Business startup training to grow your ideas | Square1

Thomas More University Scholarships Awarded to Students at NEXT Final Pitch Competition

Keith — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 18:46:45 +0000

On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, Square1 hosted its Annual NEXT Final Pitch Event at Thomas More University.

The competition was a chance for students to showcase their efforts for the school year of 2023-2024. Parents, teachers, and judges watched as students presented innovative ideas they had worked on for the past seven to eight months.

The event was split between four divisions: a five-minute pitch division that competed for the opportunity to win a four-year full tuition scholarship from Thomas More University, a two-minute pitch division for students to compete for $1,000 in cash prizes, and two “Tabletop” Divisions where students interacted with judges directly.

For many, presenting their idea was an opportunity to showcase innovations with social impact, with one Tabletop division dedicated to ideas for positive social change.

The event, presented by US Bank, was a unique experience for all students, allowing them mentorship opportunities, advice on their ideas, and future partnerships. “US Bank is proud to support our next generation of changemakers and innovators,” explained Tony Knies, Vice President at US Bank and Square1’s board chair. He continued, “Our employees have been very impressed with the students’ development throughout the program.” US Bank employees and many others from the community participate as judges and assist in organizing the final event. Overall, several dozen mentors and coaches guide the students as they develop key skills that will aid them in school, career, and life.

This year saw the introduction of new awards, including the Aviatra Women-led award, and a “Wildcard” pitch. The “Wildcard” gave students who did not make the main stage a chance to impress our judges and get moved to the five-minute pitches to compete for the four-year, full tuition scholarship to Thomas More University.

“I was really inspired by your mission,” said Jill Morenz, President and CEO of Aviatra Accelerators, an organization that mentors women-owned businesses, as she presented the women-led award to the team of Nutritional Soul.

This year’s four-year full-ride Thomas More University scholarship was presented to Megan Crosby of Copilot, an innovative product that assists first-time car drivers.

Scholarships of $25,000 and $22,000 were presented to Henry Hudepohl and Cono Presti of ViteRight, a team from Beechwood High, and to Bene Gyan of Get Connected, a Walnut Hills High School student entrepreneur, respectively.

The event also featured Paul Powers as a keynote speaker, Founder and CEO of Physna, a company that uses machine learning to understand and improve 3D models. He spoke to the students about his entrepreneurial journey and the importance of overcoming setbacks.

Square1 plans to continue to reach students in the 2024-2025 school year. Square1’s NEXT program strives to teach an entrepreneurial mindset to students across Northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati region.

To learn more about entering your student in Square1’s next program, please visit https://ideastartgrow.com.

For more information about Thomas More University, visit http://www.thomasmore.edu.

For more information about U.S. Bank, visit http://www.usbank.com/about.

About Thomas More University

Founded in 1921, Thomas More University stands as a beacon of academic excellence and innovation, challenging students to Make It More. Deeply rooted in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, this timeless foundation supports a transformative educational experience as students looking to Be More are guided in the pursuit of knowledge, ethical leadership, and the integration of faith and reason. Through the high-quality, liberal arts education provided at Thomas More, students examine the ultimate meaning of life, their place in the world, and their responsibility to others which leads to the ability to think critically and contribute meaningfully to the world. Serving more than 2,000 students, Thomas More takes its place as the premier Catholic university in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region, being named one of the 2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. by the Wall Street Journal. To find out more, visit http://thomasmore.edu

About US Bank

U.S. Bancorp, with approximately 77,000 employees and $675 billion in assets as of December 31, 2022, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association. The Minneapolis-based company serves millions of customers locally, nationally and globally through a diversified mix of businesses: Consumer and Business Banking; Payment Services; Corporate & Commercial Banking; and Wealth Management and Investment Services. MUFG Union Bank, consisting primarily of retail banking branches on the West Coast, joined U.S. Bancorp in 2022. The company has been recognized for its approach to digital innovation, social responsibility, and customer service, including being named one of the 2022 World’s Most Ethical Companies and Fortune’s most admired superregional bank. Learn more at http://usbank.com/about

About Square1

Square1, with locations in Covington and Cincinnati, seeks to uncover, educate, support, and inspire emerging entrepreneurs and leaders, who ultimately create opportunities for themselves and others by overcoming the many obstacles life poses. This mission is achieved through the NEXT program, which works with high school students to teach how innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset can change their life’s trajectory. Schools and students from across Greater Cincinnati participate in this region-wide innovation and work skills education and development program. To find out more, visit https://ideastartgrow.com.

