Kansas Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge helping students turn ideas into business opportunities
State competition slated April 28-29 in Manhattan
At a glance: The Kansas Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, sponsored by Network Kansas in collaboration with K-State Extension and 4-H Youth Development, now reaches 70 communities across the state. The statewide competition will be held April 28-29 in Manhattan.
More information: Jessica Gnad, jgnad@ksu.edu
Related: First Friday e-call | Network Kansas | Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
The State Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, featuring youth pitching their business ideas to judges and others, will be held April 28-29 in Manhattan.
April 14, 2026
By Pat Melgares, K-State Extension news service
MANHATTAN, Kan. — A statewide program aimed at building the next generation of entrepreneurs is gaining momentum as more Kansas students test their business ideas in real-world settings.
The Kansas Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, sponsored by Network Kansas in collaboration with Kansas State University Extension and 4-H Youth Development, now reaches 70 communities across the state, giving students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to develop and pitch business concepts while connecting with local leaders and mentors.
Participants prepare business plans, present pitches to judges and showcase their ideas in public trade shows. About 60% of the entries are conceptual businesses, while the remaining 40% are existing ventures already operating in local communities.
Erik Pedersen, President and Chief Operating Officer of Network Kansas, said the program’s rapid growth reflects a rising interest in entrepreneurship among young people.
“There’s been very few things in my 20-plus years at Network Kansas that have the trajectory and the momentum that our youth engagement work has,” Peterson said.
The challenge began more than a decade ago with 5 events featuring 48 students during the 2013-2014 cycle. In recent years, it has expanded to 70 events, engaging more than 1,117 students, along with more than 500 judges and 100 schools.
At its core, Pedersen said, the program encourages students to identify needs in their communities and create businesses that address them — a process that strengthens both individual skills and local economies.
“We believe that through the YEC series, students are learning the value of entrepreneurship and learning to reinvest in their communities,” he said.
Local competitions culminate in a statewide event, the State Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, scheduled this year for April 28-29 in Manhattan. The event will include student pitches, mock boardroom sessions and a public trade show.
A public trade show will be held April 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Midwest Dream Car Collection, 3007 Anderson Avenue in Manhattan.
Bailee Henry, the product manager for Network Kansas’ youth engagement strategy, said organizing a local competition requires significant coordination but provides long-term benefits for communities.
“The biggest, most daunting -- but also most rewarding -- way to be involved is to host (a local event),” Henry said. “That means organizing teachers, coordinating with students, recruiting mentors and managing the event.”
Henry said local businesses and entrepreneurs often step in as sponsors, judges and mentors, helping students refine their ideas and understand real-world business practices.
“We are really proud of those growth numbers, but we couldn’t do that without amazing people,” she said.
Partnerships have played a key role in the program’s expansion. Collaborations with K-State Extension and Kansas 4-H have helped introduce entrepreneurship programming to more communities, including seven new events this year.
The statewide competition will bring together winners from local contests, along with wild-card entries selected through additional judging. Students will also participate in networking activities and a design challenge aimed at supporting local businesses.
A public trade show is scheduled for April 28, offering community members a chance to interact with student entrepreneurs and learn about their ideas.
Henry said the event highlights not only innovation, but also the confidence students gain through the experience.
“They are extremely impressive,” she said. “Their ability to put themselves in the role of an entrepreneur -- whether or not they pursue it long term -- builds skills that are invaluable.”
Jessica Gnad, director of economic development in Kansas State University’s Office of External Engagement and who has served as a judge for the statewide competition, said students demonstrate strong communication and problem-solving abilities.
“There is no greater way that kids can acclimate to the world we live in right now than what we see in these pitches,” Gnad said.
For some participants, the program can spark a lifelong interest in business. Natalie Larson, a recent Kansas State University graduate and a judge for the competition, said her own entrepreneurial journey began with a small baking business as a child.
Henry shared details about the program during an April 3 First Friday e-call hosted by K-State Extension, a monthly online series focused on supporting small businesses and fostering entrepreneurship across Kansas.
The full program can be viewed online at https://extension.k-state.edu/program-areas/supporting-communities/first-friday-ecalls.
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K‑State Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the wellbeing of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.