Inspiring Entrepreneurial Spirit Among High School Students with the D.I.C.E. Challenge
The 2024 D.I.C.E. Challenge brought together some of the region’s brightest young minds to compete in an exciting entrepreneurial showcase. Hosted by Genesis: Pathways to Success, in partnership with the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, this annual business planning competition inspires high school students to dream big, think creatively, and develop the skills to bring their business ideas to life.
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.
Nine 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. This year’s winners demonstrated exceptional innovation and business acumen. Congratulations to:
● Samantha Airgood and Kaylee Sarley from Lawrenceburg High School for winning this competition with their idea of Bites, a bite-sized cookie company. They received $3,000 to further expand their business goals.
● Aiden Sirk from Lawrenceburg High School for being the second place recipient of $2,000 for his idea of Sirk Tutoring, peer-to-peer, affordable, quality tutoring.
● Sophia Sullivan from Jac-Cen-Del High School was the third-place winner of $1,000 with the idea of Educational Social Solutions, a social media solutions company for K-12 schools.
“It’s truly inspiring to witness the talent and ingenuity of our youth, and to see firsthand how the next generation of entrepreneurs will contribute to the growth of our communities through their innovative products and services,” stated Cayden Pohlman, External Relations & Program Development Intern of Genesis: Pathways to Success. Pohlman further shared, “We hope that they will leverage the feedback from our esteemed judges to elevate their ventures and take their entrepreneurial aspirations to new heights.”
All nine 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 would like to thank Genesis: Pathways to Success for giving us the opportunity to partner on the D.I.C.E. Challenge. The Chamber realizes the importance of entrepreneurs and how they play a crucial role in today’s business world, and this challenge provides young visionaries with an incredible opportunity to get a head start on their dreams of owning a business. Young entrepreneurs truly represent the future, and the D.I.C.E. Challenge showcased just how bright that future is! Through innovative thinking, collaboration, and creativity, these talented students brought their business ideas to life, proving that big dreams can start small. We are inspired by their passion and vision, and excited to see how they’ll shape the business landscape in years to come.”
The success of this year’s D.I.C.E. Challenge was made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors: Purvey, Batesville Casket Company, Ripley County Community Foundation, Health Markets, The Friendship State Bank, McDonald's, Wood-Mizer, Hillenbrand, Batesville Tool & Die, and Aurum Realty. Their contributions enable us to continue inspiring the next generation of leaders and innovators.
Genesis extends its gratitude to all participants, judges, and volunteers who made this event a success. The energy and creativity displayed by these young entrepreneurs show us that the future is bright.
If you are a student with dreams of owning your own small business, this challenge is the perfect start! If you are interested in participating in the D.I.C.E. Challenge next year, visit https://genesisp2s.org/dicechallenge to learn more information. For any questions or concerns, contact Clarice Patterson, Executive Director of Genesis: Pathways to Success, by emailing info@genesisp2s,org, calling 812-933-1098, or visiting 13 E. George Street, Suite B, Batesville, IN 47006.
