Ice House Entrepreneurship Program & Reno County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) 2026

About

StartUp Hutch offers free entrepreneurship training through the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program and a business idea competition for high school students, providing essential skills, mentorship, and financial support to help low-income households and young entrepreneurs succeed.

Benefits

• 🎓 Skill Development
• Participants will gain critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills through the Ice House program
• 💰 Financial Support
• Opportunity to win cash prizes in the Reno County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
• 🎤 Mentorship Program
• Access to personalized guidance from experienced professionals through a mentorship program
• 🌐 Networking Opportunities
• Regular networking events and workshops to connect with other entrepreneurs
• 🏢 Office and Prototype Support
• Access to