Chagrin Falls High School junior Will Asplin took third place and won $500 in the prestigious thinkBIG! Challenge hosted by Case Western Reserve University's Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship on March 5. His innovative "Eco-Kit" business plan was one of just six selected from over 100 entries in the Northeast Ohio youth entrepreneurship competition.
Asplin pitched the Eco-Kit - a customizable electronic drumming system that turns everyday objects into percussion instruments - in front of judges and over 100 audience members at the thinkBIG! Summit. The eco-friendly starter kit comes with attachable drum pads, drumsticks and a speaker to amplify the sounds created by banging on repurposed items like buckets, shoes or even pineapples.
"The combinations of objects and sounds are endless," Asplin's plan stated. "We'd love to see what your Eco-Kit looks and sounds like."
As a finalist, the CFHS junior attended coaching sessions with Cleveland business leaders to refine his pitch. It marks the first time since 2017 that a Chagrin student made it to the final round of the prestigious entrepreneurial competition.
Asplin's third place Eco-Kit concept celebrates musical creativity while promoting sustainability - a harmonious blend embodying the entrepreneurial spirit. The Chagrin community celebrates this impressive achievement.