Indian-American high school student Saket Pathak won the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) West Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge securing first place for his innovative business idea. Along with Pathak, two other students were named as winners of second and third place by the NFTE.

A student of Silver Creek High School, San Jose, California, Pathak was selected winner by a panel of judges for his original innovative business idea, InclusifyIQ, a mobile app that offers DEI (Diversity, Equity and Innovation) training and consulting to create inclusive workplaces. He was awarded US$1,500 for winning the competition. Young entrepreneur Pathak distinguished himself through innovative business ideas to compete with five co-winners from across the regions at the national finals in New York on October 3 for the National Champion title and cash prizes from a pool of US$18,000, according to a release.

In his initiative to give back to society, the young entrepreneur founded Learning Quest, an organization with a mission to make education and learning accessible for every child in places where they cannot get it. His mission to support child education is inspired by his visit to India about five years ago.

In a statement, on his support of child education, he said, “Inspired by a 2017 trip to India where the first book donation drive was conducted for underprivileged kids, I decided to start helping kids around the world through what I think is a resource many needy kids lack, proper education, and learning tools.”

NFTE aims to ignite the entrepreneurial mindset with unique learning experiences that empower students to own their futures. It provides high-quality entrepreneurship education to middle school, high school and post-secondary students.