Jim Walden for Mayor of New York City
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Shark Tank for NYC Kids – Unleashing Young Innovators

Picture this: every kid in New York City – every dreamer from the Bronx to Brooklyn – unleashing their ideas, building businesses, and solving problems that make our city stronger, greener and prouder. The Shark Tank for NYC Kids Program is a high-octane, citywide mission to turn kids aged 8 to 18 into innovators who can dream big — and do big things. From launching startups to tackling challenges like sustainability or powering up our electric grid, we’re giving kids tools, mentors and a stage to shine. This isn’t just a program — it’s a revolution for New York’s future.

The Plan: Three Tracks to Unleash Creativity

We’re meeting kids where they are with three action-packed tracks tailored to their age and ambition:

  • Spark Starters (Ages 8-12): Young visionaries dive into entrepreneurship with fun, hands-on projects — think designing a food truck or inventing a cool gadget. It’s all about sparking ideas and taking those first fearless steps.
  • Venture Builders (Ages 13-15): Teens level up, learning to research markets, prototype ideas and pitch like pros. They build mock businesses and test them with real-world feedback, getting ready to rock the entrepreneurial world.
  • Impact Innovators (Ages 16-18): Older teens take on New York’s toughest challenges — sustainability, carbon reduction, or electric infrastructure — crafting businesses that can make money and a difference.

What Makes It Electric?

  • Gamified App: Our AI-powered app turns learning into a thrill ride. Kids tackle challenges like pricing a product or crafting a killer pitch, earning points and instant feedback to keep them hooked.
  • Mentors Who Get It: Entrepreneurs mentor every kid, sharing real-world secrets. Impact Innovators get VIP coaching from experts in green tech or urban planning to tackle city-sized problems.
  • Digital Pitch Stage: A 24/7 online platform lets kids pitch ideas, get feedback from peers and pros, and polish their concepts. It’s their spotlight — anytime, anywhere.
  • Community Power: Kids team up with local businesses or neighborhoods on projects like community markets or recycling drives, making an impact right where they live.

The Big Show: Citywide Competition

This program is a showdown. Our competition takes kids from their neighborhoods to the city stage:

  • Neighborhood Throwdowns: Kids pitch their ideas at local schools or community centers. Winners earn street cred and a ticket to the next round.
  • Borough Brawls: Neighborhood champs face off in borough-wide battles, pitching to community leaders and business owners. The best move on.
  • Citywide Championship: The top teams go head-to-head at a citywide extravaganza, judged by entrepreneurs, city officials, and maybe even a celebrity or two. Winners score funding, mentorship, and a shot to turn their ideas into reality!
  • City Impact Award (Ages 16-18): Impact Innovators tackle New York’s biggest problems: waste reduction, EV charging networks or urban gardens for sustainability. Winners grab $5,000 grants, a pitch to the City Council, and one-on-one time with heavyweights like green tech innovators or energy experts.

Supercharging City-Solving Teens

  • Workshops: Hands-on sessions led by pros from groups like the NYC Climate Action Alliance dive into urban challenges — think zero-waste systems or next-gen electric grids.
  • Resource Hub: A digital toolbox loaded with city data (carbon emissions, grid capacity) and guides for solutions like solar panels or composting programs.
  • Real-World Testing: Teens partner with local groups to pilot ideas, like launching a recycling startup or pitching energy plans to city planners.

Lifting Up High-Crime and NYCHA Communities

We’re all in for kids in high-crime areas and NYCHA communities, ensuring they’ve got the tools to soar:

  • Safe Spaces: Program hubs in community centers, libraries, or NYCHA facilities provide secure, inspiring spots to learn and create.
  • Extra Mentors: Seeing entrepreneurs who grew up in NYCHA or have similar backgrounds — offer at least two extra sessions per kid, building trust and inspiration.
  • Scholarships and Stipends: Free access plus up to $500 stipends for kids in high-crime or NYCHA areas to cover transport, supplies or time. No barriers, just opportunity.
  • Community-Led Projects: Kids lead projects tied to their neighborhoods — like a local job board or a safety app — making their ideas hit home.
  • Outreach Teams: Dedicated staff connect with families in these communities, hosting workshops and info sessions in trusted local spots to boost participation.

How We Roll It Out

We’ll kick off with a pilot in 15 schools and 10 NYCHA community centers across all five boroughs, scaling citywide in two years. Partnerships with schools, local businesses, and groups like the NYC Climate Action Alliance keep it dynamic. We will partner with NYC businesses to fund and organize the program and bring existing youth-entrepreneurship programs into this impactful and dynamic program.

Why It’s a Game-Changer

This program is a spark for every kid, no matter their block or borough, to dream, build and lead. Picture a teen launching a green startup that cuts carbon in their neighborhood or a kid creating a community pop-up shop. We’re building skills, confidence, and a better New York City — one where kids’ ideas lead to greener blocks, smarter grids and thriving communities. Success looks like kids standing tall, businesses adopting their ideas, and neighborhoods buzzing with pride.

Let’s Make NYC Shine!

This isn’t just a program — it’s a movement to unleash New York’s youth. With a competition that roars from neighborhoods to City Hall, supports that lift every kid up, and ideas that solve real problems, we’re building tomorrow’s leaders. Ready to light up the city? Let’s do this!