Rachel McReynolds – Frisco ISD

Frisco ISD INCubator students are finding solutions to everyday problems and launching businesses in the process.

Can’t keep your indoor plants alive? Look to Emerson High School’s LeafLink. 

Need meal ideas but don’t want to sift through recipe websites? Check out Centennial High School’s Cravii. 

Want to keep your laptop charged when you’re out and about? Look no further: Heritage High School’s Connexus has you — and your computer — covered.

These were just a few of the businesses shared during the annual Frisco ISD Pitch Night, where high school students bring their best, most marketable ideas to a panel of professionals and try to earn start-up funding. 

Judges included Peter Burns of The Bridge Delivery Service, Markques McKnight of Masters Management Consulting LLC, Megan Brown of CORE Construction, David Steele of Plug and Play, and Jeremiah Anderson of the Frisco Economic Development Corp.

Before pitch night, INCubator students do market research, work with mentors, investigate potential competitors and come up with cost and revenue estimates. Judges asked a battery of questions to understand how far in the process they were — and students were prepared with answers.

Emerson’s LeafLink team explained what set their product apart in the houseplant market, and judges were impressed with their responses. 

As the panel deliberated, Burns urged his fellow judges to consider each team’s possibilities. 

“Think of it from an investment perspective,” Burns said. “Can they utilize what they brought to the table to bring it to the market?”

In the end, judges split the $3,000 prize provided by the Frisco Education Foundation among three groups:

LeafLink from Emerson High School won $1,500. Team members were Nikita Suresh and Pakhee Verma. 

Cravii from Centennial High School won $750. Team members were Jamie Lee, Praneel Manduva, Arhan Lalani and Vikranth Kolluru.

Talk to Me from Frisco High School won $750. Avani Srivastava was the sole team member.

“Based on the criteria of what is most investable and viable now, LeafLink is at the top,” McKnight said during deliberation. 

The Cravii team won points for creativity and branding that set them apart — like wearing bright orange polos branded with the Cravii logo — as well as their messaging. Talk to Me, a mobile application that empowers children with intellectual and developmental disabilities to express themselves, was praised for its unique approach.

LeafLink co-owner Nikita Suresh said Pitch Night was an invaluable experience, connecting them with business experts, but also getting feedback that can help sharpen their communication and strategy.

“This funding comes at a perfect time — it will help us expand key areas of our business,” Nikita said. “It’s not just financial support; it’s a vote of confidence in our vision.”

That vote of confidence can make all the difference, INCubator teachers say. 

“The skills and grit learned from this class is unlike anything I have seen while being a high school teacher over the last 11 years,” said Revenia Lock, Emerson INCubator teacher. “Regardless if a student is interested in owning a business, this is a class I would recommend to any student.”

Special thanks go to INCubator teachers Tommy Thompson at Centennial, Revenia Lock at Emerson, Jamarcus Langston at Frisco High, Heather Moon at Heritage and Jill Bell at Lone Star, as well as event moderator Dr. Victor Jones, coordinator of career and technical education.

Learn more

The Frisco ISD Business Incubator Program uses the INCubatoredu and ACCELeratoredu curriculum and offers high school students an authentic entrepreneurship experience.