Four Midwest Student Founders Advance to NFTE National Showcase
New York – October 27, 2026 -- Four students from Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and Michigan have won places at the National Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase on Nov. 18, 2026, at the Marriott Marquis in New York City, the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) announced. Winners emerged from Midwest showcases in St. Louis, Chicago and satellite competitions, where students pitched to panels of judges, community leaders and business professionals.
Four ventures span AI, media, hardware and gig-style work platforms
Malik Oladokun of Thornwood High School in South Holland, Illinois, advances with Helply, an AI-powered platform that connects young people with community service opportunities. Jayla Moore of STEAM Academy of McCluer South-Berkeley High School in Ferguson, Missouri, is bringing Mindset, a storytelling platform built around fictional and relatable stories, reflection and anonymous engagement.