The program provides a six month curriculum, which includes 3 month class room instruction followed by 3 month workshops. Students meet on Saturdays. The classes include inspirational speech by a successful entrepreneur followed by lecture and interactive discussion on business related topics. Workshops are designed to help students practice on how to present their business plan and develop soft skills.

Each participating team receives mentoring support by one dedicated mentor to help the team prepare for the final competition.

The Competition

    The teams comprises of no less than 4 and no more than 5 students per team. Each team comes up with an idea and develops the idea into a viable business plan with the guidance of the mentor. All teams present their business plan to a panel of Judges, who represent VCs, Angels and Entrepreneurs.

The top three winning teams are awarded $5k, $3k, and $2k respectively during an award ceremony conducted at the completion of the program. The team in 1st place also qualifies to compete in TYE global competition. All other participating teams are showcased at the TiECON Banquet to promote exposure and every individual student receives a certificate of recognition from TiE-Boston. Since its inception, over 125 students participated in the program and several students repeated the program. 9 teams competed for the cash prize. In 2007, the winning team was featured in CNBC national broadcast.

Program

• A six month curriculum which consists of three months of class room instruction and three months of workshops.  Program starts in September and ends in April. 
• Classroom workshops conducted every other Saturday from 9:00AM to 1:00PM
• Open to high school students only (9^th-12^th grades)
• Approximately 40 students are selected to participate in a collaborative, team-oriented environment
• Class room instruction includes speeches by successful entrepreneurs, followed by lectures and interactive discussion on business-related topics
• Workshops are designed to help students become aware and knowledgeable on all pertinent aspects of operating a business
• Students work in teams and brainstorm to generate business ideas. Each team is assigned a mentor who guides them to develop their idea into a viable business plan
• Students finally present their business plan to a panel of judges consisting of established Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs
• Winning team, announced in March, is awarded a $5,000 cash prize and will compete in the Global Business Plan Competition against five other TyE Chapters in April.  The second place and third place teams receive $3,000 and $2,00 cash prizes, respectively. 
• Each individual student, who completes the entire Program including the business plan competition, receives a certificate of recognition from their local TiE-Chapter

Launch Event

Opportunity to listen to inspirational stories by keynote speakers, learn about the program, network with fellow students, committee members and sign up.

Classes

1. Each class begins at 9 am with breakfast followed by a lecture by an entrepreneur or expert from a select business sector
2. Class room instruction on a business topic follows the lecture and it is taught by an academician
3. Break out session takes place after the class, in which the students are divided into groups.
   1.  In the group session the students utilize everything they have learned that day and in prior lessons to agree on a concept and develop a proposal for a business
   2. The groups will pitch their proposal in front of the class.
   3. Each group presentation is judged and critiqued by the other students and by the TYE committee
   4. The criteria for winning a pitch are:

Practice Sessions

After the final class, the students will form their own team of 4-5 students. 

Each team will be assigned a mentor.  From that point until the time for Mock Pitch, the teams will continue to come to the TYE facility to practice and polish their business plan and presentation.

Mock Pitch

The teams present their plan to a panel of judges, which includes VCs, angels, lawyers, accountants and entrepreneurs.  The judges critique on the presentation and offer advice on how to improve the business plan.

Final Pitch

The teams have two weeks to improve their business plan and present to a new panel of judges.