The British School of Beijing (BSB) Shunyi is set to host the ASIA Business Simulation – Regional Round (High School Division) on Mar 1 and 2. This is an event that promises to be a thrilling experience for young business-minded students.

Organized by Aseeder, the ASIA Business Simulation has a long-standing reputation. Since its inception in 2011, it has attracted over 80,000 students from various schools across China, making it a well-recognized platform for student entrepreneurs.

The simulation offers a comprehensive set of activities. Students will engage in roadshow presentations where they can showcase their business ideas and strategies. A trading challenge awaits, testing their market acumen and decision-making skills. Additionally, business operations are carried out through a smart IT system that mimics an online virtual marketplace. This gives students a hands-on feel of managing different aspects of a business, from product design and marketing to overall company operations and project management, providing a real-world entrepreneurship experience.

For those interested in participating, the registration deadline is Feb 23, 2025. Scan the QR code in the accompanying poster to sign up and be part of this exciting business simulation event.

Images: BSB Shunyi, Pexels

In a city as vibrant and dynamic as Beijing, it’s no surprise that its youth are equally remarkable. Our new series, “Outstanding Teens of Beijing,” shines a spotlight on the city’s most inspiring young individuals. From self-motivated business owners to those who have started well-recognized clubs and organizations, these kids are making significant impacts in their communities. Join us as we share their stories, celebrate their achievements, and learn from their incredible dedication and passion.

We’re excited to share the accomplishments that Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) student Polly Lee has achieved outside of her schoolwork. In addition to finishing her final year of IBDP, she spends her free time dancing, exploring photography, and spending time with her friends and family. At school, she co-led a dance club with her friends and founded a service-learning club dedicated to helping the hearing-impaired community, with Rainbow Angels Hearing-Impaired Bakery as their official community partner.

Sounds pretty outstanding, right? But that’s not everything thing this young woman has accomplished in her free time. What caught our attention is her work in co-founding Utopix Youth Magazine.

Tell us about Utopix and what led to you being the co-founder of this magazine. What makes Utopix different from other teen publications?

Utopix Youth Magazine has been a dream of mine for a long time. Growing up at WAB, the mantra “Connect, Inspire, Make a Difference” has been ingrained in my brain from a young age. As someone who once struggled to find my own voice and have it heard, I wanted to create a space where youth voices could not only be heard but truly appreciated. I wanted to do something truly influential – something that involved connecting like-minded youths from all around the world to share their voices and perspectives on the social issues they were passionate about. But the idea of starting something of this scale was daunting. If I managed to execute it, how could I even make this project stand out from the sea of similar youth initiatives out there?

Hesitant and doubtful, I shared this “unrealistic” idea with my close group of friends. “It will be a magazine that advocates for diverse social issues,” I explained, “Teenagers worldwide can publish anything from poems and essays to photography and illustrations, and we’ll compile them into one platform for the world to see!”

To my relief, my friends saw the vision. Together, we embarked on the Utopix journey, fueled by a shared passion to inspire others and make a difference. Inspired by the numerous community partners that WAB clubs were involved in, we wanted to add a unique dimension to our magazine. Instead of being just another platform for sharing artwork and writing, we aimed to spotlight different community changemakers with each issue. Each magazine edition focuses on a specific social issue – such as mental health or disability awareness – highlighting various community efforts, from small businesses seeking recognition to international non-profits and student-led initiatives addressing these critical issues.

Utopix’s executive team is composed of the founding members of the magazine – the same friends who first believed in this “unrealistic” dream. What started as a group of seven WAB students expanded as they reached out to their own networks and recruited more members through various social media platforms. The magazine team now consists of teens from around all over the world including different regions in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen), South Korea, and the US (Connecticut, Philadelphia).

“We’ve assigned leaders to each department – Communications, Outreach, and Publication & Design – ensuring every aspect of the magazine is handled with care and professionalism. As a team of 20, we’ve published two magazine issues with writing and art submissions from teenagers worldwide, collaborated with two non-profit organizations, and interviewed a student initiative and a mental health professional,” says Lee.

