Summer 2005

The latest news and
information about the
BizWorld Foundation.

BizAcademy students pitch their ideas to San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom

Watch out Silicon Valley, there is a new generation of
entrepreneurs out there! This June, the BizWorld Foundation
launched its first ever BizAcademy, a week-long intensive business and entrepreneurship program for high school students.

Created in collaboration with Salesforce.com/foundation, the philanthropic arm of one of the Bay Area’s leading companies, the program was designed to teach students the in’s and out’s of the business process by allowing them to participate in the real thing. Unlike the original BizWorld program, in which students sell their products for BizBucks in a closed marketplace, the BizAcademy students used real money and real people to learn what it takes to make it in the business world.

As participants in the week-long intensive program, students formed companies, secured funding from real Silicon Valley venture capitalists, designed, manufactured and marketed their products, and sold their wares to the passersby at One Market Suite Plaza in downtown San Francisco.

“We’re thrilled to offer these students a unique opportunity to bolster their entrepreneurial instincts and learn what it takes to launch a successful business,” said Marc Benioff, the Chairman and CEO of salesforce.com.

The students were equally excited to take part in the program. As one student remarked, “It was great hands-on experience and I feel very lucky to have had this opportunity.”

Both BizWorld and Salesforce.com/foundation were delighted by the success of the program and the enthusiasm of its participants, and hope to replicate the pilot program in the summer of 2006.

Read the full press release
Read the article in the San Francisco Examiner

Chris Sombrano, President of iDesign, and Tony Leung, VP of Sales, make a sale

More photos from BizAcademy...

Tim Draper, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, with his winning team

BizKids

Congratulations, Draper Fisher Jurvetson! After five years of competing in the BizWorld Grand Prix, the Silicon Valley VC firm finally took home the winning trophy, in a race that was closer than ever. In hot pursuit were Franklin Templeton Investments and DraperRichards, who took home the second and third place prizes.

Bringing together members of the Bay Area business community, the event highlighted the Foundation’s commitment to entrepreneurship education by featuring BizWorld’s very own BizKids. While spectators placed their bets on the race, the BizWorld students sold their BizWorld friendship bracelets for BizBucks, which were then traded in for real dollars. Prizes were awarded to the students who sold the most bracelets at the closing awards ceremony. All proceeds from the bracelets and the event went to support the BizWorld Foundation programs.

Frank Alizaga shows off his BizBucks

Jaime Jensen and Toni Stinton

More Pictures

Thank you to our generous sponsors!

This spring the BizWorld Foundation enlisted a new group of supporters, the U.S. Congress, outfitting each member with a BizWorld bracelet. Made especially for Congress by fifth grade students at Magna Elementary School in Salt Lake City , UT, the bracelets symbolized the Magna students’ business acumen, as they were asked to negotiate the deal with Scott Anderson, CEO Zion’s Bank, whose company sponsored the project. Accompanied by a letter of introduction from Representative Chris Cannon of Utah, the bracelets are one of the BizWorld Foundation’s many national outreach efforts. To date the BizWorld program has been taught in all 50 states, reaching over 100,000 students nationwide. BizWorld is very excited by the increased exposure the project has brought the Foundation.

Inspired by BizWorld: West Madison ’s Wildcat Supply Store

Congratulations to this year’s winner, Wendy Tibbs of West Madison School in Madison City, Alabama, whose students’ entrepreneurial project post-BizWorld is a testament to her incredible dedication and creativity. She has received a $250 classroom grant. Click here to read her story.

All donations help - no matter how small. Our current giving options include one-time gifts, monthly gifts, annual gifts and giving stock.

BizWorld is a 501.c.3 public charity. All donations are tax-deductible. Join our growing list of BizWorld Supporters!

Ringing the Bell!

Don’t miss it as BizWorld students ring the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange this October!

For more information, or to receive an invitation to the event to follow, send an email to info@bizworld.org

Board Member Spotlight: Hale Boggs

A founding member of the BizWorld National Board of Directors, Hale Boggs has been actively involved with the BizWorld Foundation since inception, helping to shape and direct the organization’s structure and mission.

As a partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, Hale splits his time between the firm’s Palo Alto and Los Angeles offices, where he focuses on corporate and securities matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, public and private securities offerings, venture capital transactions and joint ventures.

Click here to read the full bio.

What People are Saying about BizWorld: North Carolina State Treasurer Richard Moore

“I support quality financial education and am always in search of programs that provide individuals with the knowledge necessary to create a household budget, manage personal debt, and to start a small business. BizWorld empowers students to make informed financial decisions, and gives them the foundation they need to manage more complex financial situations in the future.”