Entrepreneurship Students Dive Into ‘Shark Tank’ Competition

Dallas business leaders help support ESD’s EagleSpark Incubator Program

Who says you have to swim with the sharks to soar like an eagle? Not the participants in the Episcopal School of Dallas’ annual entrepreneurship competition.

ESD’s version possesses all the elements of the popular television show. Students present their business models in front of a panel of “sharks” who include local business leaders, SMU faculty, and a current SMU student who was a previous winner of the competition. 

Judges pose tough questions, critique the business plans, and select finalists. 

“Pitching to a panel of real business leaders gives students a unique, high stakes learning experience that goes beyond the classroom,” said Amy Livingston, the program’s faculty advisor. “They’re not just presenting an idea — they’re learning to think on their feet, respond to tough questions, and communicate their vision with confidence.”

Two standouts are selected to expand their business models through the EagleSpark Incubator Program, where industry leaders, including several ESD alums, offer mentorship as student entrepreneurs transform their ideas into real-world ventures. 

“Entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting a business — it’s about problem-solving, creativity, and adaptability,” Livingston said. “In today’s fast-changing world, students need to think critically, take initiative, and turn ideas into action.”

This year’s ‘Shark Tank’ winners were Zaen Zaidi for ZEAL, McKenzie Clancy and Ella Floyd for EliteSeat, and Brooks Prestidge, Bauer Berkley, and Cole Horton for Pathway.

Pathway, designed to help guide college applicants through the complex process, seemed a suitable venture for high school students, said teammate Cole Horton.

“When I started the entrepreneurship course in August, I saw entrepreneurs as people who worked alone,” Horton said. “When it came time to decide whether to work with others or alone, I decided to take the group path. I realized that having a team is one of the greatest decisions you can make.”

Rett Detwiler and Tyler Brausa were chosen to continue through the EagleSpark Incubator Program.

“The chance to be selected for the EagleSpark Incubator takes this experience to the next level,” Livingston said. “It’s not just about pitching an idea — it’s about proving its potential and earning the opportunity to bring it to life with mentorship and real-world support.” 

Detwiler wants to help ranch owners unlock the hidden revenue potential on their land. By assessing the unique characteristics of a ranch, his company, Rett’s Profit Path Ranch Solutions, created a plan for customized options to maximize ranch profitability. 

“We offer … selective timber harvesting, crop diversification, water management, renewable energy leasing, recreational activities, conservation programs, carbon credits, livestock leasing, and oil and gas infrastructure,” said the senior.

Brausa’s idea for RentSafe, a platform designed to empower renters with the details needed to make an informed decision before signing a lease, grew out of a bad personal experience.

After his family reported water damage to their landlord upon moving into a rental property, weeks passed with no response.

“As someone with asthma and a severe mold allergy, living in a house with potential mold is simply not an option,” the junior explained. 

“Renters should know just as much about a property as buyers, especially with the rising costs of rent,” Brausa said.

The ‘Shark Tank’ process taught him to believe in his ideas and present them with self-assuredness, he said. “As I began to understand business basics and learn how to become an entrepreneur, I realized that confidence was key to success.”