Who runs it: The Fledge Foundation with support of the Fledge
What is it?
The Fledge Teen Entrepreneurs and Mentors Program is a radically inclusive program that increases the number of Youth engaged in mid-Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and increases the number of mentors to our youth. We provide a 10-week program focused on the development of a Business Model Canvas, Financial Documents, and Pitch Practicing. Teams are assigned one or more mentors (also from our diverse community) to help with prototyping their product or service. We supplement this with a weekly pop-up where the youth can display / sell their products or services. We have 7 years’ experience running youth programs (pitching, youth entrepreneurial showcases, and STEM related events). We have successfully completed one cohort of 15 youth and 20 mentors.
We have three options for funding: 1) Sponsor one cohort to be held in the SmartZone ($14,900); 2) Sponsor the entire year of 2023 ($59,600); or 3) sponsor each cohort for $2500 ($10,000).
Budget
| Per Program | Comment | |
| Prizes | $2,990 | $1,000 Pitch Prize Award, Grand Prize Winner $1,000 Pitch prizes for alternate categories $990 weekly winner prizes for 99 Problems but a Pitch ain’t One ($99 each week for 10 weeks) |
| Mentors | $6000 | Mentor stipends ($50 weekly payments for 12 mentors for 2 hours each week for 10 weeks) |
| Facilities Rental | $1,000 | workspace, storage space, internet, tables, chairs, etc. at $100 per week for 10 weeks) |
| Consumables | $2000 | prototype building and misc. supplies |
| Program Coordinator | $1000 | $100 a week for 10 weeks |
| Youth Entrepreneur Program Facilitator | $2000 | Meeting facilitation, Business Model Canvas education, skill building workshops, weekly guided pitch practice for $200 per week for 10 weeks |
| Total Cost | $14,900 | |
Results
| Measures | Results – Summer 2022 | Notes |
| Number of Programs | 1 | |
| Number of Entrepreneurs | 15 | |
| Prizes Awarded | $3000 | |
| Number of Mentors | 20 |