CHRIS RICCOBONO, FOUNDER OF UNTUCKIT, SPEAKS TO L.E.O. PROGRAM STUDENTS AT DON BOSCO PREP
Date: February 19th, 2019 | Location: Don Bosco Preparatory
Ramsey, NJ - Chris Riccobono - the founder, Chairman, and CEO of clothing start-up UNTUCKit - was the most recent guest speaker to the students in the L.E.O. Program business track at Don Bosco Preparatory High School. Mr. Riccobono, himself a Don Bosco Prep alumnus, spoke to the twenty-five juniors about his road from growing up in Bergen County, NJ to running his own multinational clothing company. This February 8, 2019 event was part of the L.E.O. Program’s interactive business education curriculum focusing on leadership, entrepreneurship, and opportunity.
Mr. Riccobono spoke of his uncertainty about his future career path during his time at Providence College, although he knew he wanted to own his own business eventually. He found a job that allowed him the flexibility to start his own business while fulfilling his current responsibilities, encouraging the LEO students not to worry about finding the perfect job, but to ensure they find employment to fulfill their financial obligations while charting their own course.
While balancing his work at GE Healthcare with running his own wine blog “Pardon That Vine,” Mr. Riccobono enrolled at Columbia Business School and earned his Master of Business Administration degree through their Executive Education program. His wine blog provided an in-depth learning experience about social media and e-commerce. All the while, he continuously thought of ideas for a business of his own.
Mr. Riccobono found his passion when he came up with a solution to the problem of untucked dress shirts looking sloppy as the world shifted towards a more business casual approach - an issue he personally experienced. He launched UNTUCKit in 2011 with only $100,000 in start-up capital. Mr. Riccobono created a story to establish the brand, differentiating the everyday use of his product with the conceptual idea: this business solves a problem all men face. He knew there would be a market for UNTUCKit since it was an issue he himself had experienced.
UNTUCKit was profitable in each of its first three years in business, a rare feat for a start-up operation. The company did not have a physical office or staff until year 5, at which time it started giving out equity at a high valuation. UNTUCKit opened its first physical store location in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood in 2015 and has been expanding internationally, offering its products to a wide demographic (men aged 18-75 years) with its US brand ambassador, Super Bowl champion QB Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints.
Mr. Riccobono capitulated his presentation by highlighting the need to find a plan that can evolve as life does, maintaining a career while developing one’s own business ideas, and always creating a story. He stressed the critical importance of digital marketing and suggested that inclined students consider working in data at a start-up. He reminded the young men that family always comes first, but to be confident and always find a way to attain their goals.
“Mr. Riccobono’s story features lessons that can inspire our students as they proceed through this program,” said Professor John Esposito, the L.E.O. Program’s teacher. “His unrelenting drive, persistent work ethic, and focused approach to growing and developing his business should serve as a model for all young entrepreneurs.”
The Leonidas Foundation’s President, Matthew Perricone, offered the following statement: “The Leonidas Foundation and the L.E.O. Program are proud of Mr. Riccobono’s incredible accomplishments. We thank him for taking the time from his busy schedule to impart his wisdom, experience, and prowess on our young entrepreneurs who will be working on creating their own start-up ideas as they move through this program.”
For more information on The Leonidas Foundation and The L.E.O. Program, please visit www.LeoUniteUs.com.
Mr. Riccobono spoke of his uncertainty about his future career path during his time at Providence College, although he knew he wanted to own his own business eventually. He found a job that allowed him the flexibility to start his own business while fulfilling his current responsibilities, encouraging the LEO students not to worry about finding the perfect job, but to ensure they find employment to fulfill their financial obligations while charting their own course.
While balancing his work at GE Healthcare with running his own wine blog “Pardon That Vine,” Mr. Riccobono enrolled at Columbia Business School and earned his Master of Business Administration degree through their Executive Education program. His wine blog provided an in-depth learning experience about social media and e-commerce. All the while, he continuously thought of ideas for a business of his own.
Mr. Riccobono found his passion when he came up with a solution to the problem of untucked dress shirts looking sloppy as the world shifted towards a more business casual approach - an issue he personally experienced. He launched UNTUCKit in 2011 with only $100,000 in start-up capital. Mr. Riccobono created a story to establish the brand, differentiating the everyday use of his product with the conceptual idea: this business solves a problem all men face. He knew there would be a market for UNTUCKit since it was an issue he himself had experienced.
