Investing in
Our Future
Thanks to our E-Community status through Network Kansas, Ellsworth County proudly hosts an annual Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge for grades 7-12 students living in Ellsworth County. This state-sanctioned competition is based on 4 competencies and instructs students in entrepreneurial skills to build our business owner pipeline.
2025 Participants
Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
"Shark Tank Challenge"
What Do Students Learn?
Competing students compete for cash prizes in 4 categories. The Trade Show portion is open to the public and will be posted here when the competition is open.
Competition Opens: November 2024
Competition Date: February 17, 2025
The Executive Summary is a written business summary, in PDF format, including details of how the business intends to operate. An executive summary is similar to a business plan, but usually shorter, covering much of the same information in summarization.
Executive Summary
The Elevator Pitch is a short pitch of an entrepreneur's business to a panel of judges. The goal of an elevator pitch should be to provide an overview of the business and to leave the audience excited to learn more.
Elevator Pitch
The Formal Presentation is a four-to-six-minute presentation where each business will share details of its product or service with a panel of judges, usually in the form of visual slides.
Formal Presentation
The Tradeshow is a 60-minute event where businesses will have the opportunity to pitch their product or service to the community and judges using a tradeshow booth as a visual and informational aid.
Trade Show
Thank you so much for putting on our local YEC along with providing me the opportunity to go on to the state level. I have learned so much in the last to years participating in the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. Being awarded with first place at the county level motivated me to compete at state. At the Kansas YEC, I was in the top category. By participating in both the county and the state competitions, I have been awarded a total of $4,000. So far, I have used these funds to purchase more materials and tools to help me continue to build my skillset. I would not have had this amazing opportunity if your organization had not offered this program. It is an incredible opportunity for all of our young entrepreneurs in the area. Again, thank you for your continued support of the youth in Ellsworth County.
Josie Kueser
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