KAUKAUNA — Kaukauna High School students will take the stage as entrepreneurs on Friday, May 23, during the final pitch event of the school’s Business Incubator course.
The Shark Tank style event will be held from 8 –10 a.m. in the KHS Auditorium, where student teams will pitch their business concepts to a judging panel made up of members from the Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The panel will then rank the teams and their business concepts, with winning teams receiving trophies and cash prizes, which can be used to help jumpstart their ventures if they so choose.
The Business Incubator is a two-trimester course designed to give students an authentic entrepreneurship experience.
Throughout the year, students worked in teams to create original product or service startups, guided by local entrepreneurs and industry professionals who volunteered as mentors and coaches. From building a Business Model Canvas to developing financial plans, pitch decks, and minimum viable products, students applied real-world business strategies to bring their ideas to life.
“This program is such a great example of community collaboration,” said Superintendent Mike Slowinski. “I’ve heard so many positive comments from our local business leaders about the impact it’s having, and there’s real excitement around the fact that we’re doing something like this here in Kaukauna. I’m proud that we offer this opportunity at KHS—it’s making a meaningful difference in our school and across our community.”
