The Governor's School for Entrepreneurs: What to know

In less than a decade, 600 Kentucky teens have been equipped with the knowledge they need to start their own business through an immersive, three-week program.

It's called the Governor's School for Entrepreneurs (GSE), and its alumni have founded 20+ startups, filed multiple patents and went on to enroll in entrepreneurship programs at Kentucky colleges and universities.

"Basically, we turn high schoolers into business owners — for free," said Tasha Sams, executive director of GSE.

GSE was established in 2013 as Kentucky recognized a growing need for new businesses and entrepreneurially minded citizens, Sams continued.

"GSE was an ambitious strategy to create a dynamic entrepreneurial economy in Kentucky," she said. "Building a successful 21st century economy must begin by preparing our young people to be familiar with creative and design thinking. We need them to fully understand the process of creating an innovative product or service and developing a business model around it."

Earlier this year, I interviewed GSE alumna Riley Mayberry, founder of Riley's Pantry. She said GSE's programming was essential to the launch of her company, which offers a diabetic-friendly snack box subscription service.

"I had the idea for the business," Mayberry said in February. "But I had no idea how to calculate a budget for my business, I had no idea how to factor in the middlemen or how I was going to get and store inventory — there were just so many small details that I had never even considered before going to GSE and honestly, those were the small details that had kept us from launching so far."

Applications are now open for GSE's next cohort and all current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade Kentucky teens are eligible to apply for free. Applications close on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. Learn more about the application process here.

Here's more from Sams in a Q&A:

GSE is a three-week program. What will they walk away with?

We often refer to GSE as the entrepreneurial experience of a lifetime — and we’re not joking. Like in “best in class” business school, earning a spot in GSE’s three-week summer intensive is highly competitive and selective. GSE’s learning environment combines STEM skills with exploratory enterprise development. Teens learn how to build a business model, design a prototype, and pitch their startup to investors. They experience the benefits and hardships of taking a business from idea to reality and how to turn failure into opportunity every step of the way.

This is not a cushy summer camp experience. It isn’t easy. But, it’s effective and they love it. And at the end of three weeks, we see fully realized pitch materials, incredible prototypes and teens confidently using business lingo and delivering sophisticated pitches. But, what they walk away with is so much bigger. They walk away with all they need to start a business.

Further, we actively encourage our alums to continue pursue entrepreneurial opportunities at the collegiate level. Thanks to our many collegiate partners, GSE alums are eligible for some $5 million in scholarship opportunities.

This is such a big question — and deserves a big answer. They truly walk away with the gift of a lifetime.

[Watch this video.]

What are you looking for in applicants?

The spark of entrepreneurship is in each of us. But, to become an entrepreneur takes a unique mindset. Successful entrepreneurs must be determined and disciplined, confident and competitive and unafraid of failure.

What we care about can’t be tabulated. We seek the innovative thinkers, the collaborators, the teens with a drive that is undeniable. They are Kentucky’s future business creators.

Therefore, the GSE application does not ask for standardized test scores or GPA. Our selection committee, consisting of entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs from all around Kentucky, evaluate skillsets, creativity, drive and passion. At GSE, we care more about creativity, character, and skillset more than comprehensive scores.

Any notable young entrepreneurs that have had big success with their ideas/businesses that you’d like to highlight?

Absolutely! We love sharing alumni stories of success. There’s a lot. Our alumni have launched more than 20 small businesses — and those are just the ones we know about!

These are four stories — of so many! This is what GSE is all about: Giving Kentucky teens the know-how, confidence and network to start new businesses.

For more information or to get involved with GSE, reach out to Sams at tasha@keenstart.org.