2021 Shark Tank winners named

The results of the 2021 Snellville Entrepreneurship Alliance’s Shark Tank student entrepreneur contest are in.

Malcolm Frandsen, of Brookwood High School, was awarded $1,300 to fund his lawn care business; Trase Lee, of South Gwinnett High School, was awarded $1,000 for his photography business; Noila Rahimjon, of BHS, was awarded $400 for her skin care line; and Lena Tata, of Grayson High School, was awarded $300 for her clothing business.

The contest, based on the popular TV show “Shark Tank,” encourages local students to create a business and “pitch” it to a group of local business professionals who divvy up a pile of money to give the student businesses a boost.

The judges for this year’s Shark Tank were: Renea Johnson, owner of Get Stranded Hair; Chris Turner, representing Sunrise Rotary Club; former Councilman Bobby Howard; Shark Tank veteran Kathy Emanuel, former Mayor Tom Witts; Snellville Tourism and Trade Executive Director Kelly McAloon; Ashley Franklin of Walton EMC; and Greater Eastside Chamber of Commerce President Marianatte Refour.

The Shark Tank took place May 6.

“The past nine months have been difficult for many entrepreneurs,” said Snellville Economic Development Director Eric Van Otteren. “But what if you are in high school launching a startup business? A select group of Snellville young entrepreneurs overcame the many obstacles and pitched at the 2021 Snellville Shark Tank Pitch completion for startup money. I believe that one of the key moments of the 2020-21 school year for 10 young entrepreneurs was their nine minutes in the Tank."

One of the four students will be named Entrepreneur of the Year at the May 24 meeting of Mayor and Council.