Utah Middle school students learning to think like Shark Tank founder [Video]

Getting funding from investors for a startup is a major challenge for most founders, including sixth graders from Draper Park Middle School, located in the Draper suburb of Salt Lake City, Utah, who are learning how to turn an idea into a business and pitch potential investors.

“I’m really excited because I think our company has a good shot at winning it,” said sixth grader Laynie Alleman. She and her classmates participated in the “It’s My Business” competition, sponsored by Junior Achievement of Utah and Idaho in partnership with CNBC. The Shark Tank-inspired competition drew coverage from the NBC affiliate KSL-TV. 

This financial education project is part of CNBC’s Cities of Success series, which explores cities that have transformed into business hubs with an entrepreneurial spirit that has attracted capital, companies, and workers.

Alleman’s team had the business idea for “Just …