Grit, dedication, and effort — all three were demonstrated by FVHS students Karalyn Law, 16, and Sydney Sato, 14, in their most recent Virtual Enterprise contest. The two earned a firstplace finish and a $1,500 prize at the Panther Cage Pitch Competition for their premium-grade Drip Chicken Essence, a concentrated, highly nutritious drink made by slowly extracting the essence of chicken bones and meat.
Hosted at Chapman University, the competition draws dozens of top student products in a “Shark Tank”-style format that promotes teamwork, efficiency, and presentation.
“It didn’t feel like just a competition — it felt like a learning experience,” Sydney said. “Everyone was so supportive, and the feedback we received helped us think about our business in new ways.”
Branded under “It’s TRUE” from their parent company, Delicious and Nutritious — or DAN for short — Karalyn and Sydney’s product was inspired by a trip to Asia, where chicken essence is widely consumed for its flavor and health benefits.
After a family member was diagnosed with cancer and struggled to get essential nutrients, the two saw an opportunity to develop a more accessible version. They began producing bottles of the essence and eventually patented a “saunification” process that preserves more nutrients for longer. To date, they’ve sold more than $20,000 worth of product through word of mouth and plan to use their prize money to further grow the business.
The girls began their journey in entrepreneurship at Girls Inc. “Being part of this experience gave us so much,” Karalyn said. “We’re excited to keep learning, keep growing — and maybe even help the next generation of girl entrepreneurs do the same.”