FINAL TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR X-SQUARED HIGH SCHOOL PITCH COMPETITION PLUS

Keith — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 19:02:46 +0000

Partners Square1 and St. Xavier High School to host competition on January 27th.

Cincinnati, OH. (Dec. 20, 2022) — Square1 and St. Xavier High School have selected the teams for their X-Squared High School Pitch Competition Plus on January 27, 2024. Selected from over sixty applicants from nearly two dozen schools, the final thirty-five teams will meet with Square1 to develop their final pitches prior to the competition.

These teams consist of 76 students from nine high schools around the Greater Cincinnati area: Covington Catholic High School (one team), DePaul Cristo Rey High School (one team), Ignite Institute (one team), Notre Dame Academy (four teams), Ursuline Academy (four teams), Beechwood (two teams), Harrison High School (nine teams), Saint Xavier (twelve teams), and Ross High School (one team).

The final event will consist of two rounds of competition, followed by a keynote speaker, Jeff Berding Co-CEO FC Cincinnati. The thirty-five selected teams will present an eight-minute pitch for their business idea to a panel of judges. Student teams will be divided into two divisions: those whose schools offer entrepreneurship classes (ENTPs) and those whose schools do not (non-ENTPs). The three best ENTP teams and the two best non-ENTP teams will be selected to pitch their ideas again in front of all teams and judges to compete for first and second place prizes. Between rounds, students will attend a professional development workshop hosted by St Xavier centered on the value of a stand-out resume and being well prepared for a college and job interview.

The first place team will receive $1500 cash team prize and the second place team will receive $500. Both teams will also receive a matching team college scholarship should each member choose to attend one of the participating colleges: Miami University, University of Cincinnati, University of Dayton, Mount St. Joseph University, Northern Kentucky University, Thomas More University, and Xavier University.

Interested in supporting X-Squared? Square1 is still looking for community leaders, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and university representatives to judge the preliminary round of X-Squared. Please reach out to Square1 CEO Keith Schneider at keith@ideastartgrow.com with questions or interest in judging X-Squared and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.

About Square1

Square1, located in Covington, Cincinnati, and Grant County, seeks to uncover, educate, support, and inspire emerging entrepreneurs and leaders who ultimately create opportunities for themselves and others by overcoming the many obstacles life poses. This mission is achieved through the NEXT program, which works with high school students to teach how innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset can change their life’s trajectory. Schools and students throughout Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati participate in this region-wide innovation and work skills education and development program.

About St. Xavier High School

St. Xavier High School is the Jesuit college preparatory school in Cincinnati, part of a network of 59 Jesuit high schools across the country. Since 1831, St. X. has been educating young men to be leaders and men for others. Follow St. Xavier on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Focused Funding: A Small Business Concern

Keith — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 17:51:34 +0000

After exhaustive Google searching you learn that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides government funding, a seemingly perfect solution to support the sustainability of your small business. But first, what is a Small Business Concern and how do you make sure you are eligible?

Small Business Concern

It may seem pretty self explanatory to know whether or not your business fits the description of a small or large business, but there are a few things to consider before jumping into the application process. When dealing with the appropriate classification of your business, it is not something to approach lightly when applying for government contracts as willful misrepresentation can result in penalties like company suspension or debarment and civil or criminal penalties. Whilst good faith practices will prevent most serious consequences, it still is important to make sure both your time and the SBA’s time isn’t wasted.

