A hi-tech platform to help parents prepare their children for the school year has scooped the top prize in a competition designed to promote innovative start-up companies.

School Boxes won first place and the people’s choice award for its online site which allows parents to pre-order and buy school supplies, based on the list of items provided by schools.

Other winners of the Startup Weekend included runner-up YouthConnect, which is designed to give young people between the ages of 13 and 27 training and job placement.

Smart Stop — a business idea to provide wi-fi connectivity at bus stops across the island — took third spot.

Nick Kempe, chairman of the BEDC, said: “I enjoy participating in Startup Weekend because it is inspiring to see the breadth of ideas that people have.

“I am certain that several of the businesses pitched this weekend can launch and create answers to some of the problems that we face daily.”

More than 40 people attended last weekend’s event, the fourth of its kind, with 36 registered participants and 24 pitches. These included Jada Phillips, 10, although her idea to create “Nail and Craft” was not selected to be part of the six finalists.

Once the finalists were selected, attendees at the weekend picked an idea to support and six teams were formed.

Teams worked together to build on the idea until they came up with a viable business concept, with the help of coaches from the business world.

The event was supported by Bermuda High School for Girls, professional services firm Deloitte, drinks firm John Barritt & Son, the Babson Alumni Club, Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative of Bermuda, Connectech, the Freisenbruch-Meyer Group and Sticker Giant.

Brett Henshilwood, risk advisory partner at Deloitte, said: “At Deloitte we are committed to our community and are pleased to continue to support Startup Weekend locally.

“We have supported this event since it started because we recognise that it is a great starting point for entrepreneurs to gain knowledge about the process of forming, validating and creating new businesses.

“In addition, it provides a great way for participants to develop their networks with people who can share insights about new technological developments.”

Startup Weekend is backed by the Bermuda Government’s Department of E-Commerce and the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation.