For ODA scholars in Northeast Ohio, Saturday, April 25 was all about making a sale.
Scholars poured into Cleveland Heights High School carrying products, display boards, and final notes as they prepared for our 2026 Entrepreneur Showcase. While finalists for the Pitch Challenge Grand Final gathered in the green room, budding merchants set up tables featuring products they had spent weeks preparing.
Together, the Pitch Challenge Grand Final and Lemonade Day Marketplace brought Open Doors Academy’s entrepreneurship curriculum to life.
Over the past several months, scholars across ODA’s K–12 programs identified problems they wanted to solve, developed ideas, worked through sales and marketing challenges, and built confidence sharing their thinking. At the Pitch Challenge Grand Final, elementary, middle, and high school finalists presented their ideas live to a panel of judges.
Guided and introduced by emcee and Channel 5 News reporter Remi Murrey, scholars pitched ideas ranging from a mirror designed to recognize a user’s mood and respond in real time to a service that helps younger students walk home safely after school. Another scholar created gum intended to help people quit nicotine.
Our guest judges – Shanelle Smith Whigham from KeyBank, Councilman Michael Houser of Cuyahoga County Council, and ODA’s Director of Family Engagement Gina Garrett – chose three winners based on strength of idea, presentation, and creativity.
Congratulations to our 2026 Pitch Challenge Grand Final winners:
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Rylei W., 3rd grade scholar from Breakthrough Southeast for “Memory Jar”
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Brandon W., 8th grade scholar from Breakthrough Midtown for “Nova Mirror”
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London-Raine W., 9th grader from Max Hayes for “SafeLink”
Following the Pitch Challenge, finalists joined their fellow scholars for the Lemonade Day Marketplace.
Tables were filled with handmade candles, notebooks, tote bags, bracelets, bath bombs, shoe cleaner, mugs, coasters, stress balls, and more. Scholars greeted customers, explained their products, calculated totals, and made sales in real time.
“I was very, very impressed,” shared Nita Seaton, grandparent of a Breakthrough Southeast scholar. “They had excellent customer service skills, especially at such young ages.”
For Breakthrough Midtown scholar Calvin W., the experience was simple.
“Learning how to run a business and be an entrepreneur – it’s just joy.”
We are grateful to our partners at the Young Entrepreneur Institute for the curriculum and guidance, Cleveland Heights High School for hosting, and Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools partners Mr. Norman, Dr. Brandon Towns, and the security and custodial teams for helping make the day possible.
