2026-2027 Series Guidelines

YEC Series Requirements

1. The physical location of the competition must be in Kansas. Competitions may be virtual.
2. Student participants must reside in Kansas; exceptions require prior approval.
3. Competition must be open to at least one high school grade or equivalent, but can also include grades 6-8, if desired. Ex. 7-12th, 9-12th, 10th grade only, or 6-9th grades are all acceptable competition structures.
4. The competition must include a written Executive Summary and a Formal Presentation; additional in-person components optional: elevator pitch, tradeshow, and/or other event.
5. Follow the YEC brand guide on our website: bit.ly/3SdrTsw. The following logos must be included: Network Kansas, K-State Extension, and K-State Center for the Advancement of Entrepreneurship.
6. The competition must apply for a Network Kansas sanction by November 14, 2026, or before the event if held earlier.
7. Prizes are not mandatory. Competitions offering prizes typically do not exceed a total of $3,500 in prizes, and prize structures typically do not exceed $1,500 for first place, $1,250 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. Other examples of prizes may be “People’s Choice Award” or “Banker’s Choice Award”, etc.
8. Event must occur between August 1, 2026, and March 24, 2027.
9. Competition host must agree to pay a $1,500 sanction fee to Network Kansas; waived for eCommunity organized events. This fee includes access to the VentureDash platform to host your event.
10. A student may compete in only one local event per 2026-2027 YEC Series and may only submit one business concept per competition (Wildcard events exempt).
11. Communities may only organize or participate in one local event per the 2026-2027 YEC Series, unless compelling reasons for more than one competition exist. Prior approval is needed.
12. Fill out summary to ensure students get signed up for YEC State and remain in good standing with Network Kansas.

About

The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) Series is a Network Kansas program. Network Kansas is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Any fees or donations for the YEC Series support program costs. ©Network Kansas, 2027, all rights reserved. Communities hosting local entrepreneurship competitions can apply for a sanction to join the “Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Series,” leading to a statewide competition (YEC State). To qualify and use eCommunity grant funds (see p. 4), competitions must meet specific guidelines.

Benefits

All sanctioned events will gain access to a suite of tools and resources from Network Kansas and KSU, including entrepreneurship videos and a resource kit for planning and hosting a local competition, with full access to VentureDash, a digital tool for planning, organizing, and running a youth entrepreneurship competition with supplemental resources for classroom curriculum. All sanctioned events will earn one guaranteed spot at YEC State to be used by the 1st place business or a first alternate. All sanctioned event participants are encouraged to compete for Wildcard spots for YEC State. Students that participate in the local YEC events will have more direct access to the Regional competitions via our marketing/support systems.

eCommunities & Additional Requirements

For Network Kansas eCommunities with a sanctioned event, follow these additional guidelines to access eCommunity grant funds (first-come, first-served basis) for event costs. Funds can cover hosting, educational materials, prizes, travel fees, and other related expenses.

1. At least one member of the local eCommunity leadership team and/or financial review board must help organize and/or host the competition. This person will work with their Community Entrepreneurship Professional to set up the event.
2. Events must take place within the geographic boundaries of an eCommunity, even if participants from beyond that area are admitted.
3. eCommunities must invite a local or regional public sector business resource partner to participate as a committee member, educational resource, mentor, and/or judge. A great recommendation to fill this role is the local K-State Extension professional in some part of the planning process or invite them to serve as one of the roles previously mentioned. Some additional partners may include KSBDC, SCORE, Kansas Department of Commerce, Certified Development Companies, Kansas Main Street, USDA, City/County Economic Development organizations, or college/university business department instructors.
4. Establish a working group or committee as a subset of the leadership team to organize the event.
5. eCommunities should include private sector business resource partners as committee members, resources, mentors, or judges such as bankers, attorneys, insurance, accountants, and entrepreneurs.
6. eCommunities connect students to mentors, which could include leadership team and/or financial review board members, resource partners, entrepreneurs, bankers, public officials, etc.

Additional Benefits for eCommunity Events

• $1,500 sanction application fee is waived for the 2026-2027 Series.

• Full access to VentureDash, a digital tool for planning, organizing, and running a competition with supplemental resources for classroom curriculum and event planning. A $250 prize sponsored by Network Kansas will be given to the school or classroom of the 1st place student.

• Access to additional assistance from their regional eCommunity representative to plan and host the event.

• A judge will be provided for local event by Network Kansas, if needed.

• Access to additional grant funds* to pay for state competition travel expenses, if needed.