Teen-run Business Gets a Boost from the Pros

Hackathon at Cambridge start-up helps Charlestown students develop an app

InsightSquared, a Cambridge software company, is having a Hackathon starting at 5pm tonight at its 160 Sidney Street location. The twist is that the Hackathon is for a teen-run business, APPtitude, that was launched by Charlestown High 10th graders, Stacey and Eury. These students are enrolled in BUILD, a non-profit that partners with Boston high schools to help students launch and run their own businesses as a way to inspire them to succeed in high school.

The Hackathon is a company effort to support the students, so that they can have a prototype app in time for the BUILD Student Business Expo, to be held during BUILD’s annual gala, “BUILDFest,” on December 3 at the Westin Copley Place.

InsightSquared got involved with BUILD through its CEO, Fred Shilmover, who serves as the Venture Adviser for Apptitude and provided its seed funding. Shilmover says he is happy to be able to assist young entrepreneurs and be a part of the BUILD program. “When I met [BUILD Regional Executive Director] Ayele Shakur at TUGG’s Tech Gives Back event, I knew I had to be a part of the effort. Unequal access to education creates an un-level playing field, and BUILD Boston’s program takes a step in the right direction of leveling it. I’m proud to contribute, albeit in a small way, to the effort.”  BUILD connects all of its student-run businesses to venture advisors and mentors from the business community.

BUILD students have launched hundreds of businesses since the organization was founded in California in 1999, but APPtitude is the first student team that is developing an app. The students have not decided on a final concept for their app, but their company slogan is “By Kids, For Kids.”

BUILD’s mission is to use entrepreneurship to excite and propel disengaged, low-income students through high school to college success. In its 14-year history, more than 99% of BUILD students have graduated on time, while working with schools with graduation rates often below 50%.

“To have all the employees of a company spend a whole night to support one of our student teams warms my heart,” says Shakur.  “Fred and the entire team at InsightSquared are providing even more than money and time to our students; they are providing inspirational role models, and you can’t put a price on that.”

For more information on BUILD or to get involved, visit buildinboston.org or contact Moises Cohen, mcohen@build.org, 617-600-0518.