The young siblings and business partners Mychael and Lia Claxton, who started the company Pizzy’s Pizza, wanted a unique recipe to present to judges at last Thursday’s Kidpreneur Expo, so they concocted a pie topped with turkey bacon and turkey sausage.
The Pizzy’s Pizza recipe might be perfect for those struggling to make ends meet, but the Claxton siblings are no longer struggling to fund their business after winning the Kidpreneur Expo’s $3,500 first prize.
Pizzy’s Pizza was one of seven businesses that presented their products and services to more than 150 people at Maria’s by the Sea last Thursday.
At the event, partners for each business were given several minutes to pitch their company, and then they took questions from the panel of three judges.
Along with Pizzy’s Pizza, the children’s apparel store Mommy’s Baby took second place and the popsicle store Tropical Illusions won third, with the businesses receiving $2,300 and $1,500 in funding, respectively.
Success stories
In its third year, the Kidpreneur Expo already has success stories.
Two prize winners from 2015 — the phone case company NSA Customs Cases and the body-care and candle company Island Aromas — are still going strong two years later.
Premier Dr. Orlando Smith was at the competition, telling the audience that he’s thrilled the initiative is helping “expand what we do here in the BVI and add more substance to the economy.”
This year’s expo was sponsored by the European Union-funded Caribbean Overseas Small and Medium Enterprises programme, which came to the Virgin Islands in 2015 to help expand small- and medium-sized companies throughout the Caribbean.
“I’d like to express sincere gratitude to COSME for supporting this very important programme, which significantly benefits our young people,” said Kidpreneur Expo founder Portia Harrigan.
COSME “Key Expert” Diana Hendrickson-Fleming said her organisation was happy to help fund a programme that gets children interested in entrepreneurship.
“When encouraging growth in an economy, it is important to build confidence and courage in youth,” she said. “Programmes such as Kidpreneur not only build youth self-esteem, but also educate youth in a real-world environment about what it takes to build a successful business.”
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