So far, Utopix has published two issues, both of which focus on topics that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Our inaugural magazine issue, titled ‘The Mind,’ focused on mental health and neurodiversity. For this issue, we had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Gerald Anthony from the SENIA (Special Education Network in Asia) Beijing board, where he shared insights about the organization’s initiatives and achievements in promoting inclusivity and neurodiversity in Beijing.

“For our second issue, we decided to focus on disability awareness. We titled this issue “Beyond Boundaries: Redefining Abilities,” aiming to challenge the misconceptions and stigmas associated with disabilities. We had the pleasure of interviewing a local non-profit, Rainbow Angels Bakery, a bakery employing hearing-impaired individuals, and a student-led initiative, KM for LOVE, a club at WAB supporting medically compromised children from the Dew Drops orphanage in Beijing.

But with any endeavor, there are bound to be unexpected challenges.

“While building Utopix, we’ve faced several challenges, one of the most significant being attracting submissions for our magazine. With numerous youth magazines out there, we had to clearly define what set us apart. We expanded our reach to four different social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, 小红书, WeChat Official Account), where we actively engaged with our audience and highlighted the unique aspects of our magazine. This collaborative effort paid off, and we are proud to now receive submissions from teenagers across the globe, from Singapore to the UK to the US.”

High school senior Lee fills her free time in such an extraordinary way. How does one manage to find the balance between schoolwork and creating a new venture?

“When I shared the first publication of Utopix with my teachers, the one question that kept coming up was ‘Do you have time to sleep?’ My answer to all of them was the same: ‘It’s worth it.’ Yes, balancing schoolwork while running a magazine is challenging, as I’m constantly thinking about the next organizations to interview or the design for our next cover art. But if it’s something you’re truly passionate about, you’ll always find the time to fit it into your schedule. Utopix is like a break away from studying, allowing me to channel my energy into something creatively fulfilling that does not require textbooks and flashcards. I’m incredibly lucky to have a co-leader by my side and a team of dedicated members who believe in the same vision and mission. Without them, none of this would be possible.”

As any good businessperson can tell you, if you want your business to succeed, you need to have a plan for it beyond just yourself. Utopix started at WAB, and with Lee being a senior, the magazine will need to live long beyond her high school career. “I’m excited to see the potential in several team members who are already stepping up with innovative ideas and strong leadership. I’m confident that the team will carry forward our vision and keep making a meaningful impact with their dedication and care,” Lee shares with jingkids.

The next issue of Utopix comes out on Sept 25. The theme of this latest issue is “Silent Struggles,” and the issue will focus on the narratives of those left behind in the race to urbanization. To find the next issue (as well as the magazine’s past two issues) visit the magazine’s website: www.utopixyouth.com.

Inspired? We know we are! If you’re a teen with an incredible achievement, let us know! Get in touch with Mina Yan via email at minayan@beijing-kids.com or on WeChat (ID: Wilhelmina87).

Images: Utopix Magazine 

My dream of becoming a successful businessman began in the sixth grade when a friend and I intended to build a website for math tutoring. My main motivation was just to make money so I would be less dependent on my parent. The idea was short-lived, however, because, as per usual for kids my age, we wanted this entire project to be our original work. This rather counterproductive mindset eventually led to the proposition of building the website from the ground up using html instead of a web builder like Wix. I didn’t know how to code, nor did I really have any experience with website design. A lesson I would learn much later on in life: Don’t set your goals too high from the beginning unless you want to end up disappointing yourself and taking a hit to your self-esteem.

The website start-up died off, but my ambition for entrepreneurship did not. In the latter years of middle school, I acquired a taste for fashion design, and in the beginning of high school decided to pursue the creation of a clothing brand.

Unfortunately, at the time I still had yet to learn my lesson – I decided to learn sewing and screen printing in order to create my very own clothing line. This idea peaked after I created my very first t-shirt. It looked horrendous, and the printing process made the whole house smell, but I was proud of myself for my first creation. Though proud, I did not want to repeat this process ever again, and that marked the end of my second business idea, through burnout.

The next year, some of my friends motivated me to get back on my horse with the idea of a jewelry brand. This time we were only in charge of the designs and would send the designs to suppliers to help us create the actual product. We were never able to find a supplier, though, and contacting potential suppliers was difficult. In the end, this business was put on hold, although we might develop it again in the future. My favorite design I made was a panda gold necklace, which I would like to someday have in real life.

