Great Bend Economic Development and the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce welcome Barton County’s third annual Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge this spring. This competition was created to challenge youth, encourage the business community to partner with and mentor younger generations, and foster an entrepreneurial spirit. NetWork Kansas holds regional and state Youth Entrepreneurship Challenges as part of its mission in developing entrepreneurship ecosystems throughout Kansas. The partnership with NetWork Kansas allows YEC contestants to use VentureDash, the contestant portal. Great Bend Economic Development and the Great Bend Chamber partner on this competition as both organizations are tasked with strengthening the area’s workforce, and that means nurturing the next generation’s entrepreneurs.
This competition will take place at the Great Bend Events Center on March 8, 2023. All participants will put together a tradeshow presentation of their business idea and share it with the public. They will also present their formal 4-minute presentation to the judges. This year, the competition has grown to include 7th graders through 12th graders. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this event to cheer on the student competitors and show their support for the next generation of business ideas.
After the tradeshow exhibition, the winners will be announced. There is $2,500 in prize money to be divided among the top competitors. Third place will receive $500 second place will receive $750 and first place will receive $1,000 and the opportunity to continue onto the Statewide competition. Audience members will also have a chance to vote for their favorite and award one competitor $250.
How students
can participate
The competition finale is about three months away, so participants are encouraged to get started on their business plans. Students wanting to join the competition can go to the Great Bend Economic Development Inc. webpage for more information on YEC at www.gbedinc.com/yec. This page holds sample business plans, links to resources on giving presentations, as well as a few of 2022’s contestant interviews. Also, students can join the competition with a link to the VentureDash contestant portal. After a student joins the competition, they will be paired with a business mentor to help them iron-out details, ask them questions, and fine-tune the student’s business plan and presentation.
How the community
can participate
The community can help in a few ways, such as a sponsor of the live event, a business mentor, and/or a teacher champion. Depending on the sponsorship level, sponsors can speak to the contestants and community before the winners are announced at the live event and/or have their logo on all marketing materials. As a business mentor, you are matched with a student, to help them with their business plans and 4-minute presentation. Teacher Champions are needed as well, teachers can guide students from inside the classroom and have more facetime with students that may not have heard about the competition.
If you/your business would like more information about sponsoring the live event, being a teacher champion, or becoming a business mentor, contact GBED staff at marketing@gbedinc.comor or by calling 620-796-2407.
