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.
Lydia Hughes of Horizon Science Academy in Columbus, Ohio, will present Quiet Time, noise-muffling headphones designed for physical and emotional comfort. Sa’Maria Strong of International Academy of Flint in Flint, Michigan, advances with SideQuest, an app that matches students seeking income with employers offering short, paid tasks.
National winners can reach the World Finals on Nov. 19
The national event on Nov. 18 offers a path to the World Finals on Nov. 19 at 787 Seventh Avenue in New York City. Dr. Scott I. Nasatir, NFTE’s Midwest Executive Director, said the showcases reflect the "creativity, determination, and business insight" NFTE students bring to every pitch.
PayPal hosted the Chicago showcase after a decade-plus partnership with NFTE
PayPal hosted the Chicago event, which marked more than 10 years of collaboration with NFTE on expanding access to entrepreneurship education for young people in the region.
NFTE also named its Midwest award recipients: Teachers of the Year Dr. Tom Lee of Holy Trinity High School in Chicago and Albie Mitchell of SSD South Technical High School in St. Louis; Individual Volunteer of the Year Stefon Towler; and Corporate Volunteer of the Year Charles Schwab.
Five sponsors presented the Midwest showcases
Ernst & Young LLP (EY US), PayPal, the G-Unity Foundation, Santander and Zuora presented the events, with associate support from Britebound and Slalom.