Business INCubator
Fenton High School launched its new Student Incubator Program in 2024.
The innovative INCubator class offers high school sophomores through seniors a hands-on, real-world entrepreneurship experience. Now available at Fenton High School this course ignites students' passion for entrepreneurship by allowing them to conceptualize and fully develop their own products or services. Guided by real-world entrepreneurs and business professionals serving as coaches and mentors, students work in teams to navigate key stages of entrepreneurship, including ideation, market research, and business plan development.
Throughout the year, students also gain knowledge in essential business areas such as marketing, accounting, human resources, and the legal framework of running a business. The course culminates in Pitch Week, where student teams present their innovative ideas to actual investors, with the chance to secure funding to bring their business plans to life. This process not only sparks creativity but also equips students with practical skills and experience to pursue entrepreneurial ventures in the real world.
Contact
Michelle Papanicolaou
Director of Postsecondary Pathways & CTE
(630) 860-4813
How Does it Work?
Students Build Real Businesses! INCubatoredu is a full-year course offering an authentic entrepreneurship experience as students develop their own product or service startup.
Recommended for students in grades 10, 11 or 12
Problem-Solution Identification
Student teams explore, pivot, iterate and develop resilience as they work to solve problems they care about.
Customer and Idea Exploration
Real entrepreneurs and industry experts serve as volunteer coaches and mentors guiding student teams through the process of idea validation.
Pitch for Real Funding
Student teams pitch to gain investment funds in a final shark-tank style pitch event.
How to get involved?
If you’re a student, contact your counselor or Mrs. Papanicolaou to learn more about signing up for the course.
If you’re a business professional, we need mentors to spend two mornings per month with our up and coming entrepreneurs. We also need seed money for these aspiring business professionals to get off the ground. Contact Mrs. Papanicolaou to learn more about being a mentor or how to submit a tax-deductible donation for our annual Pitch Week, held each May.
Invest in our future economy today.
