Imagine pitching your dream business to a room full of CEOs before you’re even old enough to drive.
On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, a group of brilliant young innovators did just that at the Biz Kids Expo Pitch Contest at Venture Visionary Partners in Bonita Springs. Modeled after the high-stakes format of Shark Tank, the event gave youth-led startups a platform to pitch their business concepts directly to established local executives.
Among the panel of guest judges evaluating the ideas and offering professional mentorship was Kurt Van Wagenen, CEO of Summit Broadband.
The Biz Kids Expo is dedicated to teaching youth how to launch and operate a business, fostering critical life skills, financial literacy, and personal success. Finalists didn’t just walk away with valuable executive feedback—they competed for tangible seed money to get their ideas off the ground.
Seed funding ranging from $500 to $1,500 was awarded to the top three finalists to directly finance and scale their ventures.
For Summit Broadband, participating in the panel underscores a deep commitment to community engagement, local education, and economic development.
“The event showcased the creativity, determination, and entrepreneurial drive of our local youth,” said Kurt Van Wagenen. “It was an honor to support these students through business feedback and mentorship. Congratulations to all of the inspiring young entrepreneurs who took the stage — the future of local business is very bright.”
