Rolling the Dice: High School Entrepreneurs Bet On Success at the D.I.C.E. Challenge
Genesis: Pathways to Success, in partnership with the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, recently held the first annual D.I.C.E. (Dreams, Ingenuity, Creativity, & Entrepreneurship) Challenge, a regional business planning competition for high school students. The competition was held on December 1, 2023, at Ivy Tech Community College in Batesville, IN.
The goal of the D.I.C.E. Challenge is to not only inspire young people to learn about entrepreneurship and see small business creation and ownership as a viable career path but also to understand the vital role an entrepreneur plays within a community - increasing economic growth, providing access to unique goods and services, and even promoting social change. Genesis: Pathways to Success and the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce want students to understand from this competition that Southeastern Indiana is a place they can turn to for their entrepreneurial needs.
Five teams from Southeastern Indiana High Schools spent the semester creating a business product/service and developing a business plan. These well-crafted ideas were pitched to a panel of seasoned entrepreneurs who evaluated and ranked ideas, with the top 3 teams receiving an investment into their futures. Congratulations to the 2023 D.I.C.E. Challenge winners:
1st Place: Gogh Bloom - Jac-Cen-Del High School
Students Emma Gober, Sophia Sullivan, and Aveyana Williams won with their idea of Gogh Bloom, a flower garden and bouquet enterprise that they are proactively running their school. They received $3,000 to further expand their business acumen and a $1,500 scholarship from Ivy Tech Community College.
2nd Place: UR Space - Oldenburg Academy
Students Chloe Bohman, Lily Dennis, and Isabel Price secured second place with their creative idea, UR Space, a tailored wedding planning service. They received a $2,000 investment to support their entrepreneurial endeavors.
3rd Place: B.S. Baseball Gloves - Lawrenceburg High School
Student Ben Stoops captured the third place position and received $1,000 with the idea of B.S. Baseball Gloves, a company that re-laces and breaks in baseball gloves for athletes.
“It was such an inspiring day to see how intelligent our youth and the next generation of workforce leaders will enhance the communities we live in through their products and services,” stated Clarice Patterson, Executive Director of Genesis: Pathways to Success. Patterson further claimed, “The D.I.C.E. Challenge is designed to lay the foundation for a successful career pathway by giving students an environment to enhance their creativity and tenacity while learning from their make mistakes. It is our hope that the students will utilize each judge's feedback to take their business to the next level.”
All five participating D.I.C.E. Challenge teams have been invited to apply to the state-wide pitch competition called Innovate WithIN. Students may have the opportunity to collaborate with world-class innovators, receive even larger seed funding for their businesses, and access a broader network of resources.
Melissa Tucker, Executive Director of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce expressed, “The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce partnered with Genesis: Pathways to Success to host the highly successful D.I.C.E. Challenge. This competition featured high school students from the region demonstrating their entrepreneurial acumen, diligently crafting business plans, and presenting them before a panel of judges. Students were provided valuable insights on the steps involved in creating a business, as well as honing their public speaking and creativity skills. As an organization that focuses on entrepreneurship, the Chamber hopes that many of these bright-minded students consider starting their own business in Ripley County in the future. We extend heartfelt congratulations to all participants and winners of the D.I.C.E. Challenge and eagerly anticipate the success of another remarkable event in 2024. This competition was made possible through the support of our local businesses and community partners”
Sponsors for the 2023 D.I.C.E. Challenge included Batesville Products, the City of Batesville, Franklin County Community Foundation, Hassmer House Tavern & Inn, Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Ivy Tech Community College, and the STARTedUP Foundation. The impact of their generosity extends far beyond the competition itself, and it has empowered these students to dream big, think critically, and develop the skills necessary for success in the business world.