A Small Business Concern is defined as an independently owned, for-profit company that operates within the United States, ultimately is not considered “dominant in its field” on a national scale and complies with its specific industry standards. Approximately 23% of all government contract funding is awarded to small businesses in conjunction with the SBA Office of Government Contracting & Business Development and other federal agencies (i.e. the CDC). Therefore the SBA is one of the most reputable, if not the best, direct sources of information to refer to when looking for more information about everything small business related.

Feeling overwhelmed?

Find out what code your organization falls under within the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). SBA recommends visiting this

Next, depending on your industry code that you gathered from step one, you may have two different items you need to have the answer for.

This can require knowing the:

average amount of full-time/part-time employees (volunteers not included) your company has accommodated within the last two years (or each pay period it has been in business)
average annual receipts (total income plus costs of goods sold) over the most recent five fiscal years

Classification as a small business is entirely dependent on the maximum allowed number of employees or annual receipts calculated in millions of dollars. It is a good habit to get into checking the classification statuses regularly, as the size standards adjust to available data regarding changes in the industries and economy.

2. Finally, you are ready to take the quiz created by the SBA to know if you are a fit to continue applying.

What’s Next?

Not only do you need to be a small business category to apply to government contract programs, but you may be entitled to more tailored programs that benefit your organization by determining if you fit into smaller business categories, which of course, hold their own unique requirements.

This funding is specially allocated for small businesses to guarantee federal agencies are following statutory goals for groups and as a result, limits who is eligible to participate in these opportunities to make sure it goes to the right place.

Now that you’ve determined your placement in small business funding, it’s time to meet other basic requirements. To find more about those next steps, clickhere.

Ijeoma Nwatu. “Does Your Small Business Qualify?” U.S. Small Business Administration, 09 Sept. 2016, https://www.sba.gov/blog/does-your-small-business-qualify
The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, A Point in Time eCFR System. “Small Business Size Regulations.” National Archives, 17 Nov. 2022, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-121
United States, Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “How is Small Business Defined?” Contracts, 21 June 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/contracts/cdc-and-small-business/small-business-defined.html#:~:text=What%20is%20a%20Small%20Business,conformity%20with%20specific%20industry%20criteria
United States, Small Business Administration. “Size Standards.” Federal Contracting, Accessed 21 Nov. 2022, https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/size-standards
United States, Small Business Administration. “Size Standards Tool.” Accessed 21 Nov. 2022, https://www.sba.gov/size-standards/index.html

Interviews

Keith — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 14:56:37 +0000

Students

Keith — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 14:49:24 +0000

Call for Mentors

Keith — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 22:33:24 +0000

Square1 is looking for dedicated individuals to coach our high school innovators! These mentors will engage students directly in the classroom, helping them develop essential work skills, leading them in breaking down barriers & creating opportunities, and preparing them to compete for scholarships and prizes the NEXT Pitch Competition. Co-sponsored by Thomas More University, the winners of the NEXT Pitch Competition are awarded full 4-year scholarships to Thomas More. Square1 has awarded more than one million dollars in scholarships through this program.

Classroom coaches will visit classes once per month from October through March. Square1 will provide a training session to those interested. Coaches can pick the level of involvement that best suits them as well, choosing to coach one class, several classes at the same school, or even classes across multiple schools!

Not able to commit on a monthly basis? Consider serving as a classroom speaker instead! Speakers will have an opportunity to visit classrooms and share their expertise directly with students, selecting a topic they feel they can speak to that ties back to business, innovation, or entrepreneurship. Speakers can choose to speak at one or multiple classes or schools, as best suits their availability. They will also have the option to have Square1 record their presentation to share, allowing all students to have the opportunity to learn from their expertise

Fill out the form below to share your desired role and commitment level, or contact Square1 founder and CEO Keith Schneider with interest or questions at keith@ideastartgrow.com

First Name

Last Name

Phone number

Do you want to be a classroom coach or a speaker?

Classroom Coach Speaker

COACHES ONLY: Choose a commitment that works for you.

One class, once per month Multiple classes (one school), once per month One class, twice per month Multiple classes (one school), twice per month others

If you're interested in working with multiple schools, please select "Other" and describe your ideal commitment (number of schools & visits per month).

