ROP’s Virtual Businesses Through the Years

From extreme sports to toothpaste, Samo’s Virtual Business program has been churning out surprising and innovative models for businesses galore.Samo’s prestigious Regional Occupational Program (ROP) Virtual Business program has many interesting and innovative ideas for businesses. The third period class gives students an opportunity to explore and expand on their entrepreneurial skills through the creation of unique business and product blueprints. As an idea for a virtual business develops, the team lays out marketing and financial plans and takes care of the fine details a real business would resolve. The students create and develop everything, from the initial idea to extensive catalogues, which include a description of the business and what it offers. Many business ideas are later pitched to panels to later compete against other schools in contests of colossal caliber. In these competitions, young entrepreneurs set up booths and dress according to their company. Virtual Business helps students develop their inner innovative side and their outer organizational skills to apply to their future careers. For instance, alumnus Aiden Nathanson created many connections with people in south California, the Santa Monica Daily Press and even received job offers in the food business because of the food truck business and blog that he created in the Virtual Business class.Adrenaline Rush Xtreme Boarding Company (2008-2009)

This boarding company promises not to leave you bored. Adrenaline Rush Xtreme Boarding Company offers many snowboarding and surfing packages, depending on which location you visit. The possible locations are Newport Beach, Hawaii, Bali, Mammoth, Whistler and Vail. The company also offers different levels of packages, each with their own perks, benefits and lodging, and also offers apparel, as well as both snowboards and surfboards. Adrenaline Rush allows for an "Xtreme" trip without the stress of planning.

Golden State Getaway (2009-2010)

This enterprise offers 3 and 7 day vacation packages for places all around California including Monterey Bay, Hearst Castle, Solvang, Esalen, Placerville, Sonoma, Warner Springs and many more. The packages are separated into Relaxation and Adventure themes; the goal of the company is to make traveling both easy and affordable to anyone who wants it. In their catalogue you can find anything from wine tasting, horseback riding on the beach and Japanese baths to breakfast arrival by elephant, river rafting and dune buggy rides. This specific project did so well in its overall evaluation that the students were picked from 200 other virtual business applicants in Calif. to go to New York to represent the state. This virtual enterprise offers an easy way to vacation along the coast without “drowning” in stress.

Chi-Chivitos (2010-2011)

In the midst of the food truck boom, ROP students created Chi-Chivitos a gourmet Uruguayan food truck. A chivito is the sandwich-style national dish of Uruguay, consisting of a ciabatta roll with ham, bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese, eggs and a signature sauce, as well as whatever toppings the customer chooses to add, like steak or chicken. Students marketed Chi-Chivitos as a taste of Uruguay. The food truck can be reserved for catering and sells food on the street, independently. With a slogan of “Salivate Responsibly,” Chi-Chivitos promises to be a mouthwatering munch anyone would enjoy.

Java Jabu (2011-2012)

This group of students blended together the services of an old, typical coffee shop with the up-and-coming industry of food trucks to create the Java Jabu company. This enterprise’s objective is not only to offer coffee, pastries, smoothies, teas and juices to customers with the convenience of a food truck, but also to present the health benefits of their various products. Java Jabu’s products boost your health all around, including the well-being of your conscience; part of the company’s profit is donated to impoverished countries through the Water Project which helps to build wells for clean water. This virtual enterprise offers relief from the greasy food truck culture, changing how the industry has “bean” from the “ground” up.

2th Paste Products (2013-2014)

This year’s virtual business class created 2th Paste Products, an oral hygiene company that uses a new and innovative product called Rennou. According to CEO Jake Horowitz (’14), the class weighed the pros and cons and decided that they wanted to sell a product that everyone in the world could use. A real company called Theodent owns the rights to this product, which forces 2th Paste Products to pay to use Rennou. If this class gives any insight as to what future entrepreneurs will look like, we will surely be led by responsible and hard-working intellectuals with healthy gums and enamel to die for.

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