Business students at St. Francis High School in Wheaton recently learned how to present a plan for a new product or service, in partnership with Microsoft, during a Startup Day.

During the 12-hour event, the 25 participating students were broken up into teams and given the task of presenting a business plan for a new product, app or service to a panel of judges. Using curriculum from Microsoft YouthSparks Camps, students learned the basic components of developing a business plan, including market research, pricing, distribution and advertising, as well as how to pitch their idea to a potential investor.

Throughout the day, alumni entrepreneurs visited with the students and shared their own stories of starting up businesses, providing advice for overcoming obstacles and bringing innovation to their business plans.

The student presentations were evaluated and rated based on criteria that included the marketing strategy, business structure, financing, presentation skills and the products themselves. The panel of judges were represented by two school parents in business, a representative from Microsoft and an entrepreneur/speaker.

The winners of the Startup Day’s “Best New Business” were seniors Lexie Barella, Nick Brouch, Patrick Gerard and Sarah Jin for their Smart Dog Collar and accompanying app, SmartBark, a dog collar that tracks the health and activity level of canines, relays key information to veterinary professionals, and connects pet owners to walk routes, dog parks, GPS services for lost pets, and other resources.

Each team member was awarded prizes sponsored by the Microsoft Store in Oak Brook.