Students from Brownstown Central, Crothersville, Medora and Seymour high schools are presenting their business ideas in the initial stages of Maverick Challenge Jackson County.
The Maverick Challenge is a high school entrepreneur program aimed at empowering and challenging students to unleash their entrepreneurial potential by developing innovative, creative, resourceful and sustainable business ideas.
The program is a partnership between the JCIDC Workforce Partnership, Jackson County Chamber, Seymour Main Street and Brownstown Ewing Main Street. The idea is to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to generate unique and comprehensive business solutions by providing resources, mentorships and community support.
On Sept. 24, Doug Prather, Jaylyn Stam, Philip Roggow and Dan Robison took time out of their day to hear Seymour High School students’ business ideas. On Sept. 25 and 26, other local business professionals will visit the other three schools to meet with students.
The business idea rubrics filled out by the business professionals will be given to the teachers leading the program at each of the schools to share with the students.
In October and November, the students will do classroom work on lean canvas, slide deck and video. Also in October, they will hear from classroom speakers and work on their presentation and video. Also in November, there will be more classroom speakers, the students will work on financials and marketing and they can attend a SPARK/Maverick Challenge Jackson County Combine.
From November to January, after teachers have identified the teams that want to continue with the competition, they will be paired with mentors. Students will be required to meet with their mentors at least three times and will be responsible for ongoing communication with them.
Once the submissions are reviewed in February, the 10 finalists will be announced. They will participate in the oral competition March 5.
