NEW YORK, Dec. 2, 2021 – Virtual Enterprises International (VEI), a national nonprofit that teaches students how to start and run a simulated business together as a class, announced today that students at Mount Miguel High School received top honors in its National Elevator Pitch Competition for their simulated business, Machi, a company they operate from their classroom. The students earned a perfect five-star score and were among the 172 entries submitted for the competition nationwide.
Through the VE program, the students created Machi (Japanese for “town”), a virtual business specializing in podcasts that help the VE students stay up to date with the latest news in the VE community. In October, the students entered their business in VE’s National Elevator Pitch Competition, which challenges VE students to make a convincing, engaging elevator pitch to an angel investor in 60 seconds or less through a video submission. See the students’ award-winning video pitch here: National Elevator Pitch.
Machi is one of four Virtual Enterprises businesses at Miguel High School. All four businesses scored in the top 10 percent of all entries received in VE’s National Elevator Pitch Competition.
VE is a year-long program in which students create a business and role-play corporate jobs as they work to keep their business profitable by developing business plans, participating in trade shows and conducting business transactions with virtual companies run by other students across the country. Over 200,000 students have gone through the VE program since its inception in 1996.
ABOUT VIRTUAL ENTERPRISES INTERNATIONAL
Virtual Enterprises International (VE) is a national nonprofit that transforms students through authentic business experiences which prepare them for fulfilling, financially secure futures. Since Virtual Enterprises’ (VE) inception in 1996, it has served more than 200,000 high school and middle school students, including many from economically disadvantaged communities.
VE provides a solution for schools to offer all students meaningful skills-based career experiences. Through our hands-on, task-based curricula, aligned to the VE Career Readiness Framework, students test drive potential careers and develop in-demand skills and competencies that post-secondary institutions and employers are seeking. By managing the day-to-day operations of a company, students not only develop business skills and an entrepreneurial mindset, they also identify career pathways that align with their interests, talents, and aspirations.
We annually support 20,000+ students across the U.S. each year and are part of a global network spanning 40+ countries and 7,000+ student-run businesses. Learn more about VE on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages.
CONTACT:
Rossana Weitekamp
PR for VE
917-363-2510, rweite@gmail.com