Welcome to the VentureLab blog, your hub for innovative entrepreneurial education resources and inspiration. Explore engaging ESTEAM articles, discover free educational resources (hands-on activities and downloads) , and get inspired by classroom and individual success stories from our community.
VentureLab’s Fall 2024 Missouri Mentorship Cohort showcases how entrepreneurial education empowers youth. Learn how three young founders developed crucial mindsets like adaptability and resourcefulness while building their startups, supported by mentors and the Missouri Afterschool Network.
As an educator, you’re always on the lookout for engaging, hands-on activities that can help your students develop essential entrepreneurial skills and mindsets. Look no further than our brand-new “Mindset Scavenger Hunt” resource! This downloadable PDF is designed to help students in grades K-8 (but can be easily adapted for any age group) explore and practice the key entrepreneurial mindsets that are the foundation of VentureLab’s innovative ESTEAM approach.
Practice entrepreneurial thinking this Thanksgiving with VentureLab’s fun and engaging printables! Our “Thankful Turkey” and “Mindset Feather” activities are great for kids and families to share what they’re grateful for while learning key entrepreneurial traits. Download the free printables and bring creativity and connection to your Thanksgiving celebration!
The Antonio E. Garcia Arts and Education Center (Garcia Center) in Corpus Christi, Texas, partnered with VentureLab to host a week-long spring break camp for high school students focused on entrepreneurship. Through VentureLab’s Idea to Pitch program, the students explored the world of entrepreneurship, practiced leadership skills, and showcased their business ideas at a culminating pitch event.
November is National Entrepreneurship Month, and VentureLab is partnering with Mizzen Education to provide three weeks of inspiring youth entrepreneurship resources. These engaging activities for grades 1-12 foster creativity, resilience, and problem-solving, empowering the next generation of innovators. Explore our collections on Mizzen’s platform to help young trailblazers thrive!
VentureLab’s Career Exploration & Innovation program at Agnes Cotton Academy in San Antonio helped middle school students shape their futures. Over 15 weeks, students engaged in hands-on activities, connected with professionals, and presented career research projects in a community showcase. Learn how this program boosts career awareness, digital skills, and critical thinking.
Discover the Planet Mooz Diner activity, a fun and engaging way to foster creativity and entrepreneurial thinking in youth. Perfect for Girl Scouts and any young innovators!
Discover how YMCA Chattanooga implemented VentureLab’s free “Topics in Entrepreneurship Part 1“ curriculum to enhance their STEM programming, resulting in increased student interest in STEM, improved creativity, and enhanced problem-solving skills among pre-K to 6th grade students.
Discover VentureLab’s new printable Body Language Game Cards! This versatile resource helps students develop essential communication skills through fun, interactive activities. Perfect for educators looking to enhance their entrepreneurship curriculum and foster soft skills development.
As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, we at VentureLab want to highlight our ongoing commitment to making entrepreneurship education accessible to all communities,
Discover how Mission St. Louis partnered with VentureLab to implement an innovative afterschool entrepreneurship program for K-8 students. Learn how the 15-week Idea to Pitch curriculum culminated in an inspiring pitch contest, boosting students’ confidence, public speaking skills, and interest in STEM fields.
This summer, VentureLab and Saint Louis University (SLU) partnered to create an inspiring entrepreneurship experience for young innovators in St. Louis. Through the Allsup Summer Camp, students engaged in VentureLab’s “Idea to Pitch” program, developing critical entrepreneurial skills, participating in innovation challenges, and presenting their ideas in a pitch competition. This collaboration highlights our shared commitment to empowering youth and fostering a new generation of entrepreneurs.
VentureLab is excited to announce the launch of our VentureLab Hubs initiative, a strategic expansion of K-12 entrepreneurship programming in key cities across the United States. These Hubs are dynamic centers aimed at fostering entrepreneurial mindsets and skills among youth, creating vibrant ecosystems of innovation and creativity. Currently established in San Antonio, St. Louis, and Salt Lake City, these Hubs build on successful existing programs, supported by dedicated funding and local staff. Join us in empowering the next generation of changemakers and creating a brighter, more innovative future for all.
Discover how a nonprofit agency in Springfield, IL empowers low-income and minority high school students to become entrepreneurs. Through a 17-week afterschool program, underserved students gain skills for successful business models. With VentureLab’s Idea to Pitch program, they improve public speaking and embrace failure. TSP staff drive curiosity and collaboration for engaging STEM learning. The program culminates in a student showcase, and 90% report increased STEM interest.
At VentureLab, we’ve taught entrepreneurial concepts to hundreds of girls—and boys. Our ESTEAM curriculum combines science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics with entrepreneurship, helping students identify needs, create solutions, and take calculated risks. This hands-on approach encourages creativity, problem-solving, and confidence, preparing them for future success in STEAM fields. Discover how our programs inspire the next generation of innovative leaders.
When youth are exposed to entrepreneurial thinking, a profound change takes place. They become more aware of opportunities around them, develop powerful problem-solving skills, and improve their abilities to think critically and creatively. VentureLab believes that innovation and discovery happen at the intersection of multiple disciplines- we call it ESTEAM (entrepreneurship, science, technology, engineering, arts, and math).