enTEENpreneur Challenge
Inspiring the entrepreneurs of tomorrow
April 15, 2025
UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III
Center at Springfield
The EnTEENpreneur Challenge is essentially, a pitch contest similar in format to one seen on a reality TV show about entrepreneurship. Leading up to the event, students use the JA Company Program and the JA Be Entrepreneurial Program to learn valuable skills and build the mindset to be a resourceful, innovative entrepreneur.
Entrepreneurs and JA partners from the community make up the judging panel, and students have 90 seconds to convince the panel to fund their company. The judging panel determines 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners by numerical score based on a rubric that is available upon request. The top three teams receive cash prizes in the following amounts:
- 1st place wins $500 ($100 per person, assuming a team of five students)
- 2nd place wins $375 ($75 per person, assuming a team of five students)
- 3rd place wins $250 ($50 per person, assuming a team of five students)
Students do not need a ready-for-sale product to participate in the challenge. Students who opt to create a product can participate in a trade show in Tower Square. Awards are given for the “Best Trade Booth” and “Most Innovative Product” as voted on by the panel and by all student participants in the event.
In addition, the winning student teams that have a ready-for-sale product to showcase are eligible to submit their plan to the JA USA National Student Leadership Summit held annually in Washington D.C. Fifteen finalists from around the country are selected to attend the summit. If a Western Massachusetts student team is selected, JAWM helps prepare the team for competition and covers travel expenses.
Thank you to our esteemed panel of judges:
Mychal Connolly, Sr. – Stand Out Truck
Samalid Hogan – Greylock Management Consulting
Terrell Joyner – The Consulting Web/Charter Oak
Tracey Alves-Lear – Baystate Financial
Wesley Days – UMASS Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center at Amherst
Thank you to our sponsors!
To learn more about participation and sponsorship opportunities, contact Amie Miarecki at 413-747-7670 or [email protected]