A hands-on, two-week business simulation project where high school students conceptualize and plan their own business venture. Students master and apply the core pillars of business: organizational structure, marketing and branding, operations and supply chain, human resources, and financial budgeting.
Due on Day 10. Your final calculations, financial safety check, and the slide presentation to classroom judges.
Deliverable Checklist:
Startup expenses table complete
Operating monthly budget details
Unit profit margin calculations
7-slide boardroom presentation
Lesson 1: Concept & Culture Overview Slide 6 of 20
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Teamwork
Co-Founders: Division of Labor
No single entrepreneur has all the skills needed to run a business. Your team will divide into specialized department leads to guarantee high accountability.
CEO Chief Executive
Overall Strategy, Goals, & Culture
CMO Chief Marketing
Branding, Customers, & 4 Ps
COO Chief Operating
Supply Chain & Daily Workflow
CFO Chief Financial
Costs, Pricing, & Revenue Maps
Lesson 1: Concept & Culture Overview Slide 7 of 20
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CEO
The Chief Executive Officer
The CEO is the driver. They make sure the company stays on mission, resolves major disputes, and defines the broad strategy.
Primary Responsibility:
Leading group work blocks, ensuring timelines are met, and crafting the initial presentation hook.
CEO Work Focus:
Drafts the company's official Mission & Vision.
Draws the hierarchy organizational chart.
Lesson 1: Concept & Culture Overview Slide 8 of 20
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CMO
The Chief Marketing Officer
The CMO owns the customer relationship. They make sure the brand looks attractive, target profiles are accurate, and promo codes trigger sales.
Primary Responsibility:
Defining the target customer demographics and designing the brand aesthetic guides.
CMO Work Focus:
Designs brand colors, slogan, and logos.
Specifies the 4 Ps marketing strategy grid.
Lesson 1: Concept & Culture Overview Slide 9 of 20
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COO
The Chief Operating Officer
The COO is the machine designer. They make sure the product gets built cleanly, inventory remains filled, and order shipping occurs immediately.
Primary Responsibility:
Mapping daily supplier-to-retail flows and creating step-by-step order workflows.
COO Work Focus:
Creates supplier and logistic flowcharts.
Maps step-by-step customer journey actions.
Lesson 1: Concept & Culture Overview Slide 10 of 20
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CFO
The Chief Financial Officer
The CFO protects the treasury. They make sure the company does not spend more than it earns, calculates product prices correctly, and outlines budgets.
Primary Responsibility:
Managing mathematical formulas, completing unit margins, and formulating 12-month projections.
CFO Work Focus:
Builds one-time and monthly budgets.
Estimates margins and seasonal unit sales.
Lesson 1: Concept & Culture Overview Slide 11 of 20
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Ideation
How to Brainstorm Winning Ideas
Notice Everyday Friction
What is annoying, slow, or overpriced in your own daily schedule? Solve it.
Upgrade an Existing Offer
How can you make a popular product healthier, faster, cleaner, or local?
Focus on Under-served Niches
Who is ignored by big brands? Can you build specifically for them?
Lesson 1: Concept & Culture Overview Slide 12 of 20
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Problem-Solution
The Problem-Solution Fit
Great startups do not start by thinking of a cool product. They start by identifying a deep friction, then building the perfect solution.
Example: Uber noticed hailing a taxi was slow and frustrating (Problem). They built a 1-tap mobile ride network (Solution).
Avoid the "So What?" Trap
If your business concept doesn't solve a clear customer pain point, customers will have no reason to spend money. Always define the core friction first!
Lesson 1: Concept & Culture Overview Slide 13 of 20
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Sectors
Selecting Your Business Sector
1. Service Venture
You sell your skills or labor (e.g., tutoring, custom car detailing, lawn care, photography app, consultant agency).
2. Retail & Product
You source or build physical inventory and sell directly to consumers (e.g., eco-friendly shoes, vintage apparel shop).
3. Tech & Platform
You write software or run an online hub connecting buyers and sellers (e.g., local meal delivery platform, safety tracker app).
Lesson 1: Concept & Culture Overview Slide 14 of 20
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Target Market
Your Ideal Target Buyer
"Everyone" is not a target market. If you try to sell to everyone, you will connect with no one.
We identify buyers using demographics (age, income) and psychographics (lifestyles, values).
Identify Your Target:
What age is your prime buyer?
Where do they spend their weekends?
What values guide their wallets?
Lesson 1: Concept & Culture Overview Slide 15 of 20
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Identity
Mission vs. Vision:
The Big Difference
These two statements form the compass of your enterprise. It is vital not to mix them up.
