The North Shore has long been known for academic excellence, but increasingly, it’s also becoming a launchpad for young entrepreneurs.
That spirit is reflected in INCubatoredu, a national entrepreneurship program that gives high school students the opportunity to build and launch real businesses while still in the classroom. Over the course of a year, students move from idea generation to market validation, product development and investor-style pitches, working alongside experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders who serve as mentors.
The program mirrors the realities of startup culture, where experimentation, iteration and resilience matter as much as the idea itself. Students learn to test assumptions, respond to feedback and solve real-world problems, often discovering that the strongest ventures emerge through constant refinement.
This year, five local student-led ventures advanced to the Quarterfinal round of the 2026 INCubatoredu National Pitch competition, earning recognition among the top high school innovators in the country. Selected from a competitive national pool after being nominated by their schools, these students spent the year transforming ideas into real ventures, learning how to research customers, test prototypes and think like founders.
What begins in the classroom quickly becomes something far more dynamic. Guided by business mentors, community advisors and teachers who treat them like real entrepreneurs, students spend months refining ideas, gathering feedback and learning how to pivot when challenges arise.
The result is more than a pitch competition. It’s a proving ground for creativity, resilience and problem-solving.
For the North Shore, having five Quarterfinalists in a single year is more than a point of pride. It reflects the strength of local entrepreneurship programs and a generation of students already learning how to build with purpose.
The ventures span industries and interests, from consumer products and sustainability to personal care and fashion. While each team approached entrepreneurship differently, all five demonstrated the same core skills: creativity, adaptability and a willingness to solve real-world problems.
TEAM SPOTLIGHTS
FunShine
Deerfield High School
FunShine set out to solve a problem its founders knew well: kids hate sunscreen.
As camp counselors and lifeguards, Maya Medina, Ellie Karner, Haylie Goynshor and Katherine Dikin watched children squirm, resist and run away during sunscreen application.
“We started turning sunscreen into games like ‘spa day’ just to get kids to cooperate,” says team member Ellie Karner. “That’s when we realized there had to be a better, more fun way to do it.”
Their solution is a refillable sunscreen applicator featuring a sensory-friendly silicone blender and a playful cap designed to make sun protection feel engaging rather than stressful.
But designing for kids meant learning quickly what worked and what didn’t.
“Our first design leaked everywhere during testing,” Karner says. “It taught us that while the fun aspect matters, parents and kids need something reliable and mess-free. The mechanics mattered just as much as the creativity.”
Teacher Joseph Navickas says the team’s growth was remarkable.
“Students enhance their interpersonal and communication skills, and they become creative geniuses again in the process,” he says.
FunShine placed first at Deerfield’s Pitch Night, was named first alternate for the National Pitch and ultimately ranked sixth nationally, continuing Deerfield’s five-year streak of Top 10 teams.
For the founders, the turning point came during real-world testing.
“When we saw kids actually engaging with the applicator instead of running away, that’s when it clicked,” Karner says. “Getting real feedback from parents and children made FunShine feel like a genuine solution, not just a class project.”
Although FunShine did not advance into the top five National Pitch finalists, the team was invited to participate in the INCubatoredu National Student Showcase. On July 8, they will present at Willis Tower before more than 200 guests.
“We’re really excited,” Karner says. “It’s a chance to share our product, get feedback and keep growing.”
Tape Off
Highland Park High School
Athletes know the sting of peeling off sports tape after practice or competition. Tape Off addresses that problem with a spray designed to loosen adhesive and make tape removal faster and far less painful.
The team’s pitch stood out to a panel of six business professionals, who named it the strongest among Highland Park’s competing ventures.
Teacher Mike Arcurie says what impressed him most was how quickly the students moved beyond theory.
“They took what they learned in class and applied it directly to their business concept,” he says. “They registered as an LLC and got an EIN.”
What truly distinguished Tape Off was its willingness to launch early.
“They created and published a real Kickstarter campaign,” Arcurie says. “I’ve never had a team do something like that before in eight years of teaching this class.”
Apeiros Scents
Glenbrook South High School
@titanstartup
Apeiros Scents blends fragrance with personal meaning, creating perfumes and colognes inspired by faith and designed to elevate the senses while fostering emotional connection.
The team spent the year formulating original scents, validating market demand and building the foundation of a consumer brand.
Teacher Michael Macfadden calls their commitment exceptional.
“They worked tirelessly, far beyond what was required in the classroom,” he says.
Their efforts earned recognition beyond the classroom. The team won $500 in seed funding at Illinois State University’s InnoVators Pitch Competition and received the “Most Loved Team” award from fellow competitors.
Always OAK
Glenbrook North High School
@gbnstartup
Always OAK transforms fast-fashion waste into one-of-a-kind toiletry bags, each crafted from two upcycled garments, one for the exterior and one for the interior.
No two bags are alike, and the brand is rooted in sustainability, creativity and intentional design.
This year, Always OAK was selected as Glenbrook North’s Official Notification team, earning recognition from INCubatoredu and an invitation to showcase its venture at the National Pitch event.
Teacher Mindy Ingersoll says the team’s growth came from learning how to adapt.
“They learned to listen to feedback and stretch beyond their comfort zone,” she says.
One major challenge was figuring out how to scale.
“They had to move beyond sourcing materials through donations and think about creating environmental impact through a full-fledged production model,” Ingersoll says. “They did extensive research, made a lot of calls and developed a plan that impressed the advisory board on pitch night.”
What set the team apart was a shared sense of purpose. Their commitment to tackling clothing waste, combined with their ability to evolve through each pivot, gave Always OAK a mission that resonated with mentors and judges alike.
Gateway Stadium Bags
New Trier High School
@gateway_bags
Clear stadium bags may be required at concerts and sporting events, but many options sacrifice style, privacy and durability.
Gateway Stadium Bags was born when founder Miranda Korobov saw a clear gap in the market.
“Most stadium-approved bags were flimsy, unstylish, offered no privacy and completely ruined the look of a nice outfit,” she says. “I wanted to create a bag I would genuinely want to wear.”
Her teacher, Bob Bollweg, recognized her clarity of vision early.
“Miranda is an excellent presenter and showed enthusiasm and creativity in her approach to problem-solving,” he says. “She has a unique entrepreneurial spirit. She sewed her own prototypes and did thorough research.”
Building a physical product meant learning nearly everything from scratch.
“I had very little experience creating prototypes or sewing,” Korobov says. “I had to learn almost every step from YouTube. It took many attempts, but I eventually created a product I was proud of.”
Advancing to the Quarterfinals as a solo founder brought both pressure and reward.
“Working alone meant every decision and obstacle was mine to handle,” she says. “But seeing my idea evolve into a real product that people genuinely valued made all the hard work worthwhile.”
Now, Gateway Stadium Bags is preparing for its next chapter: finalizing a professional production sample, manufacturing inventory and bringing the product to market. Korobov plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign to help fund production and begin early sales.
“They created and published a real Kickstarter campaign. I’ve never had a team do something like that before." — Mike Arcurie, Highland Park High School teacher
“Getting real feedback from parents and children made FunShine feel like a genuine solution, not just a class project.” — Ellie Karner, FunShine co-founder