Article submitted by Linze Rice
Student entrepreneurs in Genoa-Kingston High School’s INCubatoredu business class have been working all year to identify and solve problems in the market, all while creating and promoting a brand.
From 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday May 14, the entrepreneurs will host a networking hour, followed by a pitch presentation at 7 p.m. The event is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend.
There, they’ll learn about three new products — the Dust Finesser, The Farm Box and the Change Maker — all created by local GK students.
The class, led by business and technology teacher Ben Owen, is an elective now in its third year and is comprised of 13 students, ranging from sophomores to seniors, who were interested in learning about entrepreneurship.
Throughout the year, students work in small groups to suss out a specific problem within a market and develop a way to solve it using a lean, hands-on methodology that simulates a real start-up environment.
“Once students identify a problem, they conduct extensive customer interviews, testing, and experimentation to validate the problem and their potential solution,” Owen said. “The class ends with students showcasing their work in a ‘Shark Tank’-like pitch night.”
After each group presents its ideas, it will receive input and feedback from business professionals/community members.
The winner is set to receive a scholarship or stipend, based on corporate sponsorship support.
“The class is extremely important because, regardless of what a student’s future plans are, the class helps prepare them to be more successful,” Owen said. “Even if a student does not want to start their own business, the class teachers them valuable skills that will apply to college and careers as they move forward. The class is high intensity and pushes students out of their comfort zones making them more well-rounded and prepared to tackle their future endeavors.”
Come meet the GK entrepreneurs at 7 p.m. on May 14 at Genoa-Kingston High School, 980 Park Ave. in Genoa.
Click Here To Submit A News Tip Or Story