Entreprenuer Involvement

Getting Students Involved with Resource Partners

• Get information to both parties as soon as possible
• Let students know their ideas are valid
• Guide students in critical thinking – find an idea that piques their interest but also has an actual need for a solution
• Help students understand the importance of entrepreneurship in the real world and specifically in their community
• Help students understand the resources they have access to – in and out of school
• Offer local entrepreneurs the chance to take part in this event for exposure to their business and/or to give back to the community
• Connect students with local business owners for mentoring and advice
• Gently push students out of their comfort zones
• Help students to think about their products/services from a marketing perspective
• Involve the judges as mentors
• Think about having a “Counselor’s Corner” / Makerspace type of set up at the event
• Celebrate successes with students after the event is over
• Organizing a day where resource partner(s) are available to students in person is key
• Ask leadership team members or business leaders to volunteer in person or to review a handful of draft executive summaries – good way to connect students with resources
• Have students give their presentations to the Financial Review Board for practice
• Work with school to plan a field trip to explore local businesses or empty buildings or to visit with the local appraiser or treasurer's office so they understand the costs of owning a building/what's available for retail space, etc.