William Clark

(from left) Ellis McKenzie and Sol Martin, creators of Natures Nails along with Dhruv Naik, field questions from the judges after their presentation on May 21. The group won first place.

Methacton High School’s (MHS) INCubatoredu teams presented their final pitches on May 21 in the lower library. Eight teams put forward their self-created products. The goal was simple, to win money to take their business to the next level. 

The Methacton Education Foundation donates funds every year to the MHS INCubatoredu program, an  experiential learning curriculum that tasks students with identifying a problem. 

From there a team produces a product or service that attempts to solve that problem via a startup business. Using a blend of LEAN methodology and foundational business topics, along with the support of industry experts within the community, students are exposed to all aspects of creating a viable business. 

The class is directed by Mr. Michael Urbassik who organizes pitch dates, guest speakers and mentors to assist the different teams.

Each group’s first pitch took place in early April, after spending the first half of the year developing their products which had to be ready by this month. Each group receives a different amount of funding following their first pitch. Those amounts are determined by judges based on their review of the group’s pitch and requested amount. 

Then, the teams inform judges on what they did with that funding in a shark tank style pitch, attempting to gain more money to continue their business. A board of advisors composed of local business leaders outfit as judges for the event. That panel poses questions to the teams to  determine whether their business concepts are worthy of investment.

The groups create a primary asking price which includes money to create the product to be available to show for the final pitch. Then, for the final pitch, each group asks for more money, but judges typically only split checks to the top two teams. 

MHS’s eight teams were as follows:

• Club Casual

  

• Stay Stocked
• Natures Nails
• Waffle Your Way
• extendGOAL
• Magnitude
• McMaster’s Landscaping & Odd Jobs
• Sleevees

At their post-presentation meeting, the five judges came to a decision. Stay Stocked took second place; Nature’s Nails placed first. 

Business Additional Information:

Club Casual

Team members: Mason Conrad, Jobin Gill, Christi Thomas, Billy Lund

Idea: Club Casual is a golf attire company selling shirts specifically

Problem they wished to solve in the industry: Obsolete logos, limited options, overpriced

Solution: trendy, minimalist, affordable

Stay Stocked

Team members: Jillian McTamney, Evan Jones, and Nick Remish

Idea: Stay Stocked is a rental property stocking company that focuses on conveniencing property owners’ lives easier and improving properties’ reviews 

Problem they wished to solve: Failing to provide necessities to vacationers, owners’time constraints, poor reviews from renters 

Solution: Boxes filled with cooking and cleaning supplies delivered to the doors of rental properties

Natures Nails

Team members: Sol Martin, Dhruv Naik and Ellis McKenzie

Idea: Nail product that prevents unhealthy nails and nail-biting habits

Problem they wished to solve: Unhealthy nails, nail biting and stress

Solution: Natural oil polish promoting growth and inhibiting biting 

Waffle Your Way

Team members: Stephen McGrath, Rickey Elliott, Tim Neary, Michael Levitt

Idea: Sourdough waffle sales

ExtendaGOAL

Team members: Harry Collins, Shawn Dougherty, Annabella Young, Anika Suresh

Idea: A goal that can change sizes and formations for a multitude of sports

Problem they wished to solve: Multi-sport incompatibility goals, lack of portability, storage

Solution: Telescoping technology, multiple sizes, easy transport

Magnitude

Team members: Bella Catania, Alexandra Dobai, Izzy Ketterer & Tyler 

Idea: Revolutionizing jewelry

Problem they wished to solve: Unattractive designs, bracelets that tarnish, stubborn clasps

Solution: Trendy and unique styles, magnetic clasps, tarnish-resistant bracelets

McMaster’s Landscaping & Odd Jobs

Team members: Carmine Maro, Jake McMaster, Vito Parisi

Idea: Landscaping and other odd job company that works with the local community to help people who avoid, or who cannot do yard work.

Problem they wished to solve: lacking the time and/or unwillingness to maintain yards, elderly who lack assistance, lack of supplies

Solution: Provide the following services: grass cutting, mulching, weeding, junk removal, bush/small tree removal, etc.

Sleevees

Team members: Brandon Lee, Chris Colabelli, and Cameron Cauffman

Idea: Athletic hoodie that has detachable sleeves via a zipper.

Problem they wished to solve in the industry: adapting to weather, shedding/adding clothing at moment’s notice. 

Solution: Two-in-one hoodie, removable and reattachable sleeves.

Below is a description of each of this year’s judges.

James Aronow recently retired from his role as VP of Sales for DASL Mid-Atlantic at Disney Ad Sales, part of Disney General Entertainment Content. 

Dr. Winifred Hayes is the founder and chief executive officer of Hayes Inc., a health technology research and consulting firm.  She has been engaged with the INCubatoredu program since it began at MHS and has been instrumental in the origins and ongoing success of the course.

Susan Smith is an entrepreneur and owner of the jewelry business Loopty Hoops. She has been engaged with the INCubatoredu program since it began at MHS. In addition to her role on the Board of Advisors, she has served as a guest instructor in the class, sharing her experience in marketing.

Wendy Williams is the owner of Williams & Co. Jewelers. Her business has been part of the Skippack, PA community for 33 years.

Joe Gorla is a Senior Financial Analyst in the Global Products & Solutions division at Cencora in Conshohocken, PA.