UNTUCKit was profitable in each of its first three years in business, a rare feat for a start-up operation. The company did not have a physical office or staff until year 5, at which time it started giving out equity at a high valuation. UNTUCKit opened its first physical store location in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood in 2015 and has been expanding internationally, offering its products to a wide demographic (men aged 18-75 years) with its US brand ambassador, Super Bowl champion QB Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints.
Mr. Riccobono capitulated his presentation by highlighting the need to find a plan that can evolve as life does, maintaining a career while developing one’s own business ideas, and always creating a story. He stressed the critical importance of digital marketing and suggested that inclined students consider working in data at a start-up. He reminded the young men that family always comes first, but to be confident and always find a way to attain their goals.
“Mr. Riccobono’s story features lessons that can inspire our students as they proceed through this program,” said Professor John Esposito, the L.E.O. Program’s teacher. “His unrelenting drive, persistent work ethic, and focused approach to growing and developing his business should serve as a model for all young entrepreneurs.”
The Leonidas Foundation’s President, Matthew Perricone, offered the following statement: “The Leonidas Foundation and the L.E.O. Program are proud of Mr. Riccobono’s incredible accomplishments. We thank him for taking the time from his busy schedule to impart his wisdom, experience, and prowess on our young entrepreneurs who will be working on creating their own start-up ideas as they move through this program.”
For more information on The Leonidas Foundation and The L.E.O. Program, please visit www.LeoUniteUs.com.
DON BOSCO PREP HOLDS OWN "SHARK TANK"- LIKE COMPETITION
Date: February 18th, 2019 | Location: Don Bosco Preparatory
In its first "Shark Tank"-like competition, Don Bosco Preparatory students came up with creative business ideas, including a country-wide EZ-pass system and Simplex, a simple way for businesses to schedule and communicate.
The Leonidas Foundation awarded $10,000 in scholarships to the high school in Ramsey, as part of the L.E.O. Program's first "Ironworks" Entrepreneurship Competition.
Twenty-two L.E.O. Program seniors took part in a team-style competition similar to the popular television show, Shark Tank. Students were tasked with creating a new business idea to solve a common problem, formulate comprehensive marketing and substantive information about the product, and present their creations to a panel of investors from the financial, legal, automotive, banking and medical industries dubbed “Sharks.”
The ideas included:
Read more on NorthJersey.com
The Leonidas Foundation awarded $10,000 in scholarships to the high school in Ramsey, as part of the L.E.O. Program's first "Ironworks" Entrepreneurship Competition.
Twenty-two L.E.O. Program seniors took part in a team-style competition similar to the popular television show, Shark Tank. Students were tasked with creating a new business idea to solve a common problem, formulate comprehensive marketing and substantive information about the product, and present their creations to a panel of investors from the financial, legal, automotive, banking and medical industries dubbed “Sharks.”
The ideas included:
- Critter Care: One-stop shop allowing owners to travel anywhere in the world with their pets, listing vets, dog parks and pet shops
- Party Wheels: Alcohol delivery service to prevent drunk driving
- Ameripass: Catchall EZ-Pass app that allows users seamless travel across systems
- Simplex: Interoffice communication service that simplifies scheduling and communication.
- LMK365: Location-based texting app that automatically communicates with pre-determined parties upon arriving at a destination
Read more on NorthJersey.com
THE LEONIDAS FOUNDATION AWARDS $10,000 IN COLLEGIATE SCHOLARSHIPS TO L.E.O. PROGRAM SENIORS IN "IRONWORKS" ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETITION
Date: February 14th, 2019 | Location: Don Bosco Preparatory
Ramsey, NJ – The Leonidas Foundation is proud to announce that it has awarded $10,000.00 in collegiate scholarships as part of The L.E.O. Program’s first “Ironworks” Entrepreneurship Competition at Don Bosco Preparatory High School this evening.
