The second annual Ambassador’s Entrepreneurial Challenge will be launched in mid-August

Bruce J. Oreck, U.S. Ambassador to Finland, is once again challenging lower (grades 7-9) and upper secondary school students to develop innovative business ideas and to discover a world of entrepreneurial possibilities.  To encourage teachers and students from all over the country to participate in the program, the U.S. Embassy will organize preliminary competitions in five different locations throughout Finland:  Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Oulu and Turku.  The competition promotes various life skills that students need in the 21st century - entrepreneurship skills, creativity, critical thinking skills, language skills, math skills, presentation skills, to name a few.  

HOW IT WORKS

Groups of 2-6 young innovators will prepare a one-page description OR a 2 minute video overview of their business idea.  This needs to be submitted to the U.S. Embassy with the following information:

1. Group Name

2. Names of the students

3. Name of the teacher/advisor

4. Contact information for the school

5. Mission/Vision Statement

6. Who is the consumer?

7. What problem, issue, or market gap does your idea fix?

8. In which of the five cities (Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Oulu, Turku) would your team compete, if chosen for the semi-finals?

Submission details will be announced in mid-August.

TIMELINE

·Monday, September 15, 2014:  Submit a one-page description of your business idea OR a 2 minute video overview of your business idea to the U.S. Embassy.  Specify in your application where (of the five cities listed) your team will participate.  The Embassy will review each entry.

·Groups with the most compelling ideas will be invited to the semi-final competition, to be organized in Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Oulu, Turku.  Exact details of the semi-finals, including dates and times, will be announced in mid-August when Ambassador’s Entrepreneurial Challenge is officially launched.  The Embassy will coordinate with each region to ensure maximum participation from students.

·The winning team from each semi-final competition will be hosted in Helsinki for the final competition during Global Entrepreneurship Week (week 47).  Participants will have the opportunity to attend entrepreneurship and presentation workshops before the final competition.

·The winner of the grand prize will be chosen by experienced judges and announced after the presentations.

PRIZES

· Invitation to a get-together at the Ambassador’s residence.

· A private meeting to discuss the business plan with expert advisors.

· A monetary prize to the winning team to help bring their idea to life. 

Take advantage of this real-life learning opportunity and jump into the Ambassadors’ Entrepreneurial Challenge this fall!

For more information, please contact: Anne Laanti, Information Specialist, U.S. Embassy, at laantiar@state.gov, 050-548 0340.