IUPUI BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF STARTERS (BOSS) SUMMER ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAMP

Brief Program Summary: Business Opportunities for Self Starters (BOSS) Entrepreneurship Summer Camp is a 25-hour curriculum (one week) presented in Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) high schools to teach high school students about entrepreneurship, business start-up, and owning a business as a career. During the week-long pilot program at the four IPS high schools in 2021 and 2022, students will draw from their own interests and business ideas to create individual businesses. Up to 20 students may be enrolled at each high school. During the week-long camp students will conduct business research and be inspired by local entrepreneurs and business owners. At the end of the week, students will have learned about business types, funding, where and how to locate a business, advertising and promotion, management and personnel, manufacturing and many other important aspects of business ownership. Students will be introduced to community leaders, IUPUI Kelley School of Business alumni and professors, and various local small business owners and entrepreneurs. Students will create and practice elevator speeches to promote their idea and give informal presentations to a group of judges for prize money ranging from $50-$100 for a well considered plan. The overarching goals of this program are to encourage students to begin developing an entrepreneur’s mind set and to offer insight into the various functions of business and how they could form a company as a career option. Students learn how to start a business and how to promote their business ideas using critical-thinking and research skills that they will use to market themselves to future employers. This program is unique because unlike other summer camps, students get paid for their work and gain work experience such as team-building, verbal and written communication skills, and professionalism (all of which are fundamental for the success of their future endeavors).