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FlexFactor™ Finals: Silicon Valley Lets High School Entrepreneurs ShineSAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- NextFlex®, America's Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) Manufacturing Institute, today announced that, together with partners San Jose City College (SJCC) and Jabil, it will host FlexFactor™ Finals: Silicon Valley at 5:30 p.m. this evening in the SJCC Theater. Thirteen teams of high school students from across Silicon Valley were selected to participate in a final "pitch" of their FHE-enabled products to a celebrity panel of judges. Awards will be given for first, second, and third place winners. "In support of our commitment to the future of advanced manufacturing, NextFlex created a program that energizes youth, industry, and local communities around the importance of technologies such as flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) as they relate to everyday life," said NextFlex Executive Director Malcolm Thompson. "By showcasing the vibrancy and reach of modern-day manufacturing, NextFlex, San Jose City College, and Jabil are simultaneously dispelling false perceptions and catalyzing an important group of future industry leaders – especially young women and other underrepresented populations. Our FlexFactor program is at the center of this growing movement." FlexFactor is a month-long program that exposes high school students to the vast range of professional opportunities within advanced manufacturing. Small teams of students identify a human health- or performance-related problem, conceptualize an FHE device to solve it, and develop a viable business model for commercializing their concept. After a month of engaged research, coaching in entrepreneurship, product design, and customer discovery work, students pitch their product and business models to a panel of industry professionals in a "shark tank" style setting. Students who complete all requirements earn college credit with San Jose City College. Finalist teams will then compete in FlexFactor Finals: Silicon Valley. Industry mentors, teachers and school administrators, and friends and family are invited to cheer on the 13 student teams from Branham, Independence, Leigh and Lincoln High Schools in San Jose, Westmont High School in Campbell, and Wilcox High School in Santa Clara. The teams will pitch such creative product ideas as Ovi Patch, a thin, waterproof adhesive that records basal body temperature; Baby Watch, a wearable that monitors heart rate, blood oxygen levels and temperature in newborns; and HelloSign, gloves that convert sign language to audible sound. The celebrity panel of judges includes:
The following organizations are supporting students with awards and opportunities: Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)/Tooling U, The Silicon Valley Organization, work2future, Jabil, Xilinx, and others. The San Jose City College Theater is located at 2100 Moorpark Avenue in San Jose. Note to editors: Photos available upon request. About Flexible Hybrid Electronics About NextFlex About San Jose City College About Jabil
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