Image of Phillip J. Patiño School of Entrepreneurship via patinoeschool.org.

With more than $10,000 in start-up funds on the line, 14 business teams from the Patino School of Entrepreneurship will pitch their business plans to panel of judges in the John Dodson Theatre at Bitwise South Stadium.

The Patino School of Entrepreneurship is a Fresno Unified school that features curriculum on innovation, tech and business. Students meet regularly with mentors from the local business community and develop and test new ideas, preparing to open and run their own businesses during their senior year of school. Students also learn business skills through the tradition course subjects of math, English, social studies and science.

“At Patino, students are learning through real-world experiences in business, and preparing for success as entrepreneurs and in life,” said Bob Nelson, superintendent. “It does not get any more real than competing for $10,000 in start-up money.”

The competition will take place Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The panel will determine how much to invest among the top five businesses during the school’s third annual Shark Tank Pitch Night.