January 21, 2026 – Palm Beach County, FL — More than 100 high school students from 21 public and private schools across the Palm Beaches will compete in the inaugural Wall Street South Stock Pitch Competition, presenting investment recommendations to Wall Street South executives.
Hosted by the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, the competition will take place January 21 at Palm Beach State College’s Palm Beach Gardens campus. The Board aims to expose high school students to the broad spectrum of financial service firms in the county and the career paths they can pursue after graduation.
Student teams of five will deliver five-minute investment pitches, followed by three minutes of feedback from judges. Teams will advance through preliminary rounds before the top performers compete in a Final Four Finale, presenting live in front of all attendees for $10,000 in cash prizes for first-, second-, and third places.
The event will also feature Career Talk Panels with finance executives, providing students with exposure to careers in finance and investing.
The competition aligns with the Business Development Board’s official branding of the Palm Beaches as “Wall Street South,” reflecting the region’s growing concentration of financial firms and investment professionals.
“This event highlights the growing role the Palm Beaches play in the financial sector and creates meaningful exposure for students interested in finance and investing,” said Kelly Smallridge, President and CEO of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County.
Participating schools represent every region of the county, from the Glades to Boca Raton and north to Jupiter. The Final Four Finale is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. in the Meldon Lecture Hall at Palm Beach State College.
Presenting sponsors include Point72, Tremblant Capital, RiverNorth, and the Stiles-Nicholson Foundation, with DSM Capital Partners, Gunster, and SpinaO’Rourke + Partners serving as supporting sponsors.
Participating schools include:
Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts; American Heritage School; Atlantic Community High School; Boca Raton Community High School; Boynton Beach Community High School; Cardinal Newman High School; FAU High School; Glades Central High School; Jupiter Christian School; Olympic Heights Community High School; Oxbridge Academy; Pahokee Middle-Senior High School; Palm Beach Gardens High School; Pine Crest School; Saint Andrew’s School; Spanish River Community High School; The Benjamin School; The King’s Academy; The Pine School; William T. Dwyer High School; and Xceed Preparatory Academy.
Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts; American Heritage School; Atlantic Community High School; Boca Raton Community High School; Boynton Beach Community High School; Cardinal Newman High School; FAU High School; Glades Central High School; Jupiter Christian School; Olympic Heights Community High School; Oxbridge Academy; Pahokee Middle-Senior High School; Palm Beach Gardens High School; Pine Crest School; Saint Andrew’s School; Spanish River Community High School; The Benjamin School; The King’s Academy; The Pine School; William T. Dwyer High School; and Xceed Preparatory Academy.
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About the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County:
The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB) serves as the county’s official public/private economic development organization. Established in 1982, the BDB is dedicated to attracting and retaining industries, fostering business investments, creating high-quality jobs, and supporting workforce development through corporate relocations, expansions, and international trade initiatives. Over the past five years, the BDB has supported more than 140 companies, contributing to the creation or retention of over 13,110 direct jobs with average salaries exceeding $80,000 per year. These efforts have driven more than $1.12 billion in capital investments into Palm Beach County.
