Lake Forest High School Foundation
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​$10,000 AWARDED AT PITCH NIGHT
ADDITIONAL $15,000 PLEDGED BY INVESTORS

PITCH NIGHT 2019: 3 TEAMS WALK AWAY WITH FUNDING

$10K from the LFHS Foundation & $15K in pledges from Investors 

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On June 3, 2019 four teams did their best to persuade the audience to invest in their businesses. All four teams presented polished pitches and three walked away with some funding. The LFHS Foundation had agreed up front to provide $10,000 in prize money. During the event other investors stepped up to provide an additional $15,000. Dignified Designs was awarded the Foundation Cup and $13,500, Solis UVC Purifications was awarded Best Pitch and $4,500 and PureGear left with $7,000 in funding. ​

FOUNDATION CUP WINNER

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FUNDING: $13,500
Funding Sources:
LFHS Foundation Award $7,500
Investors $6,000
Founded by: Leonardo Castaneda, Connor Milliman, Sabrina Siegel, Margo Thornberry 
Mentor: Stuart Scholly

​DIGNIFIED DESIGNS WEBSITE
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BEST PITCH WINNER

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FUNDING: $4,500
Funding Sources:
Investors $4,500

Founded by: Dylan Cofer, Jeremy Hughes, Ally Page, Chase Rupprecht
Mentor: Ross Chaifetz

​SOLIS WEBSITE
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FUNDING: $7,000
Funding Sources:
LFHS Foundation Award $2,500
Inverstors $4,500

Founded by: Sarah Borland, Josh Cha, Hunter Dee, Luke Paschke and Henry Ridgway
Mentor: Nicole Mowad-Nassar

PUREGEAR WEBSITE
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Post Pitch Night Updates

