CHS students enter the Shark Tank

Carson High students got the opportunity to present potential business plans to real business owners in the community.

Billy McHenry’s business class created plans to present to a panel of community businesses and “investors” in a mock Shark Tank competition Thursday and today. Students came up with a plan for their business, where it would be located, how much revenue it would bring in and how they would advertise and the students would get feedback from the judges about the workability of their plan. The best presentation received a cash prize at the end.

McHenry started the Shark Tank competition three years ago as a final project for the class. Students received the project positively and McHenry decided to expand the program and have the students present their projects to actual community partners.

“I love what we are doing here and we have tons of people who want to help,” McHenry said.

“There’s been a lot of learning to do but it is a lot of fun.”

The students all presented their projects in class and the four best presentations in each class went in front of the panel.

Presentations ranged from a digital marketing company to an exclusive dog kennel to a high-end ski shop.

“I really liked (presenting) and putting myself out there to share my passion with other people,” said sophomore Kyla Searcy. Kyla won in her class period for her reptile rescue store plan.

Many of the students thought it was a great chance for them to talk with the panel of judges.

“It is a good opportunity to see if my idea would actually work and get some sound advice,” said sophomore Brennan Peterman. “Anyone can say (that your idea) would work, but these are actual people who can say if this would work or not.”

Panel judges consisted of representatives from the Nevada Greater Credit Union, USBank, In Plain Sight marketing and the Carson City Visitors Bureau.

“It was easier to talk in front of them (than our classmates) because they are more mature people who actually know what they are talking about (in the business world),” said sophomore Matthew Gibson. “It was cool. I feel like it may have opened doors to internships and stuff.”

The panel judges said they also got an opportunity to learn from the students about different techniques they can bring back to their own companies.

“This provides us the opportunity to learn from the presenters for how to market differently, especially to the millennials,” said Joel Dunn, executive director of the Carson City Visitors Bureau. “I was a Carson grad and I would have loved to have the opportunity to do this so it is nice to be able to give back.”