Mira Costa Student To Pitch Her Business In National Competition

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Manhattan Beach resident Taylor Ryan and her Unstoppable Protective Gear could indeed prove supremely unstoppable when she competes this coming Saturday, Oct. 17 for the title of America's Next Top Young Entrepreneur at the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) 12th Annual Saunders Scholars National Competition.

The Mira Costa High School ninth grader is among 36 semifinalists who will compete virtually in the Shark Tank style pitch competition that will award more than $80,000 in cash prizes and college scholarships to the Saunders College of Business at Rochester Institute of Technology to the students with the best businesses in the U.S. More than 20 states nationwide are represented as are 35 middle and high schools.

Local viewers will be able to cast their vote for the People’s Choice Award. The other honors include 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. YEA!'s YouTube channel and Facebook live will be two places the competition can be viewed. For the first time ever, the competition will be broadcast live from Rochester, NY ABC-TV WHAM Channel 13 and will be streamed live over the web from 12 noon Eastern Time until 8 p.m. Eastern Time, with the national winner announcements at 7:55 p.m. Eastern Time. Taylor's group Panel 2 is expected to unveil her pitch in the competition on Saturday, Oct. 17 between 10:30 a.m. and 12 noon Pacific Standard Time on YouTube live.

Taylor, who joined other students enrolled in the Manhattan Beach Chamber YEA! Program, first competed locally in front of a virtual investor panel in May 2020. She was selected to represent Manhattan Beach YEA! in the national competition by judges from the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce and local business community.

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With the help of local entrepreneurs and business leaders, Taylor, an avid lacrosse player, designed, pitched and launched Unstoppable Protective Gear, which makes protective sports breast cups for women so they can play on the field without fear of being injured. “Without YEA! I would not be where I am today in my business,” said Taylor.

Taylor participated in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy seven-month youth entrepreneurship program at MCHS, presented by and in partnership with the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce. She also volunteers her time for the MB Rotary Interact Club, National Charity League and Student Council.

“We could not be more proud of the work these young people are doing and of our partners who are leading the charge across the country delivering YEA!’s entrepreneurship education,” said YEA! founder and CEO Gayle Jagel. "Our local Chambers of Commerce, incubators, accelerators, universities, colleges and K12 partners who come together through YEA! are igniting the sparks of innovation in the entire community. Just imagine what our world would look like if every student got the chance to bring their ideas to life.”

To participate in the text-to-vote People’s Choice Award, viewers must register in advance at yeausa.org to participate.

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