SPEAKERS ONLY: What topic(s) can you speak on?

SPEAKERS ONLY: Do you have a preference on the type of school or location, or have a specific school in mind?

Please share any additional comments or concerns not covered on this form. (OPTIONAL)

About Square1

About Thomas More University

For 100 years, Thomas More has created a university for the student who wants to Be More, Do More, Seek More, Win More, Achieve More, and Create More. Since its founding in 1921, Thomas More has provided a mission-driven, liberal arts education that is based in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Students learn to harness the power of human reason to solve problems and discover truth, which allows them to begin the journey to become the person they were created to be. Entering into the second century, it’s time for More. Serving more than 2,000 students, Thomas More aspires to be the premier Catholic university in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region, to build up the excellent ranking for ROI in Kentucky (#1 – 2021 MSN Money, #2 2022 Georgetown University study), and share with this generation the transformative power of the Thomas More experience. To find out more, visit http://thomasmore.edu

Thomas More University Awards Scholarships at Square1 High School Pitch Event

Keith — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 17:55:26 +0000

CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (Mar. 27, 2023) — On Thursday, March 23, 2023, Square1 held its annual NEXT High School Final Pitch Event at Thomas More, co-sponsored by the University and U.S. Bank. The event provides opportunities for additional coaching, prizes, and startup support to participating students. Three teams of stand-out students were selected by a panel of judges for top honors in the competition and as a result receive scholarships to Thomas More University, including first-place, full-tuition scholarships, second-place $25,000 scholarships, and third-place $22,000 scholarships. “This was probably our best event to date, and Thomas More was crucial in this outcome,” says Keith Schneider, founder and director of Square1. “The scholarship opportunities make it so exciting, and the students’ performances make it so rewarding.”

Earning first place was team BLK Beauty from Walnut Hills High School, consisting of students Cydney Emery, Hannah Ware, Jada Scott, Sidney Brown, and Bene Gyan. All receive full-tuition scholarships to Thomas More University with their pitch detailing an innovative hair company design. “BLK Beauty captured the audience and knocked their pitch out of the park,” says Schneider. “They were energized and passionate about making their NEXT experience a success from the beginning of the program months ago.” Team BLK Beauty appeared live on FOX19’s morning show to discuss their pitch and participation in the Square1 program on Monday, March 27, 2023.

Runner up in the pitch contest, team Easy Brush, consisted of Campbell County High School student Luke Barbian. Team EcoSoap from Beechwood High School took home third place in the competition and was made up of Nick Alexander and Ella Roberts.

The 2023 NEXT event also honored Chad Scott, founder and managing director of Tindall Capital, a growth investment firm focusing on lower-middle market technology and early-stage software investments operating in targeted industries. Square1’s NEXT program works with high school students to teach them how innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset can change their life’s trajectory. Schools and students from across Greater Cincinnati participate in this region-wide innovation and work skills education and development program.

For more information about Thomas More University, visit http://www.thomasmore.edu

For more information about Square1, visit https://ideastartgrow.com/

For more information about U.S. Bank, visit http://www.usbank.com/about

About Thomas More University

About Square1

About U.S. Bank

SPOTLIGHT ON YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

Keith — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 12:31:00 +0000

Square1 Startup Pitch Contest Open to ALL Area High School Students

Square1, where ideas start and grow, is excited to announce that the 4th Annual NEXT High School Pitch Competition will be open to ALL area high school students, not just those enrolled in the NEXT program. Members of the community and businesses are invited to witness the region’s top high school innovators pitch their ideas virtually this year on April 27^th at 11:30 am.

The event will also feature two keynote speakers of national acclaim. Neal Hoffman, an entrepreneur and actual Shark Tanker, will kick things off. Neal achieved funding from both Robert Herjavec and Lori Greiner to support his Mensch on a Bench startup. Not only does Neal continue to expand his company, but he also continues to work be an asset to Robert and Lori.

