A local competition offers a platform for Douglas County youth to pitch their business ideas and earn cash prizes.
The 2025 Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge is open to students in sixth through 12th grades who reside in Douglas County, and it’s free to enter, according to a county news release.
Participants prepare a written summary of their businesses, give an elevator speech and formal presentation, and construct a trade show display.
This will be the seventh year of the competition. Students have previously pitched businesses with services, such as swimming lessons, pet sitting and lawn tool rentals, and goods such as resale clothing, jewelry and baked goods. In 2024, there were 15 student participants representing nine businesses.
Local entrepreneurs, teachers and other community members serve on a judges panel. Douglas County Commissioner Shannon Reid has previously been a judge for the event.
“The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge is one of the coolest events Douglas County gets to be part of each year,” Reid said in the release. “I love that we can help showcase local youth who are endlessly creative and who have neat ideas to share.”
Students compete for $3,000 in prize money — first place earning $1,2500; second place $1,000; third place $500; and a People’s Choice Award, $250. The teacher of the first-place winner also earns $250.
The registration deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24. Applications can be found via goventuredash.com.
Participants will make their pitches at the competition scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to noon Friday, Feb. 7, at the Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center, 2920 Haskell Ave. in Lawrence.
Learn more on the county’s website, dgcoks.gov.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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