�鶹��ý

Atlantic City, N.J. – Sahil Gandhi was confident his new product Farmful—a subscription box that would connect small farms with a broad range of customers—was ready to roll out.

In fact, Gandhi had run 18 financial scenarios throughout the week. But Gandhi is no ordinary chief financial officer. The 15-year-old rising junior at Robbinsville High School was one of 19 future business leaders during the weeklong Summer Entrepreneurship and Business Academy hosted by Stockton’s July 13-19 in Atlantic City.

This year’s theme was Monopoly, and each student was assigned to one of five teams named after a Monopoly token. Teams created partnerships to develop a new business venture and create a business plan they would present to a panel of judges on the final day. 

Throughout the week each team was advised by a Stockton faculty mentor, and they learned about brand identity, business ethics, analytics and hospitality and tourism from a variety of guest speakers and field trips. 

“I really loved the CEOs and business executives who welcomed my interest in finance and questions about profit margins and revenue,” said Gandhi, who knew coming into the week he wanted the role of CFO.

Ultimately, Farmful’s thorough business plan, including a purpose-driven mission statement, supply chain analysis, website design and financial projections was named the top plan, winning $500, and earned the accolade of “Most Market Ready” from the judges. 

Of his team’s success, Gandhi said, “I think this means I have a good grasp on what a company has to do for financial statements. A lot of the business practices and ideas we had for Farmful can be applied to any small business I start.”

According to Tara Marsh, SEBA program director, that’s exactly what she wants to see. “The academy and competition transform students and help them develop a business acumen that will take them far in whatever industry they decide to pursue.” 

Hasini Vummaji, a rising junior at Edison High School, is already an entrepreneur at age 16, as the owner of a nonprofit that teaches financial education to youth in other countries.

Farmful with their product

A student presenting on their product

A judge raising her hand during a business presentation

Students presenting their products

Students presenting their products

Learn More | Summer Entrepreneurship Business Academy

A member of the “Boat” team, Vummaji said her team immediately latched on to the Monopoly theme. “On the first day, we decided to use the theme and connect back to something immersive and educational,” she said.

Throughout the week, her group developed the concept of a live Monopoly game show that would be life-sized, integrated with technology and family friendly.

“This is a blend of nostalgia with innovation and reinvents Monopoly for contemporary audiences,” she said in presenting the concept to the judges using colorful graphics to detail their business strategy. 

The judges responded by naming recognizing the Monopoly Live team with the “Best Branding” award.

“These were some of the best presentations we have seen at SEBA so far,” said judge Monica Amadio, who is also program chair of Stockton’s new Entrepreneurship degree. “We firmly believe that we are building leaders who want to learn, who want to build and who want to launch enterprises that will change the community.”

Vummaji said the range of opportunities at SEBA made it a great experience. From chatting up Sage DelValle '20/MBA '21 after his presentation to seeing fireworks on the beach, living in the beachfront Kesselman Hall, and the guidance of their team mentor Associate Professor Christian Ehiobuche, she said the week was an “amazing experience."

The camp is free thanks to donations by Spencer’s/Spirit Halloween and other sponsors. 

– Story by Stacey Clapp, photos by Lizzie Nealis

Camp Jumpstarts Future Business, Entrepreneurial Careers

July 19, 2024 

Atlantic City, N.J. – “So, who in here currently owns a stock?”

Only a couple of hands were hesitantly raised in the lecture room on the �鶹��ý Atlantic City campus among the group of 25 rising high school juniors and seniors.

Presenter Dylan Gutowski listened closely to the students’ answers – “I think I have stock in Starbucks!” and “I’m not sure what it’s called.” Soon, the quiet room filled with cheering and clapping as students played a virtual stock exchange game that simulated the high stakes and fast pace of trading in the stock market.

When the students from across New Jersey weren’t diversifying their stock portfolios, they were exploring the campus, learning the fundamentals of business and entrepreneurship from local business leaders, and participating in a business plan competition through the weeklong Summer Entrepreneurship and Business Academy (SEBA).

It was through SEBA that Gutowski of Rockland, New York, developed entrepreneurial savvy and relationship-building skills that landed him an internship with the camp just a year after winning the business plan competition.

The 16-year-old spread awareness of the academy at high schools throughout the state and spent the week supporting students in the business plan competition and sharing his own experiences. 

“It's really cool to be able to help these students and kind of give back to a program that gave so much to me,” Gutowski said. “It's also a really diverse group; like, some people are building websites for their plans, and others are designing logos, or they're doing heavy research. There are so many different talents here, and a (successful) business needs the things that each person brings to the table. (SEBA) is a really cool team-building experience where you get to focus on using your talents for the bigger picture.” 

– Story by Loukaia Taylor

– Photos by Susan Allen

Continue Reading | Camp Jumpstarts Future Business, Entrepreneurial Careers