Build something true, good, and beautiful.
Current high school students are invited to the Startup Venture Challenge, a summer program for high school students to explore their interest in business and entrepreneurship. Student participants will launch a business or social venture inspired by the True, the Good, and the Beautiful in the course of a 10-week virtual startup bootcamp.
SVC is an intensive 10 week challenge where participants will be guided through the process of identifying, developing, and launching a business that provides goods that are truly good or services that truly serve. Participants will learn from Busch School professors and business mentors. Weekly challenges will guide participants through the process of starting their business by the end of the bootcamp. During the weekly live meetings participants will learn about key business and entrepreneurship concepts and learn from their peers and guest lecturers.
What to Expect from the Challenge
Running from the week of June 8th-August 10th, participants will attend a weekly group meeting over Zoom, build community with entrepreneurial minded peers, and complete weekly challenges to prepare for their business launch.
- Week 1-3: Discernment and Identification of Business Idea
- Week 4: Business Launch
- Weeks 5-9: Testing Developing the Business Model
- Week 10: The Next Great Adventure: Plugging into resources and community to take things to the next level
Over the 10 weeks you will hear from various guest speakers including faculty from the Busch School of Business and Catholic business leaders.
At the end of the Startup Venture Challenge a total of $5,000 will be awarded to the top participants in the Startup Venture Challenge to support their business venture. The Startup Venture Challenge is a 10 week commitment that requires a virtual meeting once a week on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Eligibility for the monetary awards are contingent upon weekly attendance and completion of the weekly challenges. If students are unable to attend each week, they will still gain valuable business experience, but they won’t be eligible for the monetary awards.
To join this challenge, submit your application today.
Details:
Applications for Summer 2026 open February 16th
Application deadline is April 15th
Cost: $1,000 (scholarships available based on financial need)
Dates: June, 9th 2026-August, 13th 2026
Frequently Asked Questions:
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How do I know if the Startup Venture Challenge is for me?
This challenge is perfect for any teens between the ages of 14-18 who are curious about business and entrepreneurship. The ideal participant is someone who is ready to take action, try new things, and willing to learn from failure while they develop new skills. You don’t need to have your business idea figured out when you start the program. We will help you with that. You do need to make a commitment to taking action to try something throughout the course of the 10-week bootcamp.
At the end of the Startup Venture Challenge you will not only have launched a business but you will have deepened your business knowledge and marketing skills, learned how to pivot your strategy, and develop your problem solving and communication skills.
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I am interested in the Startup Venture Challenge but I don't have any ideas of the kind of business I want to start. Can I still join?
Yes! Participants do not need to have a business idea before joining the Startup Venture Challenge. The Challenge is designed to help participants brainstorm and identify a business idea that is personally interesting, creates value for customers, and is achievable. If you already have some ideas of the kind of business you are interested in that is wonderful, but if you are not yet sure what your business will be that is perfectly fine! -
Will I need to invest money in my business?
No, the Startup Venture Challenge is set up for you to launch your business for free - no investment needed. While participants will not need to invest money in their business, if any participants wishes to invest personal money into their business they are free to do so while keeping in mind that all investment includes risk.
The Startup Venture Challenge is built around the lean startup model. Participants will start with a minimally viable product (MVP) so they can immediately begin testing in the marketplace, collecting customer feedback, and refining their business model so that they develop their business and product to truly deliver value in the marketplace.
Although businesses part of the SVC can be started for free, there will be an opportunity for participants to make a pitch to angel investors and compete to receive up to $500 to invest in their business.
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What are the dates for the Startup Venture Challenge?
The Startup Venture Challenge will run for 10 weeks beginning June 9th and ending August 13th. Participants will be required to attend 1 live, virtual meeting each week. There will be options for the days and times to meet. -
How much does it cost to participate?
The cost for the Startup Venture Challenge is $1,000. There are scholarships available, we do not want anyone to be unable to participate because of money.
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