Fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in Maine’s middle and high school students

The Maine Center is bringing entrepreneurial education to middle and high school students across the state, providing hands-on opportunities to explore how to start and grow a business. Through interactive scenarios, learners make real decisions focused on budgeting and pricing, identifying markets, hiring and teamwork, marketing, and pitching ideas. The program helps students build confidence and career-ready skills while sparking an entrepreneurial mindset that benefits Maine’s communities and future economy.

2024-2025 School Year Impact

schools

participating throughout the state of Maine

students

participating in the program

hours

of learning among all participating students

of students

have an interest in starting a business in the future after completing the program.

of students

feel they have a greater knowledge of how to start a business after completing the program

of teachers

agree that the course enhanced the material they teach in the classroom

About the program

In partnership with Everfi, an education technology company that partners with schools and organizations to deliver free digital courses on real-world topics, the Maine Center is bringing Venture: Entrepreneurial Expedition™ to educators statewide. Venture is a virtual youth entrepreneurship course that provides short, modular, game-like simulation that allow students to make real decisions focused on budgeting, pricing, researching markets, hiring, and pitching. Through the modules, they practice creativity, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and financial literacy while exploring how a business starts and grows.

What sets the program apart:

  • Statewide access: Through the Maine Center’s partnership with Everfi, Venture is available to all middle and high schools in Maine
  • Real-world skills: Students run a simulated business—budgeting, pricing, hiring, marketing—and finish with a personal e-portfolio and pitch
  • Turnkey implementation: Everfi drives rollout, including teacher trainings, outreach, tech support, and district relationships, so schools can seamlessly implement the program without a heavy lift
  • Instilling an entrepreneurial mindset: The hands-on exercises allow students to think and act like business owners, practicing judgment, resilience, and initiative
Learn more about the course

Maine Startup Challenge

The Maine Center is partnering with Maine Venture Fund (MVF) to provide an additional opportunity for students to practice entrepreneurial thinking: the Maine Startup Challenge (MSC). MSC is a statewide business plan competition to encourage entrepreneurship across all ages and includes tiers for K–8, high school, college, and aspiring adult entrepreneurs.

Finalists from each tier will present their business plans to a panel of judges at the Maine Startup Challenge Showcase and compete the win cash prizes and statewide recognition.

Student’s participating in the Everfi Venture course offered by the Maine Center are encouraged to bring their business ideas to life by submitting a business plan to the MSC.

Join us for the 2026 Maine Startup Challenge Showcase
Wednesday, May 20, 2025 at the Maine Center (300 Fore Street, Portland, ME)

Join the Challenge