Our other keynote leads Xavier’s Williams College of Business as Dean. Tom Hayes has not only dedicated the last forty years of his life teaching at Xavier but was also a founding partner of a marketing consulting agency and has held several other leadership roles with the American Marketing Association along with being an author.

“COVID has made school more challenging and students have dealt with the disappointment of many cancelled events over the past year, so we decided to open the competition to all students this year,” says Square1 President Keith Schneider. “We want students to have something fun to participate in and get them excited about future opportunities.”

Individual students or teams can register or if teachers have a class or classes that are interested, Square1 can visit (virtually or in-person) to discuss the contest. Online curriculum and templates are also available. Competition registration must be completed by March 15, 2021 at ideastartgrow.com/next/registration.

The contest will start in late March with the finalist competing virtually the week of April 26^th before contest judges consisting of local community and business leaders and entrepreneurs to be named at a later date. The first place team will be awarded a prize of no less than $1,000. Also available as a prize is a $1,500 scholarship to Northern Kentucky University. Square1 also has a number of partners in the regional startup scene that will allow winners to shadow and participate alongside entrepreneurs in their programs. These partners include SoCap, an NKU-based Accelerator, Aviatra Accelerators, a women-led businesses accelerator, and more.

Sponsorships and tickets for the event are available for purchase now at https://ideastartgrow.com/next/event/. Join other supporters like MCF Advisors, Journey Steel, and Global Technology Transfer in lifting our NEXT generation of innovators!

Square1 is also seeking judges for the contest as well as mentors to work with teams to refine their ideas. If interested in supporting Square1 and these students, please reach out to Keith at keith@ideastartgrow.com.

An overview of the NEXT program can be found here.

Scholarships to be Awarded at Square1 NEXT High School Pitch Event

Keith — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 22:20:06 +0000

CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (Mar. 8, 2023) — Square1 introduces entrepreneurship to hundreds of high school students in the region through the NEXT program and is set to hold the annual NEXT High School Final Pitch event co-sponsored by U.S. Bank and Thomas More University on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at the University’s main campus. The event provides opportunities to participating students for prizes, additional coaching, networking with local professionals as they share their experiences, startup support, and a chance to explore new pathways.

Three teams of stand-out students are selected by a panel of judges for top honors in the competition and are offered scholarships to Thomas More University. The first-place team can take advantage of full-tuition scholarships, second place receives $25,000 scholarships, and third place earns $22,000 scholarships. Last year’s first-place winning team, MatterhornONE, included students Alex Woods, Carson Floyd, and Colin Wilmhoff of Beechwood High School. The three students were offered full-tuition scholarships to Thomas More University as a result of their pitch which detailed an innovative, single-person tent design serving a social purpose. Runners up in last year’s contest, team Fast Fashion, consisted of Holy Cross High School students Kennedie Welliver and Annalee Grout, who pitched a men’s quick pick-up accessory store. Team WaitIN took home third place in the competition for their pitch about solving staffing issues for small restaurants by providing plug-and-play ordering software. Team WaitIN was made up of Theo Helton and Steven Weil from Covington Catholic High School.

The event also serves to honor community members for their role in innovation and entrepreneurialism in the region. The 2023 NEXT event honors Chad Scott, founder and managing director of Tindall Capital, a growth investment firm focusing on lower-middle market technology and early-stage software investments operating in targeted industries. Thomas More University President Joseph L. Chillo, LP.D., was one of several honorees at the 2022 NEXT event, receiving the Entrepreneur Engagement Award in recognition of his commitment to providing the winning teams with life-changing scholarships to the University and for establishment of the Dr. Anthony ’65 & Geraldine ’66 Zembrodt Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Thomas More.

Square1’s NEXT program works with high school students to teach them how innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset can change their life’s trajectory. Schools and students from across Greater Cincinnati participate in this region-wide innovation and work skills education and development program.

For more information about Thomas More University, visit http://www.thomasmore.edu

For more information about Square1, visit https://ideastartgrow.com/

For more information about U.S. Bank, visit http://www.usbank.com/about

About Thomas More University

About Square1

About U.S. Bank

Knowledge is Power: Youth Entrepreneurship Education

Keith — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 18:43:00 +0000

Did you know that there are skills and knowledge that can transcend the average classroom?
This idea stimulates the economy and affects the lives of millions of people every day across the nation

What is Entrepreneurship?

