Bark Tank: Young business owners compete for $100,000 in local entrepreneurship challenge
WASHINGTON (ABC7) — Sonia Su packs the kits with care. They're full of donated items for people with cancer. From water bottles to pill boxes to lip balm, she knows exactly what cancer patients need.
"I was actually diagnosed with an aggressive type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma during my second semester at Georgetown," she said.
She was a graduate student fighting for her life.
"When I was admitted for my third line treatment in March 2019, I saw a care package that was left on my hospital bed. That really gave me the hope and the energy to really push forward," she said.
Now the cancer survivor is doing the same for others through her non-profit Kits to Heart.
It's one of several businesses being showcased in a local competition called Bark Tank.
"Where we let students come pitch us not unlike the television show and we award $50,000, $35,000, $100,000 rewards to help these students launch their businesses," said Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis.
The fourth annual competition will be virtual this year and feature eight entrepreneurs who have studied at Georgetown University. Robert Bolen is one of them.
"I created Button Helper eight years ago for a friend's son who was struggling with cerebral palsy. We created a product that would allow him to dress himself with dignity, independence and ease," he said.
The young entrepreneurs are competing for capital to take their businesses to the next level.
For Su, it's about paying it forward.
"Just the very act of kindness reminds me that I'm alive but also it reminds me of the immense gratitude that I have just to be able to do this at this time,"
The Bark Tank competition was held on October 27 from 5 to 7 pm.
To learn more about Su's and Bolen's businesses, click the links below.
