Regional Teen Entrpreneur Challenge

The Regional Teen Entrepreneur Challenge brings teen-run businesses from across the region to Winchester for one day of pitching, competing, and real prize money. Date and location to be announced.

One day. The whole region. Real stakes.

The Winchester-Clark County Entrepreneurial Academy is bringing teen entrepreneurs from Clark County and neighboring counties together for a single regional competition — not just Launch Lab and Academy students, but any teen ages 13 to 18 already building something real.

Same philosophy as everything else we run: no simulations, no worksheets. Real businesses, real judges, real prize money.

What the day will include

✓ A public marketplace — competitors set up and sell to the community, the same way students do at our Soft Launch Event
✓ Timed pitches — five minutes in front of a judging panel, plus real questions
✓ Categories — businesses judged across a handful of categories so a product business isn't competing head-to-head with a service or tech business
✓ An awards ceremony — cash prizes awarded across the grand prize, category winners, and a people's-choice award voted on by the public

Exact categories, prize amounts, and schedule will be finalized as the date approaches.

Who's eligible

✓ Teens ages 13–18
✓ Open to Clark County and invited neighboring counties
✓ Any existing or in-progress business — you don't have to be a Launch Lab or Academy graduate to apply
✓ Individual or small-team businesses welcome

Why this belongs here

Winchester is already building something most communities this size don't have — a real pipeline for teen entrepreneurs, from Launch Lab through the Academy and into The Exchange. This event puts that work on a regional stage, and gives other counties' most promising young entrepreneurs a reason to know Winchester's name.

For Clark County teens, it's also a chance to test what they've built against competition beyond their own classroom — and for Clark County as a whole, it's a chance to show the region what's already happening here.

This is being built right now — here's how to be part of it from the start

Sponsors — Sponsorship tiers and packages are being finalized. If you want first access before they're publicly announced, reach out now.

Schools, FFA, FBLA, and 4-H leaders — If you work with teen entrepreneurs in Clark County or a neighboring county, let us know. We'll reach out directly once registration opens.

Judges — We're building the judging panel early. Clark County business professionals — and professionals from neighboring counties — are encouraged to express interest now.

→ Email john.chaney1970@icloud.com to get involved early

Questions you might have

When is it happening?
Date and location haven't been finalized yet. Join the notification list to be the first to know.

Do I have to be a Launch Lab or Academy graduate to compete?
No. This is open to any teen entrepreneur in an eligible county, regardless of how they built their business.

Is there really prize money?
Yes — real cash prizes, same philosophy as Pitch Night and Demo Day. Final amounts will be announced closer to the event.

How do I find out when more details are released?
Email john.chaney1970@icloud.com to be added to the list, or follow WCEA's social pages.

The first Regional Teen Entrepreneur Challenge is coming.

Be one of the first to know when the date, categories, and sponsorship packages go live.