Congratulations!
Dignified Designs has been chosen as a finalist to compete July 17th at the INCubatoredu National Pitch Competition. They are the 2nd team in a row from LFHS that has been chosen as a finalist. This year they were up against 40 other teams!! ​
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LFHS Foundation is proud to support SOLIS UVC Purifications as they travel to Austin for the SXSW EDU Student Start Up Competition. This is a national competition and the team is one of only five teams selected out of thousands applicants. A true testament to the success of our partnership with LFHS supporting the Business Incubator from the start in 2014. 
Link to SOLIS website  https://www.solisuvc.com/
Link to SXSW EDU  https://www.sxswedu.com/competitions/student-startup/
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UPDATE: Due to the global pandemic the South by Southwest EDU Student Start Up Competition was cancelled.
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SOLIS receiving a grant to travel to SXSW
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Post Pitch Night Update: 
Heaven 'n Heels Sets Up GoFundMe Page
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Heaven n' Heels is a modular shoe that converts from a high heel to a flat. Our business was created by students at Lake Forest High School: Julia Hender, Lino Caputo, Ella Witmer, Konrad Ziaja, and Connor Higgins. We've worked really hard all year to develop our product and now it’s time to bring it to life.  Every dollar towards our business counts.  Help allow beauty and comfort to be synonymous for women everywhere!
https://www.gofundme.com/heaven-n039-heels
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2018-19 BUSINESS INCUBATOR TEAMS
Here's what we learned about these businesses during the academic pitches they gave to earn their spots on the Pitch Night stage. 
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Dignified Designs has found a way to preserve the dignity of elderly people with disabilities by altering their clothing so they are capable of dressing themselves.  Inspired by one teammate’s grandfather who gradually lost his ability to take care of himself after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, the company’s unique solution to a long-vexing problem thrilled both caregivers and patients who tried it. They felt it was particularly important that elderly customers would be able to alter their existing clothing rather than buy it all new. Family members and nurses said that elderly people who have lost some dexterity in their hands just want to be able to dress themselves without frustration.  The solution: magnetic button-down shirts, and pants with Velcro or elastic waist bands that can accommodate weight loss from prolonged illness. The company’s market is growing because people are living longer with dementia and physical disabilities.  The company also can provide GPS tracking inside the clothing, or in shoes, so that each customer holds on to some of their independence, but family or caregivers will be alerted if they wander outside a prescribed geographical area.  The company has truly found a way for customers with disabilities, often due to aging, to maintain some important parts of their independence and, just as importantly, their dignity. 
Founded by: Leonardo Castaneda, Connor Milliman, Sabrina Siegel, Margo Thornberry
Mentor: Stuart Scholly
https://shopdignifieddesig.wixsite.com/mysite
https://www.facebook.com/Dignified-Designs-2227181154195111
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Puregear has developed a device they call, “the at-home odor eliminator for sports equipment.” It deodorizes and sanitizes sports gear without using any chemicals. This team of student athletes is offering a solution for families of athletes whose cars, mudrooms, basements and homes are filled the offensive odors being emitted by their sports equipment. Rather than just covering up the odor, PureGear uses UL certified infrared film to heat the gear in an insulated container, thus eliminating the odor and killing bacteria at the same time. This system accomplishes all this in just over an hour without the wear and tear to the equipment that can happen when gear is repeatedly washed with detergents. The second-generation prototype was developed this spring with input and feedback from families that used one of PureGear’s three first-generation prototypes in an initial trial. During the trial all participants were satisfied with the product and, following the trial, they all signed up to pre-order the PureGear device. During the trial process this team brought in revenue of $360 which they have donated to the LFHS Foundation. The current version of the PureGear device is large enough to hold a significant amount of gear while at the same time small enough to easily fit in a corner of your garage or basement.  PureGear currently has 75 pre-orders for their product. 
Founded by: Sarah Borland, Josh Cha, Hunter Dee, Luke Paschke and Henry Ridgway
Mentor: Nicole Mowad-Nassar
https://www.puregearsports.com/ https://www.facebook.com/PureGearSports/
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Heaven N' Heels challenges the accepted wisdom that ‘beauty is painful.’  Fighting back against what women have been told for centuries, this team dared to dream that beauty could be synonymous with comfort. So, they created high-heeled shoes that magically transform to flats with simple removable and locking heels. Inspired by prom night where the girls kicked off their dancing shoes within minutes, the creators of Heaven ’n Heels have married practicality and fashion, creating an affordable shoe that serves two purposes, and can even accept multiple heel heights. The engineering brain behind the design is a CAD Engineering student who first created a drawing and then, using the Makerspace and the 3-D printer, created the first prototype of the replacement heels.  The equipment for the CAD Engineering class and the Makerspace were provided through past LFHS Foundation grants. The team has plans to patent the design and is working with a shoe-maker to stand up its manufacturing operation over the next 3 to 4 months.  The company should launch online in 2019.
Founded by: Lino Caputo, Julia Hender, Ella Witmer, Konrad Ziaja
Mentors: Julie Currie, Jeff Folker
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www.heavennheels.shop
https://www.facebook.com/heavennheels.shop/
https://www.instagram.com/heavennheels/
heavennheels1@gmail.com
https://www.gofundme.com/heaven-n039-heels

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Solis has designed a water bottle that will purify and filter water from any source, on the go. It is ideal for travelers and hikers alike. They say it’s as simple as pour, press, purify. This team of outdoor enthusiasts and travelers was inspired by their own experiences, one of which being the near fatal aftermath of drinking contaminated water while on vacation experienced by one team member. The Solis water bottle lid contains a UVC LED system that uses light bouncing around inside the aluminum water bottle to eliminate micro-organisms and viruses from the water in just a couple of minutes. Then the sterilized water passes through a charcoal filtration membrane to remove any inorganic sediments in the water as it is ingested. This system ensures LOG 6 water purification. Solis has developed a fully functioning prototype and has established relationships with a number of manufacturers from whom they will source the parts needed to manufacture its water bottle. What makes this water purification system unique is that, rather than simply removing or filtering out microorganisms and viruses, it actually kills them while also filtering out any remaining sediments. It could become the most efficient and effective product of its kind available to consumers. 
Founded by: Dylan Cofer, Jeremy Hughes, Ally Page, Chase Rupprecht
Mentor: Ross Chaifetz
www.solisuvc.com
https://www.facebook.com/SolisUVC/