Corporate Mission
The daily operational engine. What do we do today, for whom, and how do we serve them?
Corporate Vision
The 10-year target. What long-term national/global impact do we plan to achieve in the future?
Lesson 1: Concept & Culture Overview Slide 16 of 20
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Mission
How to Write a Powerhouse Mission
1. Who?
Define your exact target customer segment.
2. What?
Describe the primary product or service you offer.
3. How?
State your unique standard of execution.
Example: "Our mission is to provide affordable organic tutoring (What) to high school students (Who) through seamless, stress-free video matching (How)."
Lesson 1: Concept & Culture Overview Slide 17 of 20
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Values
Core Values:
Our Boundaries
Values are the rules your company lives by when no one is watching. They dictate hiring, product standards, and customer support.
List 3 values on Page 2 of your workbook (e.g., Extreme Accountability, Eco-First Sourcing, Total Transparency).
Example Standards:
Absolute ethical honesty
Relentless service speed
Community-driven support
Lesson 1: Concept & Culture Overview Slide 18 of 20
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Org Chart
The Boardroom
Org Chart
Every legitimate company defines reporting lines. Who reports to whom? Who makes final, split-second decisions?
Use Page 3 to draw your connections. Draw arrows from CEO downwards to CMO, COO, and CFO leads.
CEO (Leader)
CMO
COO
CFO
Lesson 1: Concept & Culture Overview Slide 19 of 20
Workbook pages 1–3 must be completed as a team and turned in. Be detailed, realistic, and creative!
Due Date End of class period on Day 4
Lesson 1: Concept & Culture Overview Slide 20 of 20
Chief Executive
Marketing Lead
Operations Lead
Financial Lead
2. Executive Duty Specifications
Define exactly two core KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and major responsibilities for each executive.
CEO (Leadership)
CMO (Marketing)
COO (Operations)
CFO (Financials)
Venture Launchpad • Milestone 1 Workbook Page 3 of 3
Defined Target Market Profile
The 4 Ps Strategy Matrix Completed
Suppliers, Logistics, & Partners outlined
Step-by-step Daily Workflow mapped out
Submission Requirements
Workbook Part 2 (Pages 1-3) must be complete. Every section must have professional, detailed content without shortcuts.
Due Date End of Day 7 class period
Lesson 2: Market & Machine Slide 5 of 5
Write out the physical steps an order takes from the second it is placed online or in-person, to fulfillment and customer receipt.
1
2
3
4
Venture Launchpad • Milestone 2 Workbook Page 3 of 3
Milestone 3: Financial Workbook & Pitch Showcase
Complete Startup & Operating Budgets
Revenue & Unit Pricing Strategy calculated
12-Month Sales Projections formulated
7-Slide Pitch Deck and script prepared
Submission Requirements
Workbook Part 3 (Pages 1-3) must be complete. Pitch decks must be loaded and ready on presenter computers before class starts on Day 10.
Due Date End of Day 10 class period
Lesson 3: Capital & Pitch Slide 5 of 5
Months 1–3 (Startup)
Months 4–6 (Growth)
Months 7–9 (Established)
Months 10–12 (Peak)
TOTAL ANNUAL PROJECTED REVENUE:
$
Venture Launchpad • Milestone 3 Workbook Page 2 of 3
Milestone 3 Workbook
Pitch Storyboard
Days 9–10 • Final 7-Slide Pitch Deck Storyboard
Page 3
1. Pitch Deck Blueprint
Map out the bullet points or sketches for each of your pitch deck's 7 mandatory slides. Ensure every co-founder is prepared to present.
Slide 1: Hook & Brand Name
Slide 2: Problem & Friction
Slide 3: Our Solution
Slide 4: Target Customer & Marketing
Slide 5: Operations & Supply Chain
Slide 6: Startup & Operating Budgets
Slide 7: The "Ask" (Investment Capital Request & equity offer)
How much total startup cash are you asking for, and what percentage of ownership will you grant in return?
Venture Launchpad • Milestone 3 Workbook Page 3 of 3
Boardroom
Pitch
Day 10 Presentation
High-energy, professional 5-minute pitch. All co-founders spoke. Slides are visually stunning. Q&A answered with exceptional depth.
Clear, structured 5-minute presentation. Most co-founders spoke. Slides are complete. Q&A answered with confidence.
Pitch was disorganized or ran significantly over/under time. Slides are sparse or hard to read.
Teacher Grading Calculation Note
Circle the achieved performance level for each of the five pillars (each is worth 20 points). Add up the points from each row to calculate the final cumulative score out of 100 points: Score = Culture (___) + Marketing (___) + Operations (___) + Financials (___) + Pitch (___) = ______ / 100
