Goal Setting for 2nd – 12th Grade Students Every great innovation begins with a spark of curiosity and the active pursuit of opportunities. Through curiosity, students explore the world with wonder; through opportunity seeking, they identify problems worth solving—giving rise to a Big Idea, a bold vision of what could be. While these two stages…
SCAMPER asks students to look at their favorite holiday decoration in a new way. The result: a prototype or model of a new, improved decoration.
VentureLab’s commitment to amplifying youth voice and championing entrepreneurial learning was on full display at San Antonio Startup Week this year. We were thrilled to be a central part of the celebration, presenting five impactful events that bridged the gap between today’s thriving startup community and the young founders of tomorrow.
Let’s get those creative juices flowing and spark the kind of entrepreneurial thinking that turns simple ideas into amazing adventures! For this low-prep Halloween activity, simply print, cut out the cards and let the epic tales begin.
VentureLab Certified Educator Tanya Crawford took the stage at GetConnected 2025 to share hands-on activities that promote entrepreneurship and build essential entrepreneurial mindset skills in youth, such as empathy, resiliency, confidence, and problem-solving. Attendees—including program leaders, afterschool staff, and teachers—received free activity guides and follow-up technical assistance to aid immediate implementation in their afterschool and summer learning programs.
Program Summary Length: 8 weeks Setting: Summer Camp Location: St. Louis, MO Ages: K – 8th graders Resource: ESTEAM Design Challenge & Idea to Pitch program Culminating Event: Pitch Event New Avenue Inc. was founded in St. Louis, MO with the vision to help the community learn various forms of life skills used to become…
Discover how VentureLab and Mission: St. Louis partnered on a 16-week after-school Idea to Pitch® Program, empowering 40+ students to prototype and pitch business ideas at a May 2025 youth entrepreneurship event.
Celebrate VentureLab alumni featured in Kelli Peterson’s Gen Z Teens Take Action book and discover how our ESTEAM® framework empowers youth innovation.
Dell Technologies volunteers came together to assemble VentureLab Program Activation Kits, helping bring entrepreneurship education to students across the U.S. Their support empowers educators and inspires youth innovation—one kit at a time.
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.
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, including our Spanish-speaking families and educators. Today, we’re shining a spotlight on one of our most valuable no-cost resources for Hispanic families: our Spanish-language Caregiver Workbook. Empowering Hispanic Families with…
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.
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.
Join us in celebrating National Mentorship Month with VentureLab’s Spark 2023 Graduates. Explore the transformative journey of young entrepreneurs nurtured through our Spark Startup Materials & ESTEAM® Mentorship Program.
We’re on a mission to create the next generation of diverse innovators and changemakers by making entrepreneurship education accessible to ALL youth.
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