Dundee students get funds to start businesses

DUNDEE—A year of work boiled down to six important minutes for 12 Dundee Central School students on Tuesday, March 29.
The students, in pairs or individually, each had just six minutes to present their businesses to a panel of investors. The decision on the amount of funds to be invested was made after the students outlined their plans. Investments were based on the merit of the idea and presentation.
The ventures are the result of the Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEA!). During the yearlong class, participants learn the essentials of starting a business.
Classroom instructor for the program, Charles Stewart, said the students learn by doing. Stewart teaches Business/School to Work at DCS. The program is mentored by business and community members. During the term, the group hears from a number of individuals who are in business. One of the last steps is filing a Doing Business As (DBA) document with the county clerk.
This year’s group of businesses and the funding granted includes:
InDUCTive Art.  Owners Gordon Crans and Corey Day. The business produces low price duct tape art. The partnership features unique, customizable items. Some of their products were on display. $520.
Swanky Squirrel’s Custom T-shirts and Hoodies. Owner Josh Earle.  The business creates original designs. Items will be sold online or by mail order. $300.
Kream Kream Ice Cream. Owners Kali Day and Kenneth Eldridge. Prepackaged ice cream will be sold from a decorated wagon. The wagon will be on a pontoon boat and at local events, mainly in the Dundee and Tyrone area. $383.80
Game 411. Owners Owen Maloy and Steven Snell. The business was started as an idea for a video blog. It will be available on Facebook. It will offer a more social outlet for gamers than any other Web site in their category. $600.
Street Punk Skateboard Company. Anthony McAdams owner. The business is planned to add McAdam’s own style to boards. The skateboards will be sold through the Internet. $175.
Get the Party Started. Owners Morgan Jensen and Tessa Fowler. The program will give busy parents one of a kind parties for children ages one to 18.  $375.
Exotica Reptiles. Alysen Moore and Nathan Howell. Company imports the reptiles from Florida. Target audience is high school age students with an interest in reptiles. Social networks will be used to publicize the business $650.
Funding ranged from full to partial approval of the amount requested. The panel of investors included Susan Collins, owner of Millstone Veterinary Clinic; Steve Griffin, Executive Director of Finger Lakes Economic Development Center; Mike Linehan, President of Yates County Chamber of Commerce; Carrie Wood of D.B. Miles Insurance Agency; and Claudia Maroney, General Manager of Frontier CNY. Coordinator, faculty member  Vicki O’Dell was commended for her work with the program.
O’Dell is Junior/Senior High School Vice-Principal and Congruence teacher. During the program, Master of Ceremonies, Randy Knapp said, “This has taken a year’s worth of effort. It’s wonderful to watch the program take bloom and fly away. I can’t overestimate the power of this program.”
A member of the audience asked about the accountability. There are no written contracts. Knapp said, “I grew up in a time when a handshake was used. These young men and women do just this. This represents the true entrepreneurial nature of American business.  They were started with a handshake and the honest idea to do what they said.” Knapp teaches Science and Technology at DCS.
The program at DCS is not the end of competition for one business that was selected for competition with 21 other schools. Game 411 will compete at the Rochester Institute of Technology on May 5.