Extracurricular Activities For The Children of Silicon Valley
Tech Competitions, Start Ups, The Usual
Silicon Valley’s green energy start-ups have many worries. Homework usually isn’t one of them, but for Calsunergy, in the valley’s fast-growing green energy industry, homework will be part of the new business equation. The chief executive hopes to launch the company before beginning eighth grade in the fall. The chief technical officer is getting ready to start sixth grade. And the company’s chief financial officer and vice president of marketing are readying themselves for fifth grade.
How They Got Started. It all started when 10-year-old Aryan Taheri attended a California Clean Tech Open event with his dad, Sam. The older Taheri planned to enter the competition, geared to help entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own environmentally friendly company. Aryan went back to his friends, teammates from other competitions, and together they researched ideas for new renewable energy products. About a month ago, they informally launched Santa Clara-based Calsunergy with hopes of selling low-cost, high-efficiency solar panels. Aryan became the company’s top marketing executive and the group plans to incorporate the company if the product wins the competition. The group meets about once a week to review prototypes and work on a business plan, said Bao Tran, father of the company’s chief financial officer, Alan Tran, 10. All the parents have chipped in to lend expertise when needed, he said. Tran is helping with a patent application while others offer technical advice.Launched last year, this year’s competition has attracted more than 100 business plans for prizes in six categories: energy efficiency, smart power, transportation, water management, renewable energy and green building. Judges included venture capitalists, academics and consultants. The finalist will be announced at the end of July; winners will be announced in October.
