Governor's School for Entrepreneurs

History of GSE

Governor Beshear announced the opening of GSE at a press conference in December 2012.  The inaugural summer session was held in June 2013 on the campus of Georgetown College in Georgetown, KY.   Forty-nine student entrepreneurs attended that summer.  

GSE exposes young aspiring entrepreneurs to the mindset, culture, innovative thinking and skills necessary to start a company.  We use the Lean LaunchPad approach to starting a company.  Student entrepreneurs spend significant time on design thinking and agile product development.

Emphasis is placed on the triple bottom line -- caring about profitability, social equity and environmental conservation.   GSE is an immersive, exploratory dive into entrepreneurship and innovation.  It is a college and career ready program giving Kentucky high school students a hands-on opportunity to turn their ideas for stuff into business opportunities.  GSE empowers student entrepreneurs to make a positive impact on their communities through innovation and to become business leaders of tomorrow.

The 2015 Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs concluded its three-week session with final presentations. Student groups pitched their ideas to a panel of judges who provided feedback on how to further their business models.  As a result of those presentations, five of the 16 teams – Walk Easy, Slice Slide, Cord Keeper, Loco Locs and Varsity Exchange – were selected to move on to present their business ideas. Walk Easy took home the $750 first-place prize, with second place and $250 going to Slice Slide. The winners were chosen by an audience vote.

The Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) is an authentic entrepreneurship experience and is open to all students in 9th through 11th grade, regardless of GPA, with participants being chosen through a competitive application process. The three-week session focuses not just on how to get a business off the ground, but how to ensure its long-term success.

I have not failed. I've only found 10,000 ways that don't work.

-Thomas Edison

Who are the "right" students for GSE?

GSE does not look at GPA or test scores because some of the best entrepreneurs aren't necessarily the best test takers. We look for creative thinkers who can work hard. These individuals can come from any field of study, but some good classes and clubs to target are:

• Project Lead The Way & Engineering

• Computer Science

• Biomedical

• Graphic Design & Architecture

• Business & Marketing

• Web Design & Development

• Agricultural Education 

• Family & Consumer Sciences

• Robotics

• Odyssey of the Mind

• FBLA

• DECA

Have you ever dreamed of starting a company and wondered what it takes? GSE will help you answer this question. In the 3 weeks at GSE you'll be exposed to experienced entrepreneurs, startup tools, funding, pitch competitions, emerging technologies, and scholarships. It is 100% free to apply and attend; all Kentucky 9th, 10th, and 11th grades are eligible to apply.

Failure is not attached to outcome, but in not trying. This way, it is about answering to yourself.

- Sara Blakely, Founder, Spanx

Get Away and Explore

GSE entrepreneurs live on a college campus in dormitories with separate quarters for males and females. They learn a great deal about themselves and others as they live in a community and develop long-lasting friendships. A select group of supportive high school and college teachers, graduate and undergraduate students, business leaders, experienced entrepreneurs and other mentors works closely with the students in experiential learning sessions, hands-on design sessions and co-curricular activities. Well-known guest speakers and mentors, field trips to startup companies and other businesses, movies, special events, and a wide range of recreational opportunities offer an array of stimulating activities.  Students have a blast while turning their ideas into real products.

If you are accepted, you must be prepared to get involved and to become a participating, contributing member of a dynamic team, creatively and socially. You must come with an open mind and be willing to work hard toward your team’s goals knowing the fruits of your efforts will be rewarded.

What To Expect

GSE is a unique entrepreneurship program which places a strong emphasis on innovation and design as elements of creating a sustainable business model. GSE teaches students critical life and work skills of problem-solving, teamwork and iteration in an environment where it is safe to fail. 

Activities at GSE include:

• learning and applying concepts to the teams’ business ideas

• visiting startup businesses in the community, talking to the founders

• seeing entrepreneurial processes in action

• hands-on, interactive sessions with entrepreneurial leaders

• creative sessions with professional designers and engineers

• team building exercises and recreational games

Students learn about such things as: company-start-up and growth, product development and design, customer validation, business models, marketing and sales, production, investment capital and long-range strategy.

Teams learn a triple bottom line approach — caring about profitability, social equity and environmental conservation.

At the end of the summer program, some teams may be ready to launch an actual company and/or product or service. 

OH, YEAH, NO PARENTS.

GSE entrepreneurs live on a college campus in dormitories with separate quarters for males and females. They learn a great deal about themselves and others as they live in a community and develop long-lasting friendships. A select group of supportive high school and college teachers, graduate and undergraduate students, business leaders, experienced entrepreneurs and other mentors works closely with the students in experiential learning sessions, hands-on design sessions and co-curricular activities. Well-known guest speakers and mentors, field trips to startup companies and other businesses, movies, special events, and a wide range of recreational opportunities offer an array of stimulating activities. Students have a blast while turning their ideas into real products. 

If you are accepted, you must be prepared to get involved and to become a participating, contributing member of a dynamic team, creatively and socially. You must come with an open mind and be willing to work hard toward your team’s goals knowing the fruits of your efforts will be rewarded.

Graves County High School GSE Presentation 

Introduction

What is GSE?

The GSE Experience (video-2:55) What do you do at GSE?

Scholarships

Our winning video (1:58)

Performance Based Credit (website) 

How do you apply to GSE?

Hand out flyers and discuss individual and/or team approach

Questions