A pet hotel, a tailor-made study space and a cafe for cultural games were some of the ideas conceived by students who competed in the NFTE Young Entrepreneur Challenge (NYEC), a competition organised by Halogen Singapore.
Part of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) programme, the challenge provides young individuals with an opportunity to showcase entrepreneurial ideas that they have been working on over nine months, empowering them to develop the right character, mindsets and skill sets.
This year’s NFTE Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (NYEC) concluded in a grand finale on Nov 14 at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House. It showcased 45 students from 16 schools, selected from over 500 participants.
Among them was St Andrew’s Secondary School student Jitheshwaran Suresh, 15, who created a proposal for Petground/Home, a pet hotel that offers a safe and engaging environment for pets of busy owners.
His inspiration came from seeing the struggles of pet owners who lacked time to care for their animals.
In the course of his creation, Jitheshwaran said he learnt the importance of feedback and how to formulate a business pitch. “It taught me to stand back up after a setback,” he said.
Jiteshwaran now plans to pursue business studies after secondary school, feeling confident in the skills he developed through the programme.
The NYEC 2024 grand prize went to Mabel Sim from Edgefield Secondary School, who impressed the judges with her idea for “Academicaid”, an affordable and personalised tuition service that people can access from the comfort of their homes, addressing the issues of high costs and overcrowded classes in traditional tuition centres.
As the 2024 Global Young Entrepreneur, she will represent Singapore at the World Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in New York City next year, where she will compete alongside young innovators from around the world.
Also among the 45 featured students was Thara Shivani Prem Anandan, 15, from Yio Chu Kang Secondary School, who presented “Duckling’s Study Heaven”, a concept for a study space tailored to students who are prone to distraction.
“Students often lack motivation to study, and libraries don’t always meet all their needs,” she said.
Her project aims to provide a distraction-free environment with amenities such as massage chairs and coffee machines, promoting focus and relaxation.
“I faced challenges in refining my business model, but the programme taught me techniques such as understanding break-even points and revenue models that I can use for future business ideas,” she said.
Haareish Subramanian, 17, from Bowen Secondary School presented his “Game House Cafe”, a space for traditional games and cultural knowledge.
Concerned about his peers losing touch with their heritage, Haareish said he envisioned a cafe where students could learn about different cultures through games. “It’s like a mini museum where people can experience their own culture and others,” he said.
Though he doesn’t see business as his primary career path, he said the learning experience broadened his appreciation for entrepreneurship.
