Just because they’re young doesn’t mean they don’t have great ideas. A group of students, some as young as 11, will present their business plans to a group of local business leaders in a “mock” investor panel at the Aquarium on Wednesday evening. The event is modeled after the show “Shark Tank” on ABC.

Each student will have six minutes to explain their business plan and the “sharks,” or investors, will have three questions after each presentation. The investors will then rate their plans and decide on the top viable business. The winning business will have the highest amount of money given to them.

The investor panel includes Aquarium CEO Brent Andersen, Mike Winder with Zions Bank, Jed Call with Utah Media Group, and Karen Gunn with Salt Lake Community College. There are 10 investors total.

The 22 students are in the Sandy Chamber Young Entrepreneurs Academy. They’ve worked on their business plans since January. The potential awards include up to $8,000 investment funds, a $1,000 scholarship to U of U Lassonde Studios (a hub for innovators, makers and entrepreneurs opening in August 2016), and a $500 shopping spree at Sam’s Club.

The local companies supporting the Sandy Chamber Young Entrepreneurs Academy include: Zions Bank, the IPOP Foundation, Rocky Mountain Care, BD Medical, Rio Tinto, Larry H & Gail Miller Foundation, Salt Lake Community College, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, Costco and Smith’s.

WHAT: Young Entrepreneurs Present Business Plans at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

WHEN: Wednesday, May 6, 2015. Reception starts at 5:30pm, event begins at 6:00pm

WHERE: 12033 S. Lone Peak Parkway, Draper, UT 84020