The final business idea I participated in was one that Daystar Academy gave me the opportunity for. It was through a program called Ventures for Change, where we would create businesses for global change, whether that be supporting mental health or sustainable development.

Our team focused on sustainability and decided to sell coffee cups made from leftover sugar cane pulp created as a by-product of sucrose sugar production. The program allowed different groups to give a pitch about their venture for a chance to win investment money. Our project involved promoting the usage of eco-friendly cups through a numbering system on the cups where each cafe or restaurant would number each cup sold restarting each week. My team received the silver prize for our pitch, winning RMB 8,000 in investments.

We’ve also recently developed a concept to promote responsible waste disposal of biodegradable material by designing an “eco-monster” trash can that is specifically for biodegradable waste products in order to promote faster decomposition of the materials.

In the world of business, it’s difficult to finally find a start-up that would actually turn to be something real. It took four businesses and the help from many people in my life – my peers, teachers, and family – for me to even begin my latest venture. Turning towards adulthood, I aspire to eventually become a businessman too, but the reminder of my past failures will encourage me to not give up when faced with defeat, because life has many opportunities to give.

Business, as with any other career path or many goals in life in general, requires endurance and perseverance. When you dedicate yourself to something, it doesn’t matter how slow you go, or how many different approaches you take to reach that goal. As long as your engine is still running, you will inevitably reach your destination.

About the author:
My name is Alvin Wang. I am a 2024 high school graduate from Daystar Academy. Throughout my childhood, I spent a large portion of time outside of China, living abroad and traveling across many states in the US. I live a life that constantly tests my adaptability to new life situations, new people, new languages, and new environments.

As I grew, I naturally became very attentive to the idea of new experiences; that was all I ever knew. Many of the actions I took as a student growing up were mere reflections of the way I was raised, my many attempts at business, and the different forms of martial arts that I took. In the end, while I would criticize myself for not sticking with anything for an extended period of time, I also am glad that I chose to become acquainted with many different paths that I’ve chosen to take.

Entering the stage of adulthood now, I have tested many paths to determine which one is truly meant for me, and I will be ready to fully submerge myself in my own path now. The main lesson to take away, if any, from my childhood, is just to have fun with trying new hobbies, or activities, even if it means temporarily setting aside another. One’s childhood is full of opportunities to develop passions, and for you to route your mind towards your true goals. Once you’ve found your true purpose, then, by all means, pursue it.

But until then, take it easy. After all, life is about enjoying time on this special planet.

Images: Alvin Wang, Pexels

Established in 2017 by two seniors at Beijing City International School (BCIS), Avenir is a business competition designed to encourage high school and middle school students worldwide to develop pioneering business plans. The competition was created to enhance the participants’ skills in entrepreneurship, social enterprise thinking, positive networking, and receiving critical feedback from business professionals, experts, and other global student teams. The aim of the competition is for students to work together for the good of all and for the sustainable development of the world.

Registration for the 2023 Avenir Business Competition is underway.

Important dates to remember:
The competition will be held at BCIS Main Campus on Apr 22-23.

Cost:
RMB 260 for early bird registration
RMB 360 for regular registration

Rules:
Each Avenir submission and presentation represents an original work that has been created by a team of two to four students from Grades 8 to 12. There is no limit to the number of teams that can enter the competition from the same school.

Registration is open now for any teams that wish to register for Avenir 2023, and confirmation of your participation in the competition will be sent after review of your Registration Survey, which can be filled out via the link below:

This year’s Avenir competition is also currently looking for sponsors, speakers, mentors, and judges. Please email Avenir at avenir@bcis.cn and erica.wang@bcis.cn for more information.

Images: Avenir

KEEP READING: BCIS Hosts Fourth Annual Avenir Business Competition

She is the CEO of a multi-media production company based in three major cities, representing a myriad of creative talents. She has hosted multiple TV shows starring international personalities and stars, aiming to bridge and incorporate Chinese culture into global media. Her company, Nova Universal – which she founded at the age of 19 – has represented artists in reputed platforms such as the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition and partnered with equally respected brands such as Sony Music, TaiHe Music, and Aiqiyi. She is Jasmine Xie, and she’s achieved a lot, to say the least.

