Angola High entrepreneurship teacher describes Start It Up Foundation accelerator, student pitch experiences

Michelle Davis, entrepreneurship teacher at Angola High School, told the MSD of Steuben County Board on Oct. 21 that her students gained business and pitching experience through the Start It Up Foundation accelerator and a recent Washington, D.C., immersion trip.

"Their main thing is they teach students to see problems as opportunities," Davis said, summarizing the foundation's approach. She described a free curriculum, pitch competitions and an accelerator that offers mentorship, curriculum videos and "fireside chats" with entrepreneurs.

Davis said she took students to regional pitch competitions and then brought the top nine Indiana teams to a Washington, D.C., immersion. The group visited the Croc Institute for tech diplomacy, Anduril (a defense company), Link Strategic Partners, Pinkston (crisis management), the Hoosier Hub networking event and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Students also met briefly with U.S. Sen. Todd Young and U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin to present brief elevator pitches.

Davis described the program's classroom impact: the entrepreneurship curriculum is dual-credit eligible (she noted 44 college credits through dual enrollment in the business department) and raises expectations of what local students can achieve. She said the program requires students in the second-year class to participate in the pitch competition, and that participation can count toward new state graduation requirements tied to the diploma/honors models.

Davis recounted details from the trip, including the students' opportunities to test pitches before industry panels and to practice crisis planning with Pinkston. She described the experience of day one in Washington as physically intense — "I had 24,000 steps that day" — and said the immersion helped students see real-world business and public-sector connections.

Why it matters

Davis told the board the Start It Up Foundation's materials were provided at no cost to the district and have increased dual-credit and experiential learning opportunities for Angola High students. She said the program helps students build entrepreneurial skills, deliver formal pitches and connect with outside mentors and organizations.

Quote

"They teach students to see problems as opportunities," Michelle Davis said of the Start It Up Foundation curriculum.

Speakers relevant to this article

- Michelle Davis, entrepreneurship teacher, Angola High School (presenter)

Proper names and programs referenced

Start It Up Foundation; Croc Institute for Tech Diplomacy; Anduril; Link Strategic Partners; Pinkston; Hoosier Hub; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Sen. Todd Young; Rep. Erin Houchin; Ivy Tech (dual-credit partner).

Follow-up / implementation notes

Davis said she will continue to leverage her network of educators and program partners to bring speakers and opportunities into the classroom and that the dual-credit pathway will continue to be offered through Ivy Tech arrangements.