MADISON, Wis. – The deadline is near for entering Wisconsin Youth Entrepreneurs in Science, a statewide youth business plan contest modeled after the successful Governor’s Business Plan Contest. Brief, online entries from middle school and high school students are due by 5 p.m. April 14, 2021.
Public, private and home-schooled students across Wisconsin are eligible to turn their science- and tech-related ideas into business plans and compete for cash and prizes. The contest begins with a 250-word summary submitted through WisconsinYES.com. Entries that advance to Phase 2 of the competition will expand their idea into a 1,000-word executive summary.
As a tool for educators, Wisconsin YES! fosters interest in science and tech education, and encourages students to be independent, creative thinkers capable of problem solving. Throughout the process, students get feedback from professionals across Wisconsin who will serve as judges.
“Leveraging technology, thinking creatively and working as a team are all important characteristics for today’s entrepreneurs,” said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. “Entrepreneurial skills are vital to the long-term success of Wisconsin’s youth, as well as the state’s innovation economy.”
To get started, students create a simple account at WisconsinYES.com. All entries are submitted through the website. Templates and sample entries for both phases are available on the website, along with other entrepreneurial resources.
The end of each phase is followed by about one week of judging. At the end of the judging period, all contestants will be able to log into their accounts and view the judges’ comments.
Students are able to work in teams or as individuals and will be judged based upon their grade level, with the oldest team member determining the team category. Students or teams may enter multiple ideas.
Place finishers in each category – 9th grade and under, 10th grade, 11th grade and 12th grade – are eligible for cash and prizes. The grand prize winner will present his or her winning idea at the virtual Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference, June 3. Past winners have hailed from Minocqua, Racine, Weston, Brookfield, New Glarus, La Crosse and Oshkosh.
You can also see Tom Still on the Bee Educated Pod Cast talking about the contest.
Click here to watch.
The contest is produced by the Wisconsin Technology Council, with major sponsorship thus far provided by WEA Trust and UW-Madison Office of Business Engagement.
Past outreach supporters of the contest include: Department of Financial Institutions, Department of Public Instruction, the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, Project Lead the Way Wisconsin, Secure Futures, STEM Forward, Wisconsin Association of School Boards, and Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials.
The Wisconsin Technology Council is the independent, non-profit and non-partisan science and technology adviser to the Governor and the Legislature. It serves as a catalyst for tech-based economic development in Wisconsin through programs such as the Tech Council Investor Networks, the Governor’s Business Plan Contest and the Tech Council Innovation Network.