After conducting an interview with Xie (a nerve-wracking 45 minutes for me), I was able to gain valuable insights into how her environment as a multi-cultural, international student shaped her, eventually leading to her success as a young entrepreneur. 

Xie’s background is not unlike many of ours, having received an international education both in China and abroad. After attending primary and secondary school in Canada and China, she enrolled in the University of Edinburgh and graduated with a degree in International Relations. However, it was during her youth that she participated in numerous extracurriculars such as tennis, equestrian club, and piano which would largely shape her success later in life. “Many don’t know this, but Chinese parents are…strict,” explains Xie. “However, my mom was relatively hands-off.” Though she no longer pursues most of them, those experiences have informed her lifestyle today. “I still try to set aside time from work as those activities taught me the importance of rest and perseverance.” In fact, Xie still enjoys a bit of horseback riding from time to time.

In our increasingly hyper-competitive world, it’s no secret that tiger moms and helicopter parenting are believed to lead to academically successful children. And yet, it’s important to remember that allowing children a certain amount of agency over their future has its benefits. Basically, there is a common misconception that just a few areas of study will lead to professional prosperity, but this is a dire misjudgment that minimizes equally as indispensable skills. Thankfully, it was precisely through defying this “path of least resistance” that Xie started her own company. “I came home one day from an internship and discussed with my mother on how dull an office job was,” explains Xie. “She immediately suggested I license a company with my only interest at the time, which was Instagram, and start a media company.”

Entrepreneurship is doubtlessly a risky endeavor, something Xie has had to contend with firsthand. Not only did she give up a lucrative job and stable life in London, leaving everything behind when she returned to China and dove headfirst into being her own boss, she also rejected offers from master’s programs at numerous respected colleges (“ones that many Asian parents would nod their heads at”), all but eschewing the supposed ideal path that she and many of her contemporaries work their entire lives to achieve.

So what exactly were the hardships that Xie has encountered? “I would say the naysayers continuously pose as a challenge.” For instance, recently, when submitting one of her client’s portfolios to an established brand, she was told to “come back when you are more credible.” Although such flippant remarks are expected in the entertainment industry, especially for entrepreneurs, Xie’s resilience and courage in the face of such condescension are a testament to her success.

When asked what advice she has for anyone aspiring to enter the entertainment industry or start their own business, her advice was surprisingly conventional and simple: study hard. Unfortunately, job opportunities are still largely tied to a degree, university, and greater educational background. As such, according to Xie, it’s imperative that students find something they’re passionate about, study hard, make the most of the resources they have, and seize every opportunity that comes their way. And when it comes to building a career in the entertainment industry specifically, Xie emphasized that there’s more to it than a glamorous facade and that learning the technical aspects of cinematography can be somewhat of a lonely process.

Lastly, I was eager to find out Xie’s secret to success. “My secret to success is being open to mentorship. Having mentors who I can speak to, consult, and guide me in my decisions in both life and business…A conversation with someone who is experienced can help me navigate a problem much better than if I went about trying to solve something alone or with others who maybe only know just as much as I do.”

KEEP READING: Sex, Education, and the Emancipated Youth of Today

Images: Jasmine Xie

In this column, Bizkids, we feature interviews with successful entrepreneurs and various professionals to share their advice to aspiring kids with entrepreneurial spirits. To send in your questions or advice, email cindyjenkins@beijing-kids.com.

Have you ever thought about turning your hobby into a business one day? Though you may assume it’s only suitable as a hobby, there’s a chance you can take what you like doing and turn it into a potential career. However, it not only demands your patience and passion, but also requires a model example to inspire you!

This time, our featured professional is AJ Donnelly, a British expat who arrived in Beijing in 1999 as a humble kindergarten teacher. Early on he saw the growing demand for experiences related to traditional Chinese culture, and wanted to find a way to help people better access them.

