sanders. The class had been split into three groups with each creating presentations for the administrators.
Grow N’ Go would target millennial hikers and campers that want to benefit the environment by not only producing less plastic waste, but also creating a way to easily contribute to the good of the environment by littering. Their energy bar wrapper, composed from decomposable wax paper, has seeds ingrained into the packaging.
Their slogan, “Stop, Drop, and Grow,” explains the process plainly. When the wrapper of the energy bar is discarded on the ground, it will decompose and release seeds that will grow to produce plants. Aside from energy bars, the company also plans on producing degradable plastic water bottles.
“I think we have a really good group in Virtual Enterprise this year. There’s a lot of new people and I’m the only returner from last year, but I feel like a lot of people this year have a really good opportunity and can do really well this year,” said Colin McGlinchey (‘18).
Aside from Grow N’ Go, the students also featured “Tiny Houses,” which is an organization that would construct compact houses targeted towards seniors looking for college dorms, tourists who don’t want to camp in nature and people in the cities with expensive housing.
“ReLeaf” on the other hand pitched a company that would create aquaponic tanks targeted towards philanthropists and the middle class. It created, not only a way to grow fresh produce in your own home, but also a way for high class citizens to help lower class citizens get their own food. A portion of all profit would be donated to homeless shelters and soup kitchens.
“Usually we see four or five presentations and they’re always all good. It was nice to see three and really focus on three instead of four or five. Every year, I’m impressed at the quality of the thinking the kids are doing in terms of the marketing, the product, how it helps society—it’s not just about making money but it’s about doing good for the world, environment, and the people,” said Lamar.
With Grow N’ Go as the face of our school’s VE, the next stage in their chapter will be further developing the company to eventually present at the Bakersfield Trade Show.
“I am really confident. This is the most students we’ve had apply this year. We have to decide on company really quickly, so this is a way for students to get their ideas out there and practice their speaking skills. This is the exact same presentation that they’re going to have to give for the business plan competition that’s going to be at all the trade fairs,” said Sarah McCance, VE advisor. “Also, it’s a way for the students to get together, research in different groups, and get to know each other. Hopefully, by the end of the week, we’ll have a decision and we’ll move forward with that decision as a company.”
