by Rachel Thomas
Mira Costa High School junior Maia Rocha has received a $1,700 investment from the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy for her productivity application, Doing Done. Her presentation to the local YEA judges also earned her a trip to the Saunders Scholars competition in Rochester, New York, May.
Doing Done is designed to aid users in managing their tasks efficiently, and is available on the Apple App Store and on Rocha’s website doingdone.fun. The app incorporates strategies such as pomodoros and Kanbans — techniques that have been instrumental in Maia’s own academic success, especially in managing her ADHD. These methods have helped her excel in multiple AP classes, sparking her desire to help others achieve similar success.
“I originally made the app for students like me, but the more I talked about it, the more I learned that it could be good for anyone who has a list of things to do, and who sometimes needs a little motivation to get started.”
Maia was one of 21 businesses to pitch to YEA investors, who included Kinecta Federal Credit Union, Manhattan Beach Toyota, Manhattan Beach Rotary, and the City of Manhattan Beach. Mira Costa sophomore Reece Gordon was runner-up with his business. Cover Clamp, a tool for golfers. MBMS 8th grader Emily Lara-Donis received an investment for her business StepProtect, a shoe insert for people who play sports on artificial turf.
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy is a national program aimed at fostering entrepreneurial skills among students from grades 6 to 12. In Manhattan Beach since 2015, the program has encouraged students from across the South Bay to write business plans, and pitch to local investors. Last year’s local Saunders Scholar, Mira Costa student Lila Mokhtari, won the national competition and received a $30,000 college scholarship, a cash prize, and admission to the Golisano School for Business and Entrepreneurship for her eco-friendly soap business..
For more information about the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, please visit ManhattanBeachChamber.com. ER