Having studied martial arts since the age of 8, and became a Daoist at the age of 14, he already had a good basis for understanding traditional Chinese culture. But after many years and obstacles, he was finally able to follow his calling as an entrepreneur and open one of China’s first foreign-run culture centers – Cultural Keys! Over the years, Cultural Keys has expanded to include the CK Culture Boutique, a bespoke Chinese art store, and CK Martial Hearts, which offers traditional Chinese Kung Fu courses. He’s also the founder of the Bootstrap Business Initiative, an organization that provides consultation services and helps first-time entrepreneurs access information and services for setting up low-budget businesses in Beijing.

Here, he shares his inspiring journey with us, from his passion for Kung Fu and Chinese culture, to sense of wonder, and how he turned his life-long interests into Cultural Keys, while unlocking China’s potential in the process!

What was your motivation to start Cultural Keys?

Looking back at the last five or ten years, there has always been a misunderstanding of China: people either think China is a terrible place, or they think it’s mysterious. But of course, neither of these is correct. And I just always wanted people to see the real China, traditional Chinese culture, and find as much as value in it as I find. Because I love it, not because I’m blind, but because I experienced it and I see how it improves my life and I want other people to understand it. That’s why we started giving people access to traditional Chinese culture.

When did your interest in Chinese culture begin? Why do you like Kung Fu?

I started martial arts when I was 8, and then I started karate, because throughout my childhood, from day one until I left school, I was bullied every single day. I watched The Karate Kid, and I was like “wow he learned martial arts, I wanna do that too!” So I took karate for several years, and I went from karate to kickboxing, then to Kung Fu and eventually found Shaolin Martial arts.

How about the Kung Fu part of Cultural Keys? What’s the story related to Kung Fu?

Kung Fu is where we started originally. When myself, my wife Nic, and our partner sat down six years ago and decided to start the company, we were thinking about the first product we could introduce and offer people. We said, “we have to choose something that is so big, so easily recognizable and so untapped, that people look at it and straight away say they know what it is.” Because I had a background in martial arts, we decided to do something with Shaolin Temple. After visiting many fake schools, we eventually ended up at the real Shaolin Temple. I walked up to a monk and said that I wanted to study there, and the monk said, “Okay, follow me.”

We got introduced to the leadership of the Shaolin Temple, and I trained there for a while. One day I sat down with the leader of foreign liaison department of the temple and told him about the company, and what we wanted to do. The leader said, “Yes, we have warrior monks in the Shaolin Temple, but we don’t do marketing, we don’t make money doing this. If Cultural Keys wants to help bring foreign students here to share the spirit of Shaolin and the idea of Buddhism, then yeah, we’d love to do that with you.”

From that meeting, it was about 18 months until the first program when we actually took students there. Because the advertisement took a year or so, and no one had signed up, we were close to giving up. I told the temple about it, and they said “It is normal. You must have patience; allow your soul to grow within the business like a tree, you can’t expect to sprout fruit immediately.” So I told myself to keep trying, and after another six months, we got a couple of customers who we were able to take to the Shaolin Temple, and it was a huge success. After that it just snow-balled. We did that for another two years, just building up a reputation, and when we realized it was going well, we decided to introduce something else. Step by step, we started other workshops like calligraphy, painting, and more. Now we offer 20-plus workshops.

How many people work with Cultural Keys? 

Just me and Nic. It’s not only having Cultural Keys, but we also have business events to organize as well, and people think it must be more than the two of us. Things like paintings and calligraphy; we have local experts in both subjects.

How do you usually reach out to people you want to collaborate with? Any tips to share?

First and foremost, you have to ensure you can offer something of high quality, and you have to be very confident in your product. When we started six years ago, the first thing I did was reach out to international companies and language schools, and said we have these great products, your teachers and staff will like it. But they didn’t want to collaborate with us. In the second and third year, after we’d done the first Shaolin program, they changed their attitude completely and introduced our program to their staff.

But you know in Beijing, there are also a lot of competitors. How do you compete with them?

If you are starting a business, you can compete either on price, or quality. Cultural Keys can never compete with price because there are some schools in Beijing where you pay RMB 50 for a calligraphy class. So we have to make sure that our products are the highest quality. Before we had our Guozijian experience, Nic spent a couple of weeks just walking around the hutongs, talking to people, finding out the real stories from locals who had lived there for the last 50 years.

It’s also about the personality; you can have a tour guide that just says lines like, “This was built in the 1950s,”  but you have to put your personality in it. When I go on walks with people, I put all my personality there and interact with people.

