Problem
Our research has found that most 6-12th grade minority students cannot see themselves becoming entrepreneurs. We believe that the stereotypical image of the entrepreneur as someone white, wealthy, and male is having an acutely negative impact on the potential of our youth. The consequences of this are severely limiting the prospects for the future economic growth of cities and towns across our country.
Opportunity
Future Bosses is an educational opportunity that exposes middle and high school students to a diverse collection of entrepreneurs from communities across the U.S.
It enables participating entrepreneurs to easily create small cards of online content. Each card showcases the unique entrepreneurial journey of that local business owner. Students are then able to discover and save these cards via an associated proximity-based mobile application.
Administrators work with local entrepreneurs to help them create the cards describing their entrepreneurial journeys. They are also provided with the resources needed to craft project-based learning exercises designed to promote an entrepreneurial mindset.
Outcome
Students taking part in these exercises are then able to see their culture, race, and gender reflected back at them thereby replacing stereotypical images of entrepreneurship and increasing the likelihood of them starting their own small businesses.
