Welcome to the AEA 2020 student application! Program Dates - July 6-31, 2020
The Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy, AEA, will bring together 26 rising high school seniors from all over Appalachia to work and learn alongside top entrepreneurs, startups, and businesses leading innovation in the region through a four-week, all expenses paid, immersive experience in Pittsburgh, PA. Students will team up with peers to develop a business idea or innovation and at the end of the 4 weeks your team will present it to a panel of judges and investors in a pitch competition for a chance to win $1k!
Who can apply? We invite rising high school seniors in the Appalachia region to apply.
APPLY BY April 15, 2020 to be considered!
The AEA experience will expose you to leading entrepreneurs, innovative startups and forward thinking businesses located in the Pittsburgh area and also have global impact. We will provide training and hands-on creator experiences with a focus on innovation, design thinking, and lean startup approaches to problem solving. With the support of AEA instructors, mentors, and coaches, teams will develop innovative business solutions, a plan to market their ideas, and a pitch presentation for various audiences.
Each student will also receive:
- Transportation to, from, and within Pittsburgh
- Full room and board, including meals
- All related activities paid, including extracurricular activities
- Paid work experience and job shadowing; a stipend of $600
- Mentoring and coaching, including career exploration
- Networking & access to entrepreneurial resources
- Ongoing support and additional training for 1 year after the program
- ...and a month of a lot of FUN with like-minded students from all over Appalachia !!
The application is short and requires uploads: a video or presentation, and the name and email of a personal reference for a recommendation. Be sure to read page 2 completely to learn about requirements and file types. If you are having trouble with your uploads please email me directly.
Please contact rodriguezg@iel.org for additional questions. Thank you and best wishes!
Gwendolyn Rodriguez, AEA Director