What do you most enjoy about the entrepreneurial experience? 

There is no such thing as freedom, but you know that everything you have is because of the effort you made, so whether you succeed or you fail, it’s about you. At least it gives you a sense of power in knowing that you are in control of what happens next. It’s not relaxing, or free, but it’s all about you. You are relying on yourself when you are an entrepreneur, and that empowers you.

Do you have anything else to share with kids who want to start their own business?

There are three tips that I’d like to give to any entrepreneur:

– Check things three times. Especially in China, you can get different answers from different people; you always have to check things three times no matter where you find the information.

– Make your own way. Anytime you hear meibanfa (impossible), anytime people tell you it can’t be done, don’t believe it. Because people don’t try, they will never know if there’s a banfa (possible).

– It’s always better to fail than to give up! In Kung Fu, there’s a basic posture called mabu (horse stance). When I teach horse stance, I tell people to hold it for one minute. Usually, after 15 seconds, people will stand up because it starts to hurt. However I tell them, if you have enough strength to stand up, you have enough strength to hold the pose for another five seconds, then you collapse, then you continue. You can’t learn anything through quitting, but you can learn from failure.

KEEP READING: Don’t Forget to Follow and Subscribe…: Are Beijing Teenagers Too Plugged In?

Photos: courtesy of AJ Donnelly

Seemingly every day there’s a new story about a youth whose invention or innovation is disrupting an industry and paving the way for a more holistic and equitable future, one that is sure to help humanity reach its full potential.

Through a combination of online learning tools and entrepreneurial advocacy organizations, kids across all ages and from wildly diverse backgrounds are breaking into sectors long dominated by adults who had spent years and years studying business and technology, proving that with equal parts passion, determination, and know-how, no issue is too large to tackle, and no individual too small.

Recognizing the importance of cultivating young minds to dream big is Avenir Education, “an international program to inspire a new wave of entrepreneurs through engaging in hands-on learning experiences.” The group recently announced registration information for the next installment of their annual business competition, Avenir 2020: Start-Up the Future.

Registration ends on Jan 31, costs RMB 350, and includes dinner, two lunches with snacks, certificates and awards, and exclusive feedback with real entrepreneurs.

To register your team, click here.

Housed at Beijing City International School (BCIS), this two-day event (March 8 and 9, 2020) gives high school students an opportunity to develop their business proposals with the help of experienced entrepreneurs, punctuated by poignant and inspiring keynote speakers throughout, and culminating in the chance for participants to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges and compete for prizes to take their business to the next level. In fact, past winners have gone on to compete in higher stakes events at Queensland University of Technology, and clinch cash prizes to fund their proposals.

With an emphasis on social accountability, Avenir 2020 “creates authentic opportunities for sustainable entrepreneurship, social enterprise thinking, positive networking, and the value of critical feedback from experts and other global student teams working towards imagining future businesses that work for the good of all and sustainable development of the world.”

Speaking to beijingkids at last year’s event, keynote speaker, Aaron Moniz of Inspire Citizens, a teacher-created collective that provides customized project-based learning towards a more sustainable future, said, “The fact that there was a student leadership team was powerful, the choice of keynote speakers and diverse backgrounds of the mentors was a very positive way to show students that business is important — but being innovative, ethical, and sustainable is even more important.”

Aaron Moniz of Inspire Citizens

Likewise, George Carlo Lomboy, the head of the Business Management department at Beijing Huijia Private School said the event’s focus on sustainability and social responsibility, “makes students aware that in business, money is not everything.”

For more information, click here.

Photos: Pixabay, Beijing City International School, Avenir

Seemingly every day there’s a new story about a youth whose invention or innovation is disrupting an industry and paving the way for a more holistic and equitable future, one that is sure to help humanity reach its full potential.

Through a combination of online learning tools and entrepreneurial advocacy organizations, kids across all ages and from wildly diverse backgrounds are breaking into sectors long dominated by adults who had spent years and years studying business and technology, proving that with equal parts passion, determination, and know-how, no issue is too large to tackle, and no individual too small.

Recognizing the importance of cultivating young minds to dream big is Avenir Education, “an international program to inspire a new wave of entrepreneurs through engaging in hands-on learning experiences.” The group recently announced registration information for the next installment of their annual business competition, Avenir 2020: Start-Up the Future.

Housed at Beijing City International School (BCIS), this two-day event (March 8 and 9, 2020) gives high school students an opportunity to develop their business proposals with the help of experienced entrepreneurs, punctuated by poignant and inspiring keynote speakers throughout, and culminating in the chance for participants to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges and compete for prizes to take their business to the next level. In fact, past winners have gone on to compete in higher stakes events at QUT, and clench cash prizes to fund their proposals.

With an emphasis on social accountability, Avenir 2020 “creates authentic opportunities for sustainable entrepreneurship, social enterprise thinking, positive networking, and the value of critical feedback from experts and other global student teams working towards imagining future businesses that work for the good of all and sustainable development of the world.”

Speaking to beijingkids at last year’s event, keynote speaker, Aaron Moniz of Inspire Citizens, a teacher-created collective that provides customized project-based learning towards a more sustainable future, said, “The fact that there was a student leadership team was powerful, the choice of keynote speakers and diverse backgrounds of the mentors was a very positive way to show students that business is important — but being innovative, ethical, and sustainable is even more important.”

Aaron Moniz of Inspire Citizens

Likewise, George Carlo Lomboy, the head of the Business Management department at Beijing Huijia Private School said the event’s focus on sustainability and social responsibility on how to save money by using a Free Invoice Creator to have the business intact without worrying, “makes students aware that in business, money is not everything.”

Registration for the event costs RMB 250 before December 31, or RMB 350 between then and January 31, and includes dinner, two lunches with snacks, certificates and awards, and exclusive feedback with real entrepreneurs.

To register, scan the QR code above.

For more information, click here.

Photos: Beijing City International School, Avenir

Student entrepreneurs from Beijing City International School (BCIS) and the International School of Tianjin walked away with the top prizes in the thi^rd annual Avenir Business Competition held at BCIS over the weekend.

Ten high school teams and six middle school teams from schools across Beijing and Tianjin competed for cash prizes and stipends for overseas travel in the contest organized by BCIS students and faculty and sponsored by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

The two-day competition saw student teams hone their business plans in sessions with Beijing-based business mentors and pitch in front of a panel of three seasoned professionals who rated them on their plans.

The senior high division was won by BCIS students who developed a plan for an internet-enabled pillbox designed to help senior citizens remember to take medicine on time.

Second place in the high school division was awarded to a team from Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), with their pitch for an online platform that matched digital artists with buyers.

A team from BCIS placed third with their company that designs logos, posters, and graphics for students and commercial businesses.

In the Junior division, the top prize was awarded to students from the International School of Tianjin, for their plan, the “Multibag”, a customized set of bags for grocery shopping aimed at reducing the use of disposable plastic bags.

Two teams from Beijing Huijia Private School bagged the second and third prizes, with their pitches on a radiation protection product and a plan for an online learning platform for students at international schools.

Between adding finishing touches to their plans, the students heard keynote speeches on social responsibility and sustainability from three well-known Beijing-based social entrepreneurs.

“The organization was great,” said keynote speaker Aaron Moniz from Inspire Citizens, a teacher-created collective provides that customized project-based learning towards a more sustainable future.

“The fact that there was a student leadership team was powerful, the choice of keynote speakers and diverse backgrounds of the mentors was a very positive way to show students that business is important — but being innovative, ethical, and sustainable is even more important.”

Also addressing the students were Sam Waldo, co-founder and CEO of Mantra, an eyewear brand that provides vision care for under-resourced rural Chinese students; and Joseph Harvey, co-founder of The Bulk House, which encourages people to understand their waste and then reduce it.

“Entrepreneurship competitions like Avenir generate a lot of student engagement,” said George Carlo Lomboy, the head of the Business Management department at Huijia. “They allow students to see for themselves if they have properly framed a problem or a pain point, and if they have covered all their bases on the functional areas of business, through the perspectives of real-life entrepreneurs, seasoned venture capitalists, and academics.”

Lomboy also praised this year’s focus on sustainability and social responsibility. “It makes students aware that in business, money is not everything.”

Photos: Courtesy of Avenir