Bribe To Stay

This Idea did not make it to the Top 20.  If you are still interested in it, consider applying for a Sprout Fund Seed Award.

Idea Overview

Entrepreneurial effort to educate and fund high school students to start their own local businesses in lieu of going to college or provide scholarship to attend a local college

Idea Round Up Concept Sheet

Who worked on idea?

Luis Elorreaga, Dan Vogel

What is the idea?

Entrepreneurial effort to educate and fund high school students to start their own local businesses in lieu of going to college or provide scholarship to attend a local college

How would idea work?

• Business plan development training at high school level
• Mentorship/internship opportunities in local businesses and associations, universities
• Continued support
• Start-up funds for business or scholarship to remain in the region

Pluses:

• Retention of youth (3-5 year minimum)
• Development of economic base
• Provides alternative for motivated high school students to contribute to region

Concerns:

• Interest in program
• Potential for businesses to fail
• Failure to honor residency requirements
• Reliant on collaboration of businesses and colleges

Community opportunities:

• High school students looking for alternatives to college
• Entrepreneurial community (CMU, Pitt, etc)
• Reinvention of Pgh economic base
• Neighborhoods with empty store fronts and lot