Teen entrepreneurs learn business ropes

Budding entrepreneurs will spend three days learning how to turn their ideas into businesses during the Teen Entrepreneur Summer Academy at Grand Valley State University.

The goal of the academy is to stimulate and nourish the entrepreneurial spirit at the high school level. During the academy, participants will network with local entrepreneurs, work with hands-on applications, and engage in breakout sessions. They’ll also have the opportunity to tour Grand Valley’s campus.

Students were selected based on areas of interest, grade point average, and recommendations from teachers, counselors and principals. The academy runs June 25-27 in the DeVos Center on Grand Valley State University’s Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

There will be an idea pitch competition on Friday, June 27 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Loosemore Auditorium of GVSU’s DeVos Center, 401 Fulton St., Grand Rapids. Student teams will present their business plan concepts, and a distinguished panel of professionals from area businesses will evaluate and score the presentations. The competition encourages entrepreneurial high school students to develop and grow new ventures based on their own ideas. There is $700 in prize money that will be awarded.

The academy is being presented by Grand Valley’s Center For Entrepreneurship and Seidman College of Business.