The twenty-two senior students in the L.E.O. Program’s inaugural cohort at Don Bosco Prep competed in a team-style competition similar to the popular television show, Shark Tank. Students were tasked with creating a new business idea that solves a common problem, formulating comprehensive marketing and substantive information about the product, and presenting their creations to a panel of real-life investors, known as “Sharks,” including leaders from the financial, legal, automotive, banking, and medical industries.
The products presented by the students and considered by the “Sharks” included:
The winning business idea selected by the “Sharks” was Simplex, whose team received $7,500.00 in scholarships. The runner-up was Ameripass, whose team members were awarded $2,500.00 scholarships. The audience also selected a “Most Socially Responsible” project, which was Critter Care and garnered $100.00 scholarships for each team member.
“Watching these students take ideas from the brainstorming phase all the way to tonight’s investor presentations was an impressive and fulfilling process,” said Professor John Esposito, the L.E.O. Program’s teacher. “The students have utilized countless aspects of the course curriculum in these presentations and we are very proud of the final products of their hard work.”
“The Leonidas Foundation is honored to present these scholarship monies as part of the inaugural ‘Ironworks’ event,” said President Matthew Perricone. “As the first cohort of the L.E.O. Program at Don Bosco Prep, these students have set the bar high for the years to come. We are all very proud of their accomplishments and wish them great prosperity as they transition into the next chapter of their lives.”
The Leonidas Foundation was formed in 2016 following the passing of Don Bosco Preparatory alumnus Leonidas “Leo” Vagias, an avid business enthusiast who expressed his desire to be an entrepreneur from an early age.
“These projects are not only the finished products of a year’s worth of education, but they are all viable businesses with the capacity to positively impact the real world,” said Teddy Vagias, Leo’s father, on behalf of the Vagias family. “This is what drove Leo in his passion for business, and it is incredible to see that same passion embodied among these young men this evening and every day moving forward.”
For more information about The Leonidas Foundation, please visit www.LeoUniteUs.org.
The twenty-two senior students in the L.E.O. Program’s inaugural cohort at Don Bosco Prep competed in a team-style competition similar to the popular television show, Shark Tank. Students were tasked with creating a new business idea that solves a common problem, formulating comprehensive marketing and substantive information about the product, and presenting their creations to a panel of real-life investors, known as “Sharks,” including leaders from the financial, legal, automotive, banking, and medical industries.
The products presented by the students and considered by the “Sharks” included:
- Critter Care: One-stop shop allowing owners to travel anywhere in the world with their pets, listing vets, dog parks, and pet shops
- Party Wheels: Alcohol delivery service to prevent drunk driving
- Ameripass: Catchall EZ-Pass app that allows users seamless travel across systems
- Simplex: Interoffice communication service that simplifies scheduling and communication.
- LMK365: Location-based texting app that automatically communicates with pre-determined parties upon arriving at a destination
The winning business idea selected by the “Sharks” was Simplex, whose team received $7,500.00 in scholarships. The runner-up was Ameripass, whose team members were awarded $2,500.00 scholarships. The audience also selected a “Most Socially Responsible” project, which was Critter Care and garnered $100.00 scholarships for each team member.
“Watching these students take ideas from the brainstorming phase all the way to tonight’s investor presentations was an impressive and fulfilling process,” said Professor John Esposito, the L.E.O. Program’s teacher. “The students have utilized countless aspects of the course curriculum in these presentations and we are very proud of the final products of their hard work.”
“The Leonidas Foundation is honored to present these scholarship monies as part of the inaugural ‘Ironworks’ event,” said President Matthew Perricone. “As the first cohort of the L.E.O. Program at Don Bosco Prep, these students have set the bar high for the years to come. We are all very proud of their accomplishments and wish them great prosperity as they transition into the next chapter of their lives.”
The Leonidas Foundation was formed in 2016 following the passing of Don Bosco Preparatory alumnus Leonidas “Leo” Vagias, an avid business enthusiast who expressed his desire to be an entrepreneur from an early age.
“These projects are not only the finished products of a year’s worth of education, but they are all viable businesses with the capacity to positively impact the real world,” said Teddy Vagias, Leo’s father, on behalf of the Vagias family. “This is what drove Leo in his passion for business, and it is incredible to see that same passion embodied among these young men this evening and every day moving forward.”
For more information about The Leonidas Foundation, please visit www.LeoUniteUs.org.
