The Business Pitch Competition that was held on 25th February 2025 at Millennium Global International School, was a remarkable event filled with innovation, confidence, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Students from Year 7 to Year 13, showcased their creativity, problem-solving skills, and business acumen through well thought-out presentations.
Welcoming Our Guests from Chumz
The day started with the arrival of our special guests from Chumz, who were both sponsors and judges for the competition. They were warmly received and taken to the high school section, where they had breakfast while going through the day’s program.
During this session, Eliud Gathanu, the Advisor at Chumz, posed an interesting algebraic question:
What does X mean in an equation?
This sparked a discussion that smoothly transitioned into another thought-provoking question:
Why financial literacy for kids? Why should they learn about saving from a young age?
I explained the importance of teaching children financial literacy early, as it helps prevent financial mistakes in the future and builds a strong foundation for financial independence.
Meet the Judges and Sponsors
We were honoured to have the following panel of judges from Chumz:
Samuel Njogu – Co-Founder and Design Lead
Annette Juma – Customer Success
Eliud Gathanu – Advisor
Yvonne Mungai – Marketing and Communication
After breakfast, we moved to the volleyball court, where I introduced the directors and the Chumz team to the students.
To kick things off, Eliud engaged the students with another question:
If I gave you 10 Ksh right now, what would you do with it?
The students responded with impressive answers, demonstrating their understanding of saving and financial responsibility.
Following this, Samuel Njogu introduced Chumz, explaining that:
Chumz is designed to help people develop a saving habit. Their goal is to encourage financial freedom through consistent saving. Chumz is a savings app that allows users to set financial goals and work towards them.
He encouraged students to open Chumz accounts and explore the benefits of structured saving.
With the introductions complete, it was time for the business pitches.
Business Pitch Presentations
We had nine businesses competing, each showcasing innovation and creativity. The presentations followed this order:
1. Natural Jewels – Joy Wanjiku, Milkah Kagumba, and Takunda John Jr.
A sustainable business that recycles plastic and paper waste into unique accessories and home décor. They emphasized the importance of recycling and environmental conservation.They gave the judges handcrafted gifts, including a wall décor piece, a bicycle, and doll displays made from recycled newspapers.They had a model, Kyla, on stage, showcasing their jewellery—a necklace, earrings, bracelet, and handbag made from recycled materials.
2. Frosted Paws – Ibtihaaj Kassim, Cedric Tsiga, and Maya Janaki
100% natural freeze-dried pet treats that retain up to 97% of nutrients.Frosted Paws is free from preservatives and artificial additives. It also offers a variety of treats, including chicken legs, chicken hearts, and bunny ears. They brought in Toffee, one of the school dogs, to demonstrate the treats, making their presentation engaging and interactive.
3. Snakes, Ladders, and Smarter – Salima Akilimali
An educational board game based on Snakes and Ladders, designed to make revision fun. The prototype focused on Biology A-Level Unit 1. Salima confidently stated that she had topped world rankings using the game. She engaged the judges in playing the game and jokingly told them not to shout their answers!
4. Glide Twins – Charis Yamame
A double-sided slipper that can be worn from either side. Designed to help avoid the morning hustle of wearing slippers incorrectly and being late for school. Charis had a student on stage demonstrating the struggle of wearing normal slippers vs. the ease of using the double-sided slipper.
5. Smart Life Band – Lekisha Tsiga
A smartwatch that tracks stress levels and high blood pressure. She started her pitch by asking how many people feel stressed, then introduced her solution. The watch guides users through personalized relaxation techniques and healthy lifestyle tips.
6. Global Swim Safe – Victoria Wanjiku and Gabriella Magana
Two swimming enthusiasts offering swimming lessons for underprivileged individuals and people with disabilities. Focuses on preventing drowning, especially during natural disasters like floods. Victoria was inspired to start this initiative after saving her cousin from drowning.
7. CoffeeKof – Nailah Kabundu, Alice Shamala, and Maha Midega
A business that sells coffee equipment to enhance the brewing experience for coffee lovers. Offers temperature-controlled kettles, premium mugs, and brewing tools. Their pitch promised to eliminate bad coffee experiences forever!
Style Genie – by Hudaa Kasmani and Hibba Kasmani
An app that helps users choose outfits based on mood, weather, occasion, and budget. The app works with existing wardrobe items or suggests new/second-hand outfits. Features a virtual ‘genie’ that gives personalized styling recommendations.
9. Snack Smart – Kaylee Nyawira and Jada Kithinji
A business selling healthy snacks for students in school canteens.Products include oat biscuits, cookies, fruits, and nuts—a healthier alternative to sugary treats.
Awards and Closing Ceremony
After all presentations, students went for lunch while the judges deliberated in the conference room. They had already recorded scores for each team and calculated final averages while enjoying their meal.
Award Ceremony:
1st Place: Salima Akilimali (Snakes, Ladders, and Smarter) – 15,000 Ksh
2nd Place (Tie): CoffeeKof (Nailah, Alice, Maha) & Snack Smart (Jada, Kaylee) – 12,000 Ksh each
3rd Place: Natural Jewels (Joy, Milkah, Takunda) – 8,000 Ksh
All participants received:
✔ Certificates of participation
✔ Medals for winners
✔ Chocolates (from their teacher)
✔ 2,500 Ksh in their Chumz Kids Account
Before the awards, Eliud gave a motivational speech, reminding students that:
“You have all done exceptionally well. You are all winners! Next time, even more of you should participate.”
Chumz appreciated the directors for their leadership and thanked me for preparing the students for this event.
Additionally, they invited the students to visit their offices during the school holidays for a job shadow program to learn more about Chumz and its different departments—design, marketing, finance, etc.
The event concluded at 3:00 p.m. after a brief networking session. It was an incredibly fulfilling day, and we are grateful for the mentorship, financial support, and encouragement from Chumz.
We look forward to future collaborations and seeing these young entrepreneurs continue to grow!
(Written by Ms Stephanie Malika - Financial Literacy and Business Studies Instructor)
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