JA Be Entrepreneurial Pitch Competition

Name: JA Be Entrepreneurial Pitch Competition
Start: 2026-06-08 00:00:00.0
End: 2026-11-27 00:00:00.0
Location: Junior Achievement of Central Carolinas

Featuring: JA Be Entrepreneurial (Creative Problem Solving)

JA Be Entrepreneurial® is a reimagined, modular learning experience that teaches students about the mindset and the skills needed for success by aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators who add value to any organization. In JA Creative Problem Solving, students learn and apply design thinking, an innovative process for problem solving used by entrepreneurs (and intrapreneurs) to brainstorm customer-centric ideas. (Grades 9-12)

Featuring: JA Be Entrepreneurial (Think Like an Entrepreneur)

JA Be Entrepreneurial® is a reimagined, modular learning experience that teaches students about the mindset and the skills needed for success by aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators who add value to any organization. In JA Think Like an Entrepreneur, students develop a mindset that enables opportunity identification, innovation, value creation, and problem solving. (Grades 9-12)

Featuring: JA Be Entrepreneurial (Rapid Business Planning)

JA Be Entrepreneurial® is a reimagined, modular learning experience that teaches students about the mindset and the skills needed for success by aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators who add value to any organization. In JA Rapid Business Planning, students learn about the Lean Model Canvas, the strategic management template for developing business models. (Grades 9-12)

Submissions Are Open!

Happening Now!

When: Monday, June 08, 2026 - Friday, November 27, 2026

Where: Junior Achievement of Central Carolinas

Time: 12:00 AM ET

Why Participate?
1.Real-world Impact: Channel creativity into solutions for real challenges students care about.
2.Skills Development: Build confidence, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills through hands-on entrepreneurial experiences.
3.Mentorship: Gain guidance from industry professionals who support idea development.
4.Pitch Experience: Bring ideas to life in a Shark Tank-style competition at UNC Charlotte, where students present their business concepts to a panel of judges and compete for a cash prize to support
their future goals.

Eligibility and Submission Process:
Open to students in grades 4-8 during the Fall 2026 semester. Participants must be able to attend the majority of sessions & the final presentations. Students will complete JA Be Entrepreneurial lessons & develop a business idea based on a problem they are passionate about, which they will submit and present as part of the final competition.

Important Dates!

August 4, 2026 - Application Deadline
August 18, 2026 - Parent/Student Orientation
November 17, 2026 - Final Presentations at UNC Charlotte
September 1, 2026 - Session 1
September 15, 2026 - Session 2
September 29, 2026 - Session 3
October 13, 2026 - Session 4
October 27, 2026 - Session 5
November 10, 2026 - Dress Rehearsal
November 17, 2026 - Final Presentations at UNC Charlotte

Registration Form Event Flyer

Become a Sponsor!

Sponsorships for these events are critical for Junior Achievement to continue providing life-changing programs to students in our community. These programs are delivered at no cost to students. You can make a difference in the lives of these students by participating in this world-class event!