Shark Tank Pitch Competition
Bloomfield High School
Bloomfield
June 6, 2024
I hadn’t been back to Bloomfield High School, my alma mater, in at least a decade. What better reason to return to my old stomping grounds than to see the brilliance of the next generation of Warhawks on full display?
Three finalists were competing in a Shark Tank competition, where they pitted their business ideas against each other for a shot at some serious money.
Unlike the Shark Tank show that the competition models itself after, the program is designed to nurture and develop young Black entrepreneurs. All three finalists would be walking away with at least $1,000 to support their goals.
“We want to show these young people that people are willing to support you. All you have to do is put yourself out there,” said Chris Prescott, the school to career Specialist at BHS and the driving force behind the Shark Tank competition.
It was still a competition, and from the quality of the work all three students put forth, it was clear that they all intended to take home the grand prize of $2,500.
The presentations kicked off with Trezir Johnson, a junior, introducing the three judge panel to his clothing line, Saintly Apparel. Trezir wasn’t satisfied with simply slapping his logo onto the same old clothes. His goal is to bring high fashion design and quality to people at an affordable price. He’s already achieved success, with his brand reaching customers all the way in California, on top of the $4,200 worth of in-person sales he’s made.
Trezir’s coach, Ahmya Andrea, CEO of Ahmya Artistry, was proud of how far all the students had come during the six weeks of the program which led up to the competition.
“Everybody has been able to be more confident about their business plan, and how to go about it,” she said. “They’ve also started talking about the money they make in terms of profit, and not just revenue.”
Next was senior Jazlin Wilson, owner of the eponymous Jazlin the Stylist, a hair and beauty business. Even at the young age of 17, Jazlin has been honing her craft for years, taking on internships and classes to learn how to be a cosmetologist. She started her Instagram page in 2020 at the age of 13, to remind her followers that their natural hair is beautiful. That sentiment dovetails with the motto of her business, “Helping people to look their best so that they can feel their best.” She has already amassed over one thousand followers on Instagram, and wants to base her business in Bloomfield where she sees a lack of cosmetologists who can work with thick, natural hair.
Last but not least was sophomore Raheem Barclay, the owner and founder of Barclay’s Dream Home Design. Raheem described himself as “a 15-year-old boy from Jamaica who’s trying to make his community better while getting paid.” He has two years of experience in technical drawing and AutoCAD, which he uses to help customers who want anything from a kitchen makeover to a brand new home designed from the ground up. Raheem offers affordable and negotiable rates for his customers, as his stated goal is that he cares more about the people than the money. Yet he still wants to make money, and has a dual track for performing affordable renovations which are subsidized by high-end home design work.
Indya Wilson, owner of Refined Twist bartending and catering business and Raheem’s coach, said that seeing the students bring their planning and ideas to fruition for the pitch competition was one of the best parts of the program.
“The students get to see that they have a circle of people around them that will guide them and help them get to the next step,” she said.
After each student’s five-minute presentation, the judges deliberated. It had to be tough for them, because I had no idea who would be the winner. Finally, after an agonizingly long wait, the winner was announced. Trezir triumphed, taking home the grand prize of $2,500. But as everyone said, although there was a winner, the goal was to support everyone. Jazlin won $1,500 for her runner-up performance, and Raheem earned $1,000 for third.
Watching these bright young people made me laugh at what a knucklehead I’d been in high school. I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, and these students have already earned more accolades and followers than many people three times their age. It’s popular for elders to decry the state of the youth, but from what I saw in Bloomfield, we should be less concerned about the newer generation letting us down, and more concerned about them showing us up.
NEXT
There’s a bunch of stuff happening in Hartford on Saturday, so stay tuned!
