2 Huntington High School Virtual Enterprise Teams Reach Nationals

HUNTINGTON, NY — Two virtual enterprise teams from Huntington High School are headed to this year's National Round of the Business Plan Presentation. HomeTown and Poseidon are among only 32 teams in the United States to reach the finals.

Both classes have been guided by business teacher Paige Tyree Furman, who provides advice to the companies and offers technical information but otherwise lets the students take charge of their own affairs and allows their creativity to flow, according to the school district.

The full-year, one-credit virtual enterprise business course is available to juniors and seniors.

"Virtual Enterprise is a simulated business that is set-up and run by students to prepare them for working in a real business environment," according to the high school’s course bulletin.

HomeTown is "a unique and kindhearted food delivery service that focuses on bringing relocated Long Islanders a taste from home, revolutionizing the way people eat and enjoy their favorite meals by delivering Long Island’s most popular foods, starting with pizza and bagels with plans for expansion," according to the company’s promotional material.

"All I have to say is that people buy from who they can relate to," said Naysa Escobar, HomeTown’s chief executive officer. "HomeTown does not only sell a product; it sells family. And that is why we have gotten so far. I’m really happy that two firms from Huntington have qualified for the nationals."

Christopher Maichin, the company's chief operating officer, said he came up with the idea for HomeTown when his sister, a freshman at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, texted him saying, 'What I would do for a slice of Long Island pizza right now.'

"And then it hit me, a food delivery service that brings relocated Long Islanders a taste from home, satisfying that craving and bringing them nostalgia all while combating homesickness," Maichin said. "It has been so cool to see this simple idea evolve into what it is today, paving the HomeTown path in the VE International world."

Poseidon markets an eco-friendly showerhead that tracks the amount of water used during a shower. It connects to an app that shows how much water has been used and aims to limit water usage and cut bills.

"I am so proud of our team and how we all worked so hard together to advance to the national level," said Alex Frawley, the chief executive officer of Poseidon. "We are one out of only 32 teams in the country to have made it to this level and we are looking forward to the challenge."

The national business plan competition aims to showcase some of the best and brightest student leaders and budding entrepreneurs in the country. Teams representing 32 virtual enterprise companies from around the country will have their written business plans and oral presentations judged by industry professionals.

After receiving top honors in local and regional business plan competitions during the current school year, these teams have earned the chance to compete in the country’s premier team-based national business plan competition.