Young girls emitted creative sparks at the Latinitas Startup Chica conference at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in South Austin on April 11. Girls 9-14 years old participated in the annual event by hatching entrepreneurial wellness ideas that they pitched to a panel of judges.
Throughout the day, six groups of 10 girls each developed their pitches as they moved from brainstorming to budgeting and marketing. To gain inspiration, they broke for periodic pep talks by entrepreneurial guest speakers, including Fernanda Góvez of Celzo Drinks and Andrea Nucete-Elliot, the founder of TIY Product.
By day’s end, the girls devised and pitched diverse ideas. Highlights included Blooming, a menstrual cycle tracking app; Clip Gloss Beauty, a sweat-proof lip gloss for athletes; and CHS Academy, a community wellness center focused on expression through therapy and art.
“I think it’s so powerful that we have an opportunity to make a difference in these girls’ lives,” said Gabriela Kane, executive director of the event’s sponsor: local nonprofit Latinitas. “This is an opportunity for the girls to explore what their interests are, for them to make new friends, for them to be curious, and this is a really safe and inviting space to do that.”
Latinitas was founded in 2002 and the Startup Chica conference has been around since 2016. The organization works to empower girls through camps and afterschool activities laden with an entrepreneurial mix of science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Startup Chicas judges assessed how effectively the wellness business goals of each team aligned with their marketing plans. After careful deliberation, they awarded the main Startup Chica prize to the menstrual Blooming app. Each of its team members received $100. Fruit Pop, a kid-focused drink, won the Dell Innovation Award. CHS Academy landed the eBay Philanthropic Award. A recycling business called Crayoncitas won Eaton Sustainability Recognition.
Credit: Arwen Pelletier
The contestants reacted to each award announcement with joyous jumps and shrieking.
Many girls have repeatedly participated in Startup Chica since its inception 10 years ago. Lilli Aguirre, a 14-year-old attendee who worked on the Blooming app, has attended the event for six years. Her team also won the Startup Chica prize six years ago for an aromatherapy-infused stone necklace.
Aguirre said what keeps her coming back is seeing the event’s impact on new recruits.
“I love seeing the young girls come into Latinitas,” Aguirre said. “Sometimes they’re younger than me, and I’m just impressed, and I think they’re going to do so many great things, it’s really awe-inspiring to see.”
With the girls’ creativity drained at the end of the day, Latinitas awarded a graduation certificate to Startup Chica veteran Lola Rodriguez.
“Latinitas has made me strong and confident,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Nonprofits like these do so much for your future. And what you learn today will be your future. I just know Latinitas will keep growing and helping so many young women.”
Credit: Arwen Pelletier
Arwen Pelletier is a junior at McCallum High School, where she’s the opinion editor of the student-run publication, The Shield. She has won awards for her opinion commentary and community coverage.
Source: Austin Free Press
