On November 16, 2023, the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City became the center of innovation and inspiration as 23 students from 11 countries came together for Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship’s (NFTE’s) World Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge.

From tech innovations to sustainable solutions and everything in between, these young minds showcased their ingenuity, leaving a mark on the entrepreneurial landscape.

After two intense rounds of pitching, one student emerged as the winner—Raneem Al Suwaidani, a student at The Met School in Providence, Rhode Island. Raneem secured first place with her business, Lilypad, a food truck rental opportunity specifically designed for BIPOC entrepreneurs to test their culinary concepts in a low-cost and risk-free environment. Her dedication earned her a well-deserved $5,000 prize.

The second-place winner was Sindhuja Venkataraman from ENpower in India, who was awarded $1,000 for her business concept, MyRoots. Additionally, runners-up Tadeo Noguera and Sebastián Rodriguez, representing Fundación Educación para el Futuro in Argentina with their business idea, GreenBug, and Misaki Nakamura, representing Career Link in Japan with her business concept, Aladdin, received $500 each.

The 2nd Annual World Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge showcased not only the creativity of young entrepreneurs but also the potential for their ideas to shape our economic future, revolutionize traditional industries, and inspire new thinking around the use of emerging technologies.

Missed the competition? Watch it here, and don’t forget to subscribe.

Read this month’s issue of NFTE News & Updates.