CEI's "Ready Set Launch!" Introduces Entrepreneurship to High School Students

High school students on the brink of entering college often aspire to be, engineers, doctors, journalists, policemen, teachers and more. Rarely, if at all, do you hear the word “entrepreneur” come out of their mouths.
The inaugural “Ready Set Launch!” Youth Week, hosted by the Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI), will introduce the world of entrepreneurship to sophomores, juniors and seniors from several local high schools and encourage them to consider it as a career option.
The week long experience, running from June 17 through June 21, offers students a chance to learn about resources and entrepreneurial opportunities in the Phoenix area and generate business ideas, as well as develop leadership and critical thinking skills.
“With our ‘Ready Set Launch!’ program, we are exposing the emerging field of entrepreneurship to these students and getting them excited about starting their own business in the future,” CEI executive director Jeff Saville said.
During the week, students will form groups and develop a business, including filming commercials, recording radio spots and writing short business plans. At the end of the week, students are given the opportunity to present their business in front of friends, family and a panel of judges. The group with the best overall pitch will receive iPhone accessory kits as prizes, donated by Phillip Felice of Smart Phocus.
“The best part of the week is when the students present all their incredible work on Friday in front of each other and their proud family members,” Saville said.
Students will meet and learn from successful entrepreneurs, such as Courtney Klein-Johnson and Chris Petroff of SeedSpot, Jenny Poon of Co+Hoots, Clarizza Watson of SiO2 Nanotech and Renee Palacios of Phoenix Analysis & Design Technologies. Students will also tour DPR Construction.
“This program is happening at an opportune time with all the entrepreneurial activity happening in Phoenix right now, and we just wanted to tap into that energy,” Saville said.
For more information, click here or call (602) 286-8950.