Were used to watchingShark Tanks Robert Herjavec cutdeals with adult entrepreneurs on ABC. Now, the reality show staris turning his attention to school kids by partnering withPepsiCos Frito-Lay to launch a Dreamventioncontest.

Above: Dreamvention mascot with Frito-Lay chips

Image Credit: Brnice Magistretti/VentureBeat

Kids aged seven and up can submit their inventions by uploading an original drawing on the Dreamvention website the deadline for entry is April 24. The winner, who will be announced in December, will receive a cash prize of $250,000. In addition, product development firm Mako Design+ Invent will turn the winners idea into a prototype, thus paving the way for a lucky kid-trepreneur to start his or her own business.

The partnership officially kicked off last Monday at Google Garage, which hosted about two dozen Bay Area fifth graders for a morning Invent-athon. The studentsteamed up with Googlers to get their creative juices flowing and pitch ideas to an intrigued Herjavec. From a helium-filled backpack to a snowball gun, the ideas were as practical as they were imaginative.

I think once a mind has expanded, it can never go back to its original size, said Robert Herjavec, in an exclusive interview with VentureBeat. So I think the idea is to really let them expand their minds to show them anythings possible. And I have no doubt that some of these kids will achieve something great one day.

Above: Google Garage

Image Credit: Brnice Magistretti/VentureBeat

Above: Kids and Googlers brainstorming

Image Credit: Brnice Magistretti/VentureBeat

Above: One of the group tables

Image Credit: Brnice Magistretti/VentureBeat

Frito-Lay has also partnered with YoungMinds Inspired (YMI), a free educational outreach program. The 10 schools that submit the most inventive ideas will each be awarded $5,000 to help further in-class science programs.

Read more from the original source:

Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec coaches kids to fuel entrepreneurial spirit - VentureBeat