At Les Roches, we understand the global concern over the access children have to the internet and mobile phones. Problems such as phone addiction, unfiltered internet access, cyber bullying and inappropriate content pose serious dangers to health and wellbeing. As innovators and leaders, Les Roches staff and students want to use their entrepreneurial approach to help.
A group of our graduating BBA students prepared and submitted their child wellness idea, CampWell, to the Shark Tank of Wellness competition at the Global Wellness Summit in Italy. On the day, student Niccoló Andrea Saltarelli presented CampWell and won a prestigious accolade for the group.
Niccoló explained the thinking behind their idea: “CampWell is a holistic wellness summer program designed for people of all ages and generations, allowing them to rediscover wellness values and generational bonding.”
What is the Global Wellness Summit?
The Global Wellness Summit is an invitation-only international gathering that brings together leaders and visionaries to shape the future of global wellness. “The Global Wellness Summit 2018 cannot be described as an ordinary summit. Indeed, it’s more like a large incubator of fresh ideas and innovations”, Niccoló said.
Each year, the Summit hosts the final of the Shark Tank of Wellness, a competition that challenges university students around the world to create bold and viable new concepts in wellness. The ideas can be focused in any area, including architecture, education, fitness, hospitality, investment, medicine, real estate, technology or tourism, just as long as they have a wellness-related application.
Looking for creative + entrepreneurial #students! #SharkTankofWellness competition offers 3 students $$ and a trip to Italy for their most innovative wellness idea –> https://t.co/ekI3Nqfox8 #studentcompetition #wellness #innovation pic.twitter.com/kBIYZbDSj5
— Global Wellness Summit (@Global_GWS) March 11, 2018
How the shark tank competition works:
- Students submit a concept submission form detailing their idea, as well as a short 1-2 minute video presentation (Watch the CampWell presentation video)
- Fifteen are chosen and presented to the Wellness Sharks before the Summit
- The Sharks chose three finalists to present in person at the Summit
- A winner is chosen and awarded $5000
- The two runners up each receive $2500
Out of 150 competing universities, the 2018 finalists were Claudia Martino of Cornell University, Ece Nur Temel of Istanbul Technical University and our own Niccoló Andrea Saltarelli. Each finalist was allowed to play a video introducing their concept, then give a one minute presentation in front of the Sharks and an audience comprising a ‘who’s who’ of the global wellness world.
All the students did exceptionally well, especially when the sharks started to bite in the on-stage Q&A session. After their presentation, the students were grilled by the panel of six industry leaders, which this year included Mindy Grossman, CEO of Weight Watchers (USA) and Mark Vondrasek, Chief Commercial Officer of Hyatt Hotels (USA).
Investors were queuing up
Niccoló gave an inspired presentation on CampWell, packed with passion, and faced some tough questions from the Sharks. After much deliberation from the panel, he took home 3rd place and prize money of $2500, which the students donated to Aid Madagascar and Brazil Suicide prevention.
“The summit taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my life: no matter what position you achieve in a competition, if the idea is great people will consider you a winner”, Niccoló said.
And it wasn’t just the judges that were impressed. CampWell caught the attention of a number of industry leaders in the audience, with investors expressing their interest in collaborating with Les Roches to make the project a reality. Niccoló was even offered a role with a Canadian company to develop CampWell in North America and is awaiting formal discussions. Well done Niccoló, we’re proud of you!
