From engaging pitch competitions to inspiring Zoom workshops led by successful business leaders, senior Ellen Wang’s nonprofit organization Sunrise Venture curates free entrepreneurship education and networking opportunities for all California high schoolers.
Sunrise Venture’s goal is to debunk the myth that in order to be successful, entrepreneurs have to be experts in technology. They make high quality entrepreneurship curriculum and networking opportunities easily accessible to students, regardless of their economic background.
“The concept of creating a community of choice rather than a community of chance really inspired me,” Wang said. “I founded Sunrise Venture with the intent of giving students the same resources to mentorship and a place to realize their ideas.”
The first pitch competition was held in September 2023 with a $500 grant from the Irvine mayor Farrah Khan. In early 2024, Sunrise Venture organized several Zoom workshops, including one on crafting 90-second elevator pitches, as part of their curriculum.
“The education and mentorship opportunities provided to us were definitely impactful,” junior participant Audrey Park said. “I met with four or five mentors who were able to workshop each of our team’s concepts, and they really helped us think through our concepts to make them the best that they could be.”
The workshops prepared students, including several from Northwood, for a statewide pitch summit in May 2024, where winners were awarded seed funding to implement their projects.
“When I get to see students present their ideas and the growth they’ve experienced, I feel a great sense of joy for them,” Wang said. “I feel like I’m doing something meaningful to serve others.”
Wang was inspired to share local entrepreneurship resources with other students after taking an entrepreneurship class at Irvine Valley College during her sophomore year and joining local networking groups. She overcame the difficulties of leading a team by learning to highlight individual strengths and hold others accountable, eventually founding Sunrise Venture in November 2023.
“I love being able to share my passion for entrepreneurship because it’s not just a niche thing that business nerds look into,” Wang said. “It’s the mindset of choosing your actions no matter what your circumstances are and creating value for other people.”
Currently, Sunrise Venture is hosting VentureSpark Academy, a five session virtual workshop program that will culminate in its second pitch competition. Students learn fundamental business skills such as marketing strategies and pitch development, guided by industry experts such as CRISPx CEO Tony Crisp and Harvard Med-Tech Entrepreneur Chris Wagner.
“We’re very fortunate that in Orange County and California, there are a lot of tech industries and universities with successful entrepreneurs,” Wang said. “By joining local networking groups, my network expanded, and I just naturally got to meet these people.”
In the first round of the pitch competition, participants will submit a 90-second video pitch by April 14. On April 17, 10-15 finalists will be selected to compete in-person for a prize of up to $500 on April 26.
