High School Business Idea Competition BIGIdeaSD

1. High SchoolBusiness Idea Competition www.BIGIdeaSD.com

2. The Middle Border

3. History • Previous Business Competition Discussions • Gathering of Stakeholders (2007) • Find Common Understanding • Creating a Workable Project • Youth Focus (Grades 9-12) • Regional Scope to Start (~40 schools first year) • Build on Existing Programs (fall semester fit) • Use Local Web Design Firm to Create Online App

4. Committee Goals • To expose youth to new ideas and innovation in the hopes that they will view entrepreneurship as an option for their future. Rather than leaving the region to look for a job, they can have the confidence to create their own opportunities close to home and know that there is support for them should you choose to do so. • To expand the reach of the competition to more schools, continue to integrate the competition with other entrepreneurship education opportunities at the high school level and beyond, and explore partnerships with interested groups to accomplish these goals.

5. Competition Process • Submit Your Plan Online: • Students create a login at website (www.BIGIdeaSD.com). • Students must cover these important points in their entry: • Concept Overview (75) • Product or Service (250) • Market Opportunity (250) • Competition (250) • Management & Operations (250)

6. CompetitionProcess • Submit Your Plan Online: • Students choosing to compete in the optional BIG Idea Marketing Design Competition must submit a logo and an ad for their idea. • All submitted applications will be reviewed and scored by a panel of judges and the top eight submissions will advance to the final competition.

7. Competition Process • Final Competition: • The eight finalists will be required to make a 5-minute maximum presentation with a visual component to a panel of judges • Winners are determined by a combination of their written and verbal scores. • Marketing Design winner is based on scoring alone – scored separately.

8. Competition Process • Award Ceremony: • All schools and students participating in the BIG Idea Competition are invited to the Awards Ceremony. • The ceremony includes a panel discussion with successful entrepreneurs, and the eight finalists deliver their elevator pitches. • Final Competition viewable on DDN

9. Competition Process • Award Ceremony: • The winner of the Marketing Design Competition is recognized and invited to display their marketing pieces and give a brief description. • Awards are presented to the top three winners in the Business Idea Competition.

10. Prizes • 1st Place • $1,000 Cash • Scholarship from • Presentation College • Scholarship from Northern • State University • 2nd Place • $500 Cash • Scholarship from • Presentation College • 3rd Place • $250 Cash • Marketing Design • $500 Cash

11. Marketing the Program • Letters to teachers, principals, counselors • Emails – Youth Business Adventure, past entrants, reminders • Posters and Flyers • Local Economic Development Groups • Facebook • Department of Education Staff and Events • Other Events • Website

12. BIG Idea Homepage BIGIdeaSD.com

13. Previous Winners Page

14. Entry Form

15. Entry Form

16. Participation History

17. 2011 BIG Idea Participation Expanded Marketing to Eastern South Dakota Approximately 130 schools Implementing Online Judging System 169 Written Idea Entries 47 Marketing Design Entries 21 Schools (7 new) 200+ students ~125 judges

18. Flexible Program • Ways to incorporate BIG Idea: • Extra Credit • Required Assignment • Team Project (up to 3 students/team) • Collaborate with other teachers • Student Organization Project • FBLA, FCCLA, etc.

19. New Features • Enhanced Entry Form (2008, 2009) • Advisor Dashboard (2009) • Marketing Design Competition (2009) • Slightly Expanded NE Region (2009) • Expanded to Eastern SD (2011) • Online Judging Feature (2011) • Statewide Marketing (2012)

20. Advisor Dashboard

21. Advisor Dashboard

22. Advisor Dashboard

23. Online Judging

24. Online Judging

25. Online Judging

26. Online Judging

27. Online Judging

28. Student Comments “It was fun putting together a proposal.” – Alex “This whole process has been a great learning experience that will certainly help me in my future career” - Cody “It was a lot of fun and the experience was great. I hope younger students continue with this competition and have fun with it.” - Tory

29. Teacher Comments “Wow! What a wonderful competition you have created for high school students! I am so glad I got my students to take part in the “Big Idea” competition and I can’t believe how much they learned about starting up their own business.” – Janet Hallberg “It’s an exceptional experience with great incentives and rewards.” – Brenda Merkel

30. Thank you! Kelly Weaver Aberdeen Small Business Development Center 416 Production Street North Aberdeen, SD 57401 Phone: 605-626-2565 kweaver@midco.net Julie Johnson Absolutely!Aberdeen/Prairie Vision 416 Production Street North Aberdeen, SD 57401 Phone: 605-725-5070 juliem.johnson@absolutelyaberdeen.com Website: www.BIGIdeaSD.com Facebook: BIG Idea SD