Entrepreneurs are fueled by innovation and defined as creators of small businesses. The number of small businesses is substantial, standing at 33.2 million in total and making up 99.9% of all businesses in the United States. Notably, they serve as a major player in the growth of the economy, generating nearly half of all workers in the country at 61.2 million in 2022.

It is unsurprising to assume that some will inevitably fail. In fact, only about 40% of small businesses will be successful due to many not having access to consistent capital. Because of this harsh reality, entrepreneurship education is proactive as it teaches not only the professional skills needed to start a business, but how to mitigate risks and maximize opportunities long-term to be sustainable.

Entrepreneurship education benefits start early:

Consider the additional advantages that come with teaching entrepreneurship before your typical college classroom, but instead as early as elementary school. Entrepreneur education equips learners with the confidence and knowledge to face uncertain professional situations that often do not have definite answers.

Through entrepreneurial education, students learn earlier on to think outside the box by identifying their strengths, applying their working knowledge towards their interests and collaborating with others who have differing expertise; all necessary skills to prepare them to enter the workforce. This may take the shape of practicing public speaking skills, creating professional networks, exploring secondary education and potential career paths, learning about racial and social barriers and many more possibilities.

As a result of this focus, learners are empowered to use their best judgment to find innovative strategies and solutions to overcome complex problems and start thinking about that next phase of life.

NEXT as a solution:

NEXT is a year-long program that presents an opportunity for students to spark their entrepreneurial journey through partnership with local middle schools and high schools in the greater Cincinnati region. While there, students can expect education centered in youth development that takes on the challenge to build purposeful learning because we understand that not every student begins at the same starting line.

The unfortunate truth is that 59.9% of students that reside in Kentucky and 48.4% of students in Ohio are economically disadvantaged. These realities are even more pronounced among students of color and students in rural communities who have less access to school funding, technology tools and educational opportunities.

NEXT recognizes this inequity and strives to provide agency for underserved youth that are fighting generational poverty and the opportunity gap by serving both urban and rural schools. To date, our program has impacted more than 700 students annually with 61% of students participating in the free/reduced-price lunch program and 51% of learners representing a racial minority.

There are so many avenues to explore with NEXT ranging from forming their own business ideas to solve community needs, presenting in pitch competitions to peers and local professionals and the potential to earn scholarship funds to pursue their post-secondary goals. When finishing up the program, students can expect to be introduced to professional networks, understand how to manage a LinkedIn profile, identify potential internships and career pathways, and best of all, newfound confidence to take on rising opportunities and challenges.

We recognize that starting your own business is not for every student, however there are endless kinds of benefits to being taught these skills that are transferable to all walks of life. This is evident in the 98.39% of students who reported that they felt the program positively impacted their overall academic performance and 89.5% felt more equipped to make academic and career decisions.

If you are interested in learning more about implementing this program into your own school, reach out to keith@growennoble.com or begin registering here!

“Business Employment Dynamics.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 28 April 2016. https://www.bls.gov/bdm/entrepreneurship/entrepreneurship.htm
Kentucky Department of Education, School Report Card. 2021-2022.
Ohio Department of Education, Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio. Students Economically Disadvantaged in Ohio. The Annie E. Casey Foundation. 2020-2021.
Rauch, Jonathan, editor. “Entrepreneurship Education Comes of Age on Campus: The Challenges and Rewards of Bringing Entrepreneurship to Higher Education.” Kauffman Panel, July 2008, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, 2013.
“Small Business Statistics & Trends 2022.”Lawnstarter, https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/statistics/small-business-statistics/. Accessed 28 Oct. 2022.
Youth Entrepreneurship Curriculum Belongs in School. Uncharted Learning, https://www.unchartedlearning.org/about/why-youth-entrepreneurship. Accessed 24 Oct. 202