CAMBRIDGE, MA—Deadline for applying for TyE-Boston program for high schoolers is July 29. Winners from TyE-Boston will participate in TYE Global Final Business Competition 2017. In addition, TiE-Boston gives away $10,000 in prize money to local winners, TiE-Boston officials said.
“We are excited to be able to accept 25 percent more students this year,” said Pallavi Singh, Chair of TyE-Boston. “We always get great applications, and hate turning away students. Our ability to increase our class size so much this year is thanks to our dedicated teachers and mentors.”
A number of TyE-Boston teams have won in the global competition. Chillvax, the winning team from TyE-Boston 2016, won third place and $1,000 in prize money at the TyE Global Competition held in Portland, Oregon. Chilvaxx strives to save lives by optimizing delivery of vaccines to rural areas with the aim to prevent disabilities and death due to lack of vaccines for preventable diseases.
“TyE gave me the opportunity to innovate and collaborate at a level I never attempted before. This innovation and collaboration gave me insight into handling team dynamics while developing an innovative product as well as a viable business model,” said Abhi Sambangi, CTO of Chilvaxx. “Through TyE I have been inspired to invent solutions to real world problems while keeping the value of social entrepreneurship in mind.”
In 2015, TyE-Boston team Bijli Energy won first place and $7,500 in prize money at the TyE Global Competition held in Atlanta, GA. Bijli Energy is a social enterprise with the idea to implement Micobial Fuel Cells that generate electricity from organic waste in the 25,000 villages in India that don’t have access to electricity.
In 2013, TyE Boston team Aajit Power won first prize audience choice and 3rd overall. Aajit Power produces centrifugal cylindrical turbine units for trucks mounted inside aerodynamic enclosures known as fairings. The product converts the kinetic energy from the incoming air particles into electricity that is used to charge the battery of the truck, thereby reducing the use of fossil fuels.
“We get such a diverse range of applicants for TyE every year and it’s so amazing to witness the progress they make from the start of the program to the final pitches; It is never too early to learn skills that help entrepreneurs,” said Anuradha Yadav, Executive Director, TIE-Boston. “Any high school student who is interested in learning about entrepreneurs and startups should apply.”
Gaugarin Oliver, TiE-Boston Charter Member and TyE mentor and coach to TyE global winning teams in 2015 and 2013, urged high schoolers to apply and learn about entrepreneurship through the TyE-Boston program.
“TyE is one among my favorite programs at TiE-Boston. It is amazing to see how the program that was started in Boston has grown to chapters around the world,” said Oliver. “Every year, the high school students come up impressive ideas and make incredibly professional presentation to the judging panel.”
Suneha Kadimdiwan is Program Manager for TyE-Boston. She can be reached at suneha@boston.tie.org. Deadline for application is Friday, July 29, 2016. For application and more information, visit: tye-boston.org .
