For the second consecutive year, Mission: St. Louis’ Beyond School program partnered with VentureLab to deliver a transformative after-school entrepreneurship experience in St. Louis. Spanning 16 weeks, the program engaged over 40 elementary and middle school students across four charter schools, culminating in a final showcase at Mission: St. Louis headquarters on North Grand. Utilizing VentureLab’s Idea to Pitch Program curriculum, students collaborated with academic success coaches to identify community challenges and develop business ideas.
The program provided comprehensive resources, including an activation materials kit and ongoing staff support. These elements fostered an environment where students could cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets, enhance problem-solving abilities, and build confidence.
The experience culminated in the pitch event on May 8, 2025, where students showcased their innovative ideas to the community. This initiative exemplifies the power of entrepreneurship education in empowering youth to become changemakers in their communities.
VentureLab Idea to Pitch Program
The Idea to Pitch Program includes training, a custom schedule, curriculum resources, an activation materials kit, ongoing support, and data reporting. Youth move through the full entrepreneurship cycle—from brainstorming to pitching—growing their entrepreneurial mindsets and skills as they apply their passions and strengths to identify opportunities, develop solutions, and present their ideas.
Educator Reflection
Peter Gioia, Beyond School CAPSA Manager at Mission: St. Louis, finds the most rewarding part of every pitch event is watching students transform nerves into confidence.
Many participants have never spoken publicly before, and their anxiety is both palpable and relatable. He recalls one site-based contest where a student—poised and prepared—shut down in tears just moments before her turn, fearing ridicule. Gioia and the Success Coaches rallied around her, and with encouragement from her mother and aunt, she summoned the courage to try again. When she finally delivered her practiced pitch, the room erupted in cheers from peers, families, and the Beyond School team.
It’s in these moments—when students realize they belong, find their voice, and persevere—that VentureLab’s commitment to fostering lifelong learning and community shines brightest.
Over the 16-week program, Gioia has seen his students grow in ways that extend far beyond pitching skills. Excitement, pride, fear, and determination all converge on event day, but it’s the confidence they build—through practice, resourcefulness, and adaptability—that resonates most deeply. He notes how this newfound self-assurance shows up in theater auditions, challenging school assignments, and even on the sports field. Parents and extended family members amplify this growth by wearing custom shirts, mouthing pitches alongside their children, and celebrating together.
The VentureLab mindsets and gamified curriculum help the students see potential in themselves.
Unique Program Features and Real Impact
Academic Success Coaching: Coaches Peyton, Bart, Rashaylan, and Aidan provided one-on-one mentorship, modeling Resourcefulness by demonstrating how to use everyday materials for prototypes and guiding students through rapid problem-solving cycles.
Strategic Community Collaborations: The program was made possible through partnerships with the Missouri Afterschool Network. Special thank you to the Employees Community Fund of Boeing for their financial support.
Over the 16 weeks, students spent the first eight sessions sparking creativity—learning how to spot opportunities in daily life—and the next eight prototyping and refining their business ideas. Post-program surveys revealed:
“Mission St. Louis: Beyond School continues to set the bar for afterschool programs in Missouri for its laser focus on the value of youth entrepreneurship education and activities like their annual pitch contest. Erin, Peter and the Beyond School Team are fully committed to providing multiple opportunities for students to put into practice the VentureLab entrepreneurial mindsets and skills. Beyond School is providing the solid foundation from which their students can flourish as they grow and develop. The Missouri AfterSchool Network is incredibly proud of Beyond School and its amazing students, and we are grateful to support them in any way possible.”
Mark Cowsert,
Missouri Afterschool Network
Conclusion
From the first brainstorm to the final pitch, these young entrepreneurs demonstrated remarkable growth in creativity, resilience, and problem-solving—core mindsets that will serve them well beyond the classroom. We’re proud to partner with Mission: St. Louis and our community allies to empower students to turn ideas into action.
Do you want similar outcomes for your staff and students?
Schedule an exploratory call with Scott Mann, our Director of Education, or contact us about your needs.
