We welcome mentors who have educational and/or practical experience in business. Mentors may have had experience either owning a business or in some field that assists business owners, such as insurance, finance, law, and marketing.

My Entrepreneurship class is a semester course. We use materials from the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship. One of the projects students do is write a business plan for a business they would be interested in starting now or later if they were to go into business for themselves. This can be an individual or group project, and plans range from simple ones like making and selling baby blankets from home to organizing internet companies. Students compete in class for the opportunity to compete with other schools for venture capital and scholarship money. The top two business plans written and orally presented in class are eligible for this area- wide competition.

1) Identify different components of a business plan. 2) Write a feasible business plan, which addresses these areas: Executive Summary, Business Analysis, Market Analysis, Market Strategy, Organizational Analysis, Financial Development, and Financial Analysis. 3) Utilize resources necessary to start a business.

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Business/Entrepreneurship

1) Complete a business plan. 2) Present their business plan to the class orally using sources such as props and Powerpoint. 3) Keep a portfolio of correspondence from the telementor.

Industry professionals judge their written plans and oral presentations in order to select the top two from the class to compete at the annual DECA Business Plan Competition in February, March, and April.

Teacher will make local connections with business leaders and ensure students meet telementoring project objectives.

Mentors will guide students in the completion of business plans. They will answer questions students have regarding the feasibility of their ideas for different components of the plan. They will assist in developing professional writing and presentation skills.