The Incubator.edu Boerne program was started in an attempt to bring real-world experience into the classroom. We teach students to think like entrepreneurs and that means solving a problem they might have encountered in their lives or on some level looking at how the problem is currently being solved and doing it better than it is being done currently.
The local investors were many -- our whole community was involved and we are so thankful. The judges were Bill Bird of Bird Imports, Will Hawkins of Goettl AC and Plumbing, Stephanie Chandler of Jackson Walker, LLP. Justin McKenzie from the Boerne Kendall County Angel Network helped out all year as well as Rich Sena from the BISD school board.
The program is funded by donations from local businesses and community members. The money that is awarded can be used by the students to further their business. They have to form an LLC to receive that funding. Or, they can divide it up and use it as scholarship money that will be sent directly to their school of choice.
We look for mentors who really want to work with teenagers and share their wisdom, knowledge and connections with high school students. One such mentor was Glenn Coward of CapabilitySource who worked with the Bonsai Chef team that won first place. Bonsai Chef boys shared their post-high school plans. Ishi Estacio will attend UTSA and major in Business, Ethan Coffin will attend Texas A&M and major in Business Entrepreneurship, Ty Alexander will attend Texas A&M Corpus Christi and major in Business or Economics, Leo Petriu will study Economics in Europe and Chase Balderas is only a junior so he will return to take the Business Practicum class next year.
When asked how the program prepared him for his professional future, Ethan stated, "Definitely. Incubator has given me a great understanding of what it means to be an entrepreneur, and while I certainly have more to learn, I have a much better grip on how to do nearly everything business-related, from communicating with associates to conducting pitches or delegating tasks to my fellow team members. Coach Breuer, the mentors, and the Incubator program do an excellent job providing you with every resource you need to succeed. You just have to provide the initiative to use those resources."
Ishi responded to the question about what attracted him to the Incubator program, to which he replied, "The idea of a team effort, ideation, and process of building a business. The experience in Incubator allowed me to progress and break my comfort zone. Moreover, it allows me to connect with people who are successful and to learn from their experiences."
The team that raised all of the money for us was called Fireworks Funding. They raised $41,400 for the Incubator program.
1st Place Bonsai Chef - Ishi Estacio, Ethan Coffin, Chase Balderas (BHS), Ty Alexander and Leo Petriu
2nd place Run Tree - Lyle Rideout and Shannon Breuer
3rd place Attention Novelties - Ryan Nereson, Gabe Hawkins and Camden Vicknair
4th place Bag the Smell - Juan Castro, Connor Wahl and JP Walker (BHS students)
5th place Inverse Innovations - Michael Williams, Tanner Goodeill and Asher Van Buskirk
Honorable Mention Reckless Cowboy