Additional 2018-10 Teams 

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ATHLEATE is a snack stand that provides a Convenient and Accessible way for hungry student athletes to purchase the food they need before their after-school activities.
Founded by: William Fox, Grace Gescheidle, Jack Prager, Jacen Riedel, Brody Waligora
Mentor: Michael Reinhardt
https://sites.google.com/lfschools.net/athleate/home
https://www.instagram.com/Athleate_/

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Grade A Compost is the food waste recycling service that provides eco-friendly fertilizer made from student food waste to school administrators who need a better way to deal with food waste and chemical fertilizers reducing food waste and providing an environmentally friendly system of landscaping that saves money and protects the school community. Grade A Compost converts student food waste into eco-friendly compost which is then sold back to the school in order to reduce waste and eliminate chemical landscaping products. This will elevate the sustainability of the school community and allow both public and private schools to save money and protect the health of students and staff.
Founded by: Camy Esplin, Kai Kroeger, Ella Marquart, Sebastian Puerto and Carrie Saginur
Mentors: Sean Leahy and Jim Rhomberg
https://www.gradeacompost.com/
https://www.facebook.com/gradeacompost/


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NoteNow Case is the first case with a digital notepad on the back with the ability to erase your own customized work with the tap of a button.
Founded by: James Barbour, Alex Huddlestun, Alyssa Marquis, Ethan Nicholas, Nick Remissong
Mentor: Sean Jordan
www.notenowphonecase.com
https://www.facebook.com/NoteNowCase/
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Buzzy is an app that shows how long you’d wait in line at any restaurant or store before even arriving. Buzzy’s color-coded indicators and unique interface sets us apart from any other app already out there.
Founded by: Caroline Allard, Asher Anderson, Stephen Bradley, Rylie Mills, Patrick Moorhead
Mentor: Corbett Lamb
www.buzzy.blog
https://www.facebook.com/Buzzy-Co-403161810422638/
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https://www.instagram.com/buzzy_co_/
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Healthy Handoff is a healthy food delivery service for students after school before their afterschool activities. We will deliver fresh quality food to students so that they will have the energy they need to perform well in their after-school activities. Whether it's before a sports practice, a theater rehearsal, a club, or anything else, if you need energy after school, we will have it for you.
Founded by: Owen Douglass, Sam Marquart, Shane Rodriguez, Christina Sendik
Mentor: Phil Gayter
https://www.thehealthyhandoff.com/
https://www.facebook.com/healthyhandoff/
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Ready Set Scan provides an allergy scanning app that detects dietary restrictions off of barcodes for individuals who are nutritionally conscious, have dietary limitations and food allergies who want food awareness and peace of mind knowing that what they eat is safe and healthy.
Founded by: Oliver Akintade, Annabelle Lamb, Jackson Meadows, Lillie Michael, Lucy Surkamer
Mentor: Tom Condon
www.readysetscan.com
https://www.facebook.com/readysetscan/
https://www.instagram.com/ready.set.scan/
Walker Buds is a dog walking and dog sitting service in the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff area. We are filled with local, familiar faces from Lake Forest High School and Lake Forest College to ensure that your dog is in good hands. We can promise you and your pup love and care when you’re not there.
Founded by: Lexie Conley, Culann MacSeain, Charlotte Yehle
Mentor: Mike O’Biala
https://2030033.wixsite.com/walkerbuds
https://www.facebook.com/WalkerBuds-1967860676843606/
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The Car Caterers provide a quality oil change at our customers desired location. This saves our customers the time and hassle associated with the traditional oil change. The Car Caterers eliminate the need for a boring waiting room and allow the customer to be more productive.
Founded by: Alex Ignas, Trevor Mower, Ian Schuler
Mentor: Hal Davis
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thecarcaterers.com
https://www.facebook.com/The-Car-Caterers-489875908087147/


