A young baker who started a cookie-baking business despite co-ordination problems has won $5,000 in a competition for start-ups.

Ahmani Peets, 17, landed first place in the Youth Rocket Pitch competition for his presentation on Ahmani’s Cookie Company.

The young entrepreneur explained that starting a business was a difficult process because he had problems relating to his autism.

However, he added: “I stayed focused and kept practising and then I perfected cookie-making.

“When you do the same thing you always get the same results.”

Ahmani’s father, Anthony, explained that his son’s ability to repeat patterns and conversations had helped the growth of the business.

He added: “I wanted to provide him with a skill that he could utilise throughout his life.

“Because he has this immense attention to detail, I just knew that whatever I do, he can do, so I started baking with him.”

Mr Peets also Ahmani’s ability to repeat what he hears — echolalia — made it easy for him to practice a speech for the Youth Rocket Pitch competition.

He explained: “When Ahmani was up there, he had no nerves, no stutters — he was entirely focused.

“Before, he had problems with his speech, but now he’s gotten significantly better.”

Ahmani was invited to participate in the youth category of the competition, which was held last Monday. The competition gave young entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their ideas for a chance to win a $5,000 cash award and a package of services to help them boost their business ideas.

Ahmani got to the finals and outlined the expansion of his business since its launch in February.

He told the audience: “Bermuda has approximately 65,000 people as its population. The most recent research shows that 95.2 per cent of people eat cookies.

“Warm or not warm, this means that I have 61,750 potential customers.” Ahmani said that he and his family ran the bakery from their Pembroke home, where he makes cookies in 23 flavours from his own recipes.

Customers order fresh-baked cookies or cookie dough from the bakery’s website and get the treats delivered in between 24 and 36 hours.

Ahmani added that his cookies were sold at Lindo’s Warwick supermarket and the Rubis gas station on East Broadway.

His cookie company has also shipped cookies to 11 countries, including the United States, Canada and as far afield as Kenya. Ahmani said that restaurants had also expressed an interest in featuring his cookies on their menus.

He added that he enjoyed owning his own cookie business and planned to expand operations over the next year.

Ahmani said: “Baking makes me happy and comfortable, especially when my customers say that they enjoy my products.

“I like seeing the results and how my products taste.”

He added: “Everyone enjoys cookies. Just about a thousand people eat cookies each day.”