4Front’s Jewish Teen Entrepreneurs Pitch Social Ventures
This past Sunday, 26 Jewish teen entrepreneurs took the stage at 4Front’s annual Social Innovation Fellowship Demo Day, a Shark Tank style pitch competition that marked the culmination of this immersive entrepreneurship experience. Hosted by 4Front, Baltimore’s Jewish teen initiative housed and managed by the JCC of Greater Baltimore and an initiative of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, the event welcomed more than 100 community members, supporters, and family members to celebrate the fellows’ work.
Throughout the year, fellows engaged in a rigorous entrepreneurship curriculum developed in partnership with Towson University and co- facilitated by Professor Jan Baum and Isabel Lunken. Across five workshops, mentorship from seven local business leaders, and an immersive New York City innovation tour, teens worked in teams to design socially impactful ventures addressing challenges they identified in their communities.
A core component of the fellowship was the integration of Jewish values, texts, and stories as a framework for leadership and innovation. Each workshop incorporated a Jewish learning element that invited fellows to explore how concepts such as Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), responsibility to community, and ethical leadership can guide entrepreneurial thinking. Through these discussions, fellows examined how Jewish wisdom and narratives can inform decision making, shape business models, and ground innovation in a deeper sense of purpose and responsibility.
By the time Demo Day arrived, teams had developed thoughtful ventures rooted in both entrepreneurial strategy and Jewish values. In front of a panel of four community leader judges, each team presented the problem they had identified, the socially driven solution they designed, and the business model they built to bring their idea to life. All teams showcased virtual platforms, or minimum viable prototypes developed during the fellowship.
Demo Day celebrated not only the ventures themselves, but also the fellows’ growth as leaders who understand how innovation, community responsibility, and Jewish values can intersect. The event highlighted the power of experiential learning and mentorship to empower the next generation of Jewish changemakers working to strengthen Baltimore and the broader community.
Judges: Beth Rheingold, Josh Finifter, Lynne Kahn, Rabbi Alex Salzberg
Mentors: Andrew Buerger, David Demsky, Jayne Havens, Jessica Lunken, Keira Shein, Mike Silberman, Rabbi Kelley Gludt
Projects
Justice Bridge
- Co-Founders: Alita P, Julianna S, Lily O
- Mentor: Keira Shein, Co-Founder, She’s Got Issues Media
- Social Innovation: Baltimore teens feel disconnected from civic decision-making, JusticeBridge is a simple digital platform that gives teenagers accessible tools to communicate directly with their elected representatives.
M.V.P.
- Co-Founders: Alyssa S, Amy L, Madison K, Stella R
- Mentor: Jessica Lunken, Cedarcroft Advisors Development Consultant
- Social Innovation: High school student athletes are constantly juggling demanding schedules and increasing stress, M.V.P. serves as an app that motivates productivity through a gamified system that combines journaling, calendars, and task tracking in one platform.
Lock In
- Co-Founders: Chloe A, Dani S, Mollie G, Vivian T
- Mentor: Jayne Havens, Founder, Center for Pediatric Sleep Manage. & Snooze Fest
- Social Innovation: Many teens are struggling with procrastination and time management, especially those navigating ADHD, LockIn is an online platform that integrates school systems to turn assignments and daily tasks into a structured, reward-driven productivity system.
United Against Cyberbullying
- Co-Founders: Ian L, Izzy S, Joshua A
- Mentor: Mike Silberman, Co-Founder & COO, Recovery180 and Genuine Care Consulting
- Social Innovation: Cyberbullying is rising among teens who are navigating social media at increasingly younger ages, United Against Cyberbullying is a digital campaign that uses social media content, a podcast, and an interactive website to help teens recognize and respond to harmful online behavior.
TutorLink
- Co-Founders: Abigail B, Everly B, Noah K, Roy H
- Mentor: Rabbi Kelley Gludt,
- Social Innovation: Maryland middle and high school students are seeking greater access to academic support, TutorLink is an online marketplace that connects high school tutors with younger students to provide accessible, peer-led academic help.
Inside Scoop
- Co-Founders: Aria R, Clara M-J, Liam L, Rose L
- Mentor: Andy Buerger, Chief Strategy Officer, Taharka Brothers
- Social Innovation: Teenage girls are navigating complex social dynamics, Inside Scoop offers a virtual platform that collaborates with child psychology experts and educators to create accessible, relatable content alongside teens that support healthy relationships
Make It Make Cents
- Co-Founders: Avery Z, Gabby W, Mishi G, Sophia S
- Mentor: David Demsky, VP of Operations, The Agora Companies
- Social Innovation: Widespread financial illiteracy is leaving many teens unprepared for real-world money management, Make It Make Cents is a gamified platform that teaches budgeting and paycheck management through interactive, real-life simulations.
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