Project SEED gives first grant

Two years ago, senior Nikhil Goel founded Project SEED, or Student Entrepreneurs for Educational Development, with his brother Vishal Goel, who graduated in 2012. They wanted to create student-run businesses while earning money for the school.

The project slowly expanded with one business model and many additional members. Eventually, Vishal graduated and turned over the organization to his brother. After cementing the project and proving its viability, Nikhil made current junior Vikram Ramesh the president.

In two years, the organization has raised over $3,000 for the school.

Recently, Project SEED gave its first grant to the art department, helping art teacher Diana Vanry buy essential mat rugs to place the paintings on. 

“The art department often times does not get enough funding because paint supplies are expensive and as a result the teachers have to pay out-of-pocket,” Ramesh said. 

The decision for where the funding goes is made by the students.

“We have a grant board made up by the chairman Nikhil Goel and seniors Rick Roy, Mostafa Rohaninejad, Nick Chow and me,” Ramesh said.

To make the money, the organization teams up with the Salinas Oil Company. Students essentially act as sales people, convincing restaurants to join with Salinas.

According to Ramesh, “Salinas gives [SEED] a portion of the money it pays to restaurants in turn for connecting Salinas with local restaurants.”

With Salinas, the organization has raised thousands of dollars in the past year alone; however, Nikhil and Ramesh hope to expand SEED to raise more money.

“This year Nikhil appointed me president with the sole goal of expanding SEED,” Ramesh said. “We started by expanding the organization from six to about 20 members. If each of those people can just get one restuarant signed up with the Salinas program the school will earn over 2,000 more dollars.” 

With more members, SEED also plans to go further than the Salinas oil project to find additional ways to make money. 

“We hope to have a new model that can also bring in recurring funds similar to the Salinas Project,” Ramesh said.

With its increase in recurring funds, SEED can give grants to more areas of the school.

“We don’t have many requests at the moment, so we have a bunch of money just waiting for teachers to request grants,” Goel said. “The SEED model is self-sustaining and teaches students about important sales skills and entrepreneurial values in calling restaurants and implementing their ideas. It’s a win-win situation all around.”