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Business Plan Challenge
Plan for high-tech water bottle wins Business Plan Challenge
A business plan for a solar-powered, eco-friendly, dual-filtration water bottle that tracks hydration earned first place at the 12th annual Ransom Everglades Business Challenge March 11 at Posner Lecture Hall. Nina Galinsky ’26 and Blake Langer ’26 offered a passionate and thoughtful pitch for “Solar Sip,” a high-tech water bottle that wowed the RE alumni panel of judges and advanced to the Innovate South Florida 2025 High School Business Plan Competition on April 10 at Miami Dade College.
Finishing in second place was Ledgerly, an AI tool to make accounting easy for small businesses pitched by Constantino Pena ’26, Charlotte Gould ’26, Minnie Zhou ’26 and Eduardo de Sabrit ’26, and in third place was Phoenix Project, a company that aims to provide job placement services for individuals with prior convictions proposed by Ella Crowley ’26, Charlie Sender ’26 and Ewa Garmendia ’26.
The judges – Brett Scheiner ’96, Chief Investment Officer at Capital Advisors LP; Natalie Skaf ’04, Vice President of Investor Relations at Florida Funders; Ashley Mincey ’07, owner of Envie by Mincey; and Jake Pelayo ’17, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of All Restaurant Offers – lauded the student presenters for their creative projects and professional pitches.
They also congratulated the other finalist proposals: Carefirst Diagnostics, a cost-effective device designed to facilitate the early detection of breast cancer in developing countries by Leonardo Heisel ’26 and Connor Alfonso ’26; and Gymfinity, an online hub for flexible gym access by Nathaniel Pegg ’26 and P.J. Clingan ’26.
Galinsky and Langer won out over the stellar competition by unveiling a water bottle that would serve as both a life tool and social statement. They described Solar Sip as a revolutionary water bottle featuring a solar-powered self-cleaning system with an app that monitors hydration levels and includes a built-in tracking device to prevent loss. "Solar sip is the future of smart hydration," Galinsky and Langer said to conclude their presentation, "protect your health with every sip."
The challenge was overseen by Humanities Department Chair Jen Nero and the students were mentored by faculty members Ben Yeo and Brandon King.
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The judges – Brett Scheiner ’96, Chief Investment Officer at Capital Advisors LP; Natalie Skaf ’04, Vice President of Investor Relations at Florida Funders; Ashley Mincey ’07, owner of Envie by Mincey; and Jake Pelayo ’17, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of All Restaurant Offers – lauded the student presenters for their creative projects and professional pitches.
They also congratulated the other finalist proposals: Carefirst Diagnostics, a cost-effective device designed to facilitate the early detection of breast cancer in developing countries by Leonardo Heisel ’26 and Connor Alfonso ’26; and Gymfinity, an online hub for flexible gym access by Nathaniel Pegg ’26 and P.J. Clingan ’26.
Galinsky and Langer won out over the stellar competition by unveiling a water bottle that would serve as both a life tool and social statement. They described Solar Sip as a revolutionary water bottle featuring a solar-powered self-cleaning system with an app that monitors hydration levels and includes a built-in tracking device to prevent loss. "Solar sip is the future of smart hydration," Galinsky and Langer said to conclude their presentation, "protect your health with every sip."
The challenge was overseen by Humanities Department Chair Jen Nero and the students were mentored by faculty members Ben Yeo and Brandon King.
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Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.