3 minute read
INCubator
New District Program Supports Entrepreneurial Students
student contribution by Shreya Srivathsan & Jacob Turner
Prosper ISD now offers the INCubatoredu program for high school students, a projectbased learning experience which provides opportunities that are not normally available in traditional courses.
The Incubator program offers students the opportunity to plan, simulate and execute start up business ideas from scratch. Oriented for juniors and seniors and any student who has at least one business credit, this program is offered through the entrepreneurship class.
At the beginning of the year, students are placed into groups based on similar interests and then work together throughout the year to create a business plan. At the end of the year, they pitch the idea to a group of community business leaders in a Shark-Tank type of pitch meeting.
“The INCubator program provides students with the opportunity to create real companies, real businesses. In a classroom setting, it’s less risky for new entrepreneurs and is an opportunity to learn without fear,” explained Rock Hill Business CTE teacher Kaley Brejcha.
This program exposes students to the idea of what entrepreneurship means and what it takes to start something meaningful from scratch. It covers everything from ideation, business plans, business case creation, target market analysis, path to profitability, and creating shark-tank style elevator pitches.
“Kids walk away with a lot of perseverance and resilience because they have to iterate and learn to be adaptable and change. You learn how to pivot, make changes, and grow as a student and entrepreneur,” Jerry LaMirand, Texas Regional Director for Uncharted Learning said about the program.
Uncharted Learning, the parent company of this high school entrepreneurship program, provides on demand professional development and personalized learning through workshops, materials, and lesson-plans that students, parents, and staff can preview.
What makes the incubator program authentic is the involvement and participation from the community. Coaches and mentors volunteer their time to advise INCubator students with their start-ups. They provide insight from their own experiences leading to additional support during the entire lifecycle of the start-up business.
“The skills that the students learn from a program like this are what they need in the real world. Whether you create a business [from the course] or not, you still learn how to think critically, learn to work with others, presentation skills, communication skills, and it is generally something that colleges value in prospective students.” Brejcha said.
INCubator students work together on creating a prototype.
- Jerri LaMirand, Texas Regional Director for Uncharted Learning
