Help Us Introduce Students to the Power of Entrepreneurship!
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HELP US inspire & engage high school students all around the world be more creative, more innovative, and more entrepreneurial in all aspects of their lives!
Over the past decade, the Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition has become the largest high-school business competition in the world! And, we need your support to keep it going!
For students all around the globe - It's FUN, it's EDUCATIONAL, and it's FREE!
In 2024, nearly 10,000 students from 161 countries participated in this virtual entrepreneurship competition that attracts the very best high school student-entrepreneurs from all over the world.
The competition challenges high school students to come up with a 5-minute pitch for a blue ocean business idea that stand apart from the competition; deliver innovative value at low cost; and produces win-win outcomes for everyone involved.
With your support, the competition can continue to be 100% free for all students. Every year, individual high school students and/or teams pitch their innovative business concepts to experienced entrepreneurs and business people, join a community of like-minded students, and compete for thousands in cash prizes.
The competition was founded in 2014 in Howard County, Maryland, USA, by high school student Nicholas Benavides. Today its is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit in the State of Maryland and, as mentioned, it has become the largest and most prestigious Global Virtual High School Entrepreneurs Pitch Competition in the World.
The Competition’s Mission
EXPOSE high school students around the world to the exciting world of business.
ENGAGE students to conceive, research, develop, and present a novel business concept.
INSPIRE students to create innovative solutions to problems in business and in life.
EMPOWER students to formulate powerful ideas by leveraging Blue Ocean tools.
PREPARE students for the real world of entrepreneurship and global competition.
Why the Competition Matters
By providing students with the opportunity to develop their entrepreneurship skills and compete at a global level, we are helping to create a future workforce that is innovative, creative, and prepared to take on the challenges of the global economy.
Remarkable Growth and Expansion
Why Students Love to Participate
- It is a fun learning experience for high school students only. They can pitch on their own or start a team.
- It is easy to participate and free. The competition is virtual, so they simply need to develop a pitch, record and submit it.
- They learn about Blue Ocean concepts, tools and frameworks, which is often required reading in college.
- It helps them stand out in college applications and resumes.
- They can win money for themselves or for their school with no constraints on spending.
- They get huge exposure since all pitches are promoted to our YouTube channel.
- They get a chance to compete globally, not just locally.
- They get real entrepreneurial experience.
Our Challenge
The organization has been run with contributions and volunteer support bootstrapping our growth. At our current scale and scope, we now need your support to keep the competition going and continue to make meaningful impact.
Here are some specific ways your donation will be used
- Fund prizes for students and schools.
- Outreach to high school students nationwide & globally.
- Create an alumni network for the students for ongoing support in their entrepreneurial journey.
- Hire bare-bones administrative staff.
What Inspired the Competition?
The Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition is inspired by Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne’s global bestseller Blue Ocean Strategy.
Blue Ocean Strategy inspires high school students to:
- start looking at the world with a new perspective;
- see possibilities where other see boundaries;
- see growth where others see constraints;
- solve problems that have never been solved before;
- create solutions using systematic tools and frameworks;
- start businesses that will make this world a better place for all of us!
YOUR support will keep this competition going!
Please donate today to help us support the Blue Ocean High School Student Entrepreneurship virtual pitch competition. Any amount you can give will make a difference!
Our website
Please visit our website to learn more about the competition: https://blueoceancompetition.org/
Organizer
Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneurs
Organizer
Gibson Island, MD