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InfraGrow is a company that makes table-top herb and vegetable gardens that work without soil and with revolutionary infrared technology that exemplifies plant growth and kills bacteria. An InfraGrow garden is perfect for people without access to a backyard but still want to be able to grow their own fresh herbs and vegetables from inside their home, all year round.
Founded by: Andrew Crawford, Sean Elesh, Lara Keim, Vivian Popov
Mentor: Jim Kuehnle
www.infragrowgardens.com
https://www.facebook.com/infragrowgardens/
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Secure Dose is an automated pill box that allows elderly people to take the exact medication needed and links up to an app that notifies family members on the status of their loved one's medication through text messaging. The physical pill box has features such as locking capsules that prevent against accidental overdosing or taking the incorrect medication. The box will also issue a sound alert to notify the user that it is time to take their medication.
Founded by: Adam Cardos, Katie Gilcrest, Julia Loeger, Kiki Wood
Mentor: Mike Calogero
https://2070589.wixsite.com/securedose
https://www.facebook.com/securedosebox/
https://www.instagram.com/secure_dose/
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Cross Post Partners provides a community based online service that sells customers’ unwanted items across different online platforms, all to save customers’ time. Our service simply takes care of the process of selling items for you. Simply select one of our packages, take a few minutes to give us some information, and make easy money while you make space for the things that are important in your life.
Founded By: Elena Erkenswick, Connor Higgins, Ryan Nevin, Catherine Pasquella, Nate Schmitt
Mentor:  Mark Gasche, Michelle Gramza
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Website: https://www.crosspostpartners.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crosspostpartners/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/crosspostpartners

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LOCAL-O is an online service that supports local businesses by providing the inventory of local stores in on convenient website and quickly delivering the store’s products to the customers.
Founded by: Julia Knipfer, Jake Kovanda, Scott Notz, and Ojaswee Singal
Mentor: Greg Strauss
For businesses:  https://2070581.wixsite.com/shoplocalo
For customers: https://sites.google.com/lfschools.net/localo/home
Facebook: @LOCALO
Instagram @shoplocalo
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Simple Smart Lock is a security system that covers an existing door lock, makes door entry simple, and allows identification of people on a homeowner’s property for homeowners who find keys difficult to deal with, are concerned about leaving their doors unlocked, and are worried about home security. It consists of a locking device that easily retrofits over a deadbolt knob and a smartphone application.
Founded By: Eleni Ballis, Michael Clarke, Alex Mutter, Alex Slomba, Keaton Wilhelm
Mentor: Abby Clark
simplesmartlock.com
https://www.facebook.com/simplesmartlock https://www.instagram.com/simplesmartlock/
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We are grateful to all of the coaches, mentors & judges who have given so generously of their time and talents to support and teach this year's teams. None of this would be possible without you!
2018-19 COACHES

​Mark W. Allen
Owner / President / CEO
CPS (Computer Power Systems, LLC)

Paul Best
Principal
PDB Consulting

George Day
Co-founder, CEO
IQ Fibers

Catherine Driscoll 
President/Owner
RED Communications, LLC

Jennifer Gattari
Senior Director, On Market Strategy 
Pfizer

Tim Hender, CFP®
Wealth Management Advisor
Northwestern Mutual

Corey Holmer 
Educational Technologist - EdTech Studio
Lake Forest High School

Tom Horan
Senior Director,
Cloud and Managed Services Sales
Meridian IT, Inc.

Brian Martin 
Head of AI in R&D Information Research, Senior Principal Data Scientist
AbbVie
Jennifer McGregor 
IIDA, LEED, AP
Michael Obiala
Financial Services Executive
Gina Price
Director of Marketing 
NetSpi

Doug Warren
Faculty 
Lake Forest Graduate School of Management

 


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2018-19 MENTORS

​Michael Calogero

Senior Vice President
Medline

Ross Chaifetz
Director of Venture Capital at 
Chaifetz Group, 
Director of Strategy at 
ComPsych Corporation
Chaifetz Group

Abby Clark
President, COI; Creator of Ideas
Absolutely Creative Promotions

Tom Condon
Managed Services Practice | Pre-Sales
EY

Julie Currie
Principal
Full Contact Management Consulting

Hal Davis
Owner
Collision Solution

Jeff Folker
Realtor
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group

Mark Gasche
Founder, Career Coach and Consultant
North Shore Career Management

Phil Gayter
Creative Director
Brandstorm 57

Michelle Gramza
Founder and Chief Sales Officer
Together With Baby

Sean Jordan
Consultant
Johnson & Johnson, Incorporated

Jim Kuehnle
President
Clover’s Garden Center LLC

Corbett Lamb
Founder + Chief Executive Officer
Inneraction Communications + Fresh Green Light

Sean Leahy
Director of Business Development
American Hotel Register Company

Nicole Mowad Nassar
Vice President,
Commercial Analytics and Operations

AbbVie
Mike Obiala
Financial Services Executive
Michael Reinhardt
Wealth Management Advisor, 
Senior Vice President
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

Jim Rhomberg
Vice President Internal Audit
AbbVie
Stuart Scholly
Tech CEO/President/General Manager/COO
Greg Strauss
Director 
FAST Network, BCBS Medicare Advantage and Medicaid Quality and Operational Success


2018-19 JUDGES 

Chris Bauder
Chief Executive Officer 
Weiman Products, LLC

Pete Clemens
Healthcare Executive, Retired
Baxter, Siemens, Becton-Dickinson

Sally Davis
Attorney
SC Johnson

Michelle Gramza
Founder and Chief Sales Officer
Together With Baby

Rebecca Jenkins
Assistant Superintendent Growth, 
Talent and Human Relations
Lake Forest Schools

Alice LeVert
Senior Client Executive 
Media|Entertainment|Technology|Strategic Accounts
Verizon Business Group

Jay Lenstrom
Partner
theBench.us

Keith Stolgren
Retired
Retirement Community Executive
Bob Vogrich
Partner, Actuary, Consultant, Retired
Hewitt Associates

Alan Wahlert
Director of Teaching & Learning
Lake Forest High School

Laura Werner
Real Estate Investments & Broker
Former Retail Executive


2019 PITCH NIGHT
JUDGES PANEL


​Chris Bauder

Chief Executive Officer
Weiman Products, LLC
Jay Lenstrom
EVP
ShiftGig
Alice LeVert
Senior Client Executive 
Media | Entertainment | Technology | Strategic Accounts
Verizon Enterprise Solutions
Steven Whittington
Founder and CEO
LifeWorking Coworking
Jeff Yehle
Senior Director, Client Management
Willis Towers Watson


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2018-19 ACCELERATOR MENTORS
The Business Accelerator is the senior level honors course for teams that move forward with their business plans after winning at Pitch Night or securing investors. 

​Paul Best

Principal
PDB Consulting
Mike Galeski
Senior Manager, Sports Marketing
UL
Brian O’Keane
Consultant
Marty Vander Velde
Experienced commercialization and
Business development professional
Rob Wilder
Servant Leader | Entrepreneur
Wilder Management Inc. & 
Plan Z Sports LLC 


2018-19 FILL-IN MENTORS
These volunteers fill-in when mentors are temporarily unavailable to meet with their teams. 
​

Samantha Borland
Client Success Specialist
Traction® Tools
Corey Holmer
Educational Technologist - 
EdTech Studio

Lake Forest High School
Geoff Surkamer
Chief Revenue Officer
Identity Automation 

Doug Warren
Faculty
Lake Forest Graduate School of Management

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Pitch Night Sponsors

Thank you to all of our sponsors for their generous donations to Pitch Night 2019!
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MVP 

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UNDERWRITING

GENERAL 


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WHY DONATE?
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SPOTLIGHT ON GRANTS
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BUSINESS INCUBATOR
FORMS & APPLICATIONS
GRANT APPLICATION - ONLINE FORM

FINAL GRANT REPORT

LFHS FOUNDATION TRUSTEE APPLICATION

BUSINESS INCUBATOR COACH/MENTOR APPLICATION

CALENDAR OF EVENTS



JANUARY 20, 2023 @ 5PM GRANT APPLICATIONS DEADLINE

MARCH 3, 2023 GRANT DAY
​

APRIL 28, 2023  CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION SPRING LUNCHEON NEW DATE

MAY 18, 2023   PITCH NIGHT - INVESTORS WELCOME!
DONATE TODAY
LFHS Foundation • P.O. Box 148, Lake Forest, IL 60045 • lfhsfoundation@gmail.com
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