Bold ideas from two local students are among just 60 semifinalist submissions selected from over 3,700 nationwide to pitch at the Mott Million Dollar Challenge, June 15-16 in downtown Flint.
FLINT, Mich., June 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Two students from Virginia have been selected as semifinalists in the Mott Million Dollar Challenge, a national pitch competition for K-12 students.
More than 5,300 young people from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. submitted over 3,700 business ideas and social solutions to the Challenge. From those entries, 1,500 submissions were selected in the first round. Now, the creators behind the top 60 ideas are advancing to compete at a live national event in Flint, Michigan next week.
The Virginia semifinalists and their ideas are:
Carmunication — Lailah Moore (4th Grade, Nysmith School, business pitch): A vehicle-to-vehicle messaging system that allows nearby drivers to send safety alerts about issues such as open gas caps, broken lights, or unsecured cargo, helping make roads safer through clear communication.
EngageAble — Emily Amidon (6th Grade, Nysmith School, social pitch): A social venture that uses customizable 3D-printed fidget devices to help seniors maintain fine motor skills, cognitive engagement and independence as they age.
As semifinalists, each project will be awarded $5,000. The students will pitch live in front of judges during the final competition June 15-16 in Flint.
Funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation as part of its centennial celebration, the Mott Million Dollar Challenge is administered by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) in collaboration with VentureLab, Young Entrepreneur Institute (YEI), the Afterschool Alliance, Collaborative Communications and the 50 State Afterschool Network. The Challenge is designed to shine a light on entrepreneurship education as a meaningful way to help students build skills they need to navigate and shape the future.
Learn more about the Mott Million Dollar Challenge and explore semifinalist ideas at https://mottmillion.org/60-semifinalist-pitches/.
Contact:
Jen Peters
peters@collaborativecommunications.com
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SOURCE Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
