This year, a new class has been created at the Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Finance, led by the center’s director, Dr. Ed Harris.
The new class is called “Entrepreneurship Incubator: Taking Your Ideas to Market,” a full-year, one-credit academic elective designed for upperclassmen in 11th or 12th grade interested in learning the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. The course will have a small pilot program for the 2024-25 school year, with plans for a full rollout the following year.
The course is modeled after the successful INCubatoredu curriculum developed by Uncharted Learning.
“The new entrepreneurship class is amazing,” senior Irene Capitano said. “The selection of people is great and I really feel like I’m able to work well with any of the people in my class.”
The class offers an introduction to entrepreneurship principles and goes through the step-by-step process of creating a product. By the end of the course, students will have the opportunity to pitch their business ideas, with the goal of bringing them to market.
“I’m really excited to work with a really committed and talented group of students in a new course focusing on the nuts and bolts of entrepreneurship,” said Dr. Anthony Watson, a new Upper School instructor who teaches the three sections of the class.
Students will be divided into teams, each guided by a business professional who will serve as a coach and mentor. These mentors will assist the students throughout the stages of the class. Throughout the year, students will also gain insight into essential business concepts such as marketing, accounting, and the legal aspects of starting a business.
“Our students are already divided into teams and will begin working on projects, which will culminate in offerings they will pitch at the end of the year,” Dr. Watson said. “Over the course of the year, they will have access to advice, coaching, and mentorship from numerous entrepreneurs and business people from the Kinkaid and greater Houston community.”
By the time of the course’s full introduction in 2025-26, the course is expected to become a cornerstone of the CLEF program, which aims to contribute to the new generation of Kinkaid entrepreneurs who are ready to go out and make their mark on the world.
