BizSmart Challenge
A 5 Day (2 Hr/Day) Virtual Experience where you will team up and take on Business Innovation challenges from exciting companies!
A 6 Day (2 Hr/Day) Virtual Experience where you will team up and take on Business Innovation challenges from exciting companies!
When and Where
No Dates Available
About this experience
Virtually Team up and design products that can make a difference. The BizChallenge is a fully online 6 Day session that meets in the evening from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Assemble your own team of 3-4 people and sign up or participate in creating a team of other teammates from around the US and the world. Real entrepreneur teams know that failure and success are flip sides of the same coin. It’s in their DNA to persist and “dig deep” to make a difference. It’s your turn to start building your “BizSkills” and creative network now!
Come with a Team or join one!
Participants will work in teams to invent "Make a Difference Solutions." Because the goal of the experience is to learn about how to learn from people what they're need are, and design solutions, each teammate will take on a special team role.
Team Roles
Chief Executive Officer
The CEO is the team facilitator. They are big picture thinkers that are good at observing what their teammates are good at, and helping the team be the best they can be. A CEO is a strong leader and leads by example. They inspire, encourage, and facilitate the team to rise up and perform greatness. The CEO’s job is to keep track of team progress, step in and help any role when needed, and do whatever is needed to keep the big picture goal and team cohesiveness together.
Skills & Virtues
• Leadership
• Grit
• Growth Mindset
• Teamwork
• Collaboration
• Creative Thinking
• Problem Solving
Voice of the Customer
The VOC represents the customer throughout the design process. Their job is to think about what the customer wants, how the customer might react to decisions the team is making, and be a strong voice that advocates for the most ideal customer experience. They will take the lead in conducting customer surveys and interviews to obtain valuable customer insights the team can implement throughout the process.
Skills & Virtues
• Leadership
• Grit
• Growth Mindset
• Teamwork
• Collaboration
• Creative Thinking
• Problem Solving
Chief Innovation Officer
The CIO’s job is to drive innovation in all areas of the business case! This means asking questions like, “what can we do to make our product better than anything else on the market?” “How can we use new technology and ideas to make our product more effective and interesting?” “Is there a new and better way to do this that we might not have thought of yet?” The CIO is a creative and big picture thinker that will take the lead in brainstorming and product design.
Skills & Virtues
• Leadership
• Grit
• Growth Mindset
• Teamwork
• Collaboration
• Creative Thinking
• Problem Solving
Chief Marketing & Sales Officer
The CMO will analyze market size and determine who the customer is and why they will buy the product. They will lead the team in deciding how to reach their target market and what the main marketing message will be. They will do market research and create marketing campaigns and strategies to be disruptive in a highly competitive market.
Skills & Virtues
• Leadership
• Grit
• Growth Mindset
• Teamwork
• Collaboration
• Creative Thinking
• Problem Solving
Schedule Overview
BizChallenge is a fully online 6 day session that meets in the evening from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. If interested in a full schedule, please contact us.
Challenge Kick-Off
+ 5:00pm PST - Live Liftoff
+ Join the Liftoff
+ Lost at Sea Team Contest
+ Meet Your BizCoach
+ Zoom Pro-tips
+ Challenge Blast-off
+ 7:00pm PST - Submit "Team Name"
Skills & Virtues
• Leadership
• Grit
• Growth Mindset
• Teamwork
• Collaboration
• Creative Thinking
• Problem Solving
Discover Who You Can Help
+ 5:00pm PST - Opportunities?
+ Pink Lamborghini Client Game
+ Get Ready to Interview
+ Listen for Understanding
+ Story Telling: Hunt for Golden Eggs
+ Lemons, Golden Eggs?
+ 7:00pm PST - Submit "Golden Eggs"
Skills & Virtues
• Design thinking
• Conducting focus groups
• Listening
• Team building
• Brainstorming and affinity analysis
Unleash Your Creativity
+ 5:00pm PST - How to Think Big
+ Duck Tape Design Battle (Quack-Quack)
+ No Box Thinking
+ Craft BizSolutions
+ Success Factors
+ Land on One Concept
+ 7:00pm PST - Submit "Concept"
Skills & Virtues
Product design
• Cost analysis
• “FAB” feature, advantage, benefit analysis
• Understanding customer requirements
• Fast cycle prototyping
Make a Prototype
+ 5:00pm PST - Fail Forward Fast
+ V2 Next Gen Game
+ Rapid Prototyping
+ Fast Feedback & Quick Change
+ Refine Your Idea
+ 7:00pm PST - Submit "Refinements"
Skills & Virtues
• Competitive Analysis
• Story Telling
• Marketing Strategy
• Time Management
• MVP Fast Tests
Prepare Your Presentation
+ 5:00pm PST - How to Pitch Like a Pro
+ Prepare to Meet Your BizDesigner
+ Real World Design on the Fly
+ Hearthrob Improv
+ Build Your Pitch
+ Getting to Carnegie Hall
+ 7:00pm PST - Submit "Pitch"
Skills & Virtues
• Break-even analysis
• Profit and loss statements
• Creating marketing materials
• Competitive analysis
• Ethics: doing the right thing
Competition Day
+ 5:00pm PST - Making a Difference
+ Battle of the Design BizTeams
+ Judges Feedback
+ Awards Celebration
+ AMA
+ And the Winner Is…
Skills & Virtues
• Break-even analysis
• Profit and loss statements
• Creating marketing materials
• Competitive analysis
• Ethics: doing the right thing
Outcomes
Each team will have worked with an industrial designer to visualize their product. The final package is a digital portfolio piece and cool rendering for the students to remember their experience!
Hear From OurAlumni
Payment Information
To reserve a seat in the experience, tuition payment is required. During the payment check out process, you will have the choice to pay full tuition or to use a payment plan according to what best meets your needs. Your space will be guaranteed when we receive full payment. If you have any questions, please contact us. To prepare for your young aspiring entrepreneur, and finalize arrangements at the venue, please note that applications received on or after June 1, 2023, full tuition is required.
Completed Challenges
Help Treecard create a debit card & app that empowers teenagers to fight climate change and gain financial literacy.
FAQ
BizSmart is the only camp in the U.S. that teaches young aspiring entrepreneurs ages 11 – 15 and 16-18, the essential entrepreneurial skills needed to run a business in a flat, competitive world.
+ Aspiring Young Entrepreneurs work on product innovation business cases that are created by our Founders and CEO’s of sponsoring companies.
+ They gain real-world experience in a positive, team-based environment.
+ They personally learn through the mentorship of top executives.
BizSmart teaches much more than just technology skills. Our programs and team-based classrooms promote good attitudes as well, Herb Kelleher, the wildly successful CEO and founder of Southwest Airlines, once said his secret to success was “hiring for attitude and training for everything else.”
We are dedicated to teaching young people essential skills, and we’ve formed our learning model around it. Our programs emphasize leadership, collaborative teamwork, financial analysis, project management, negotiation, positive influence, a growth mindset and public speaking.
Aspiring tweenpreneurs and teenpreneurs choose their own teams and assume the roles of C-level executives, such as CEO and CFO. Each aspiring young entrepreneur will negotiate for the team role they are most interested in. We recommend that each individual have at least two roles in mind that they are ready to pitch to fellow teammates to demonstrate why they should have that role. The roles reflect company executive and management team responsibilities and provide a preview of what is required should they have that role in the future. The team CEO role has the responsibility as the project manager to help their team fulfill the objectives and requirements for competition. Each team then solves a product innovation business case problem given by the CEO and founder of a successful company. Teams design an innovative solution including a product concept and design, write a business plan and pitch, and present it to a group of real investors. It’s a challenging task, but students have a lot of fun together.
BizSmart is the only camp in the U.S. that teaches young aspiring entrepreneurs ages 11 – 15 and 16-18, the essential entrepreneurial skills needed to run a business in a flat, competitive world.
+ Aspiring Young Entrepreneurs work on product innovation business cases that are created by our Founders and CEO’s of sponsoring companies.
+ They gain real-world experience in a positive, team-based environment.
+ They personally learn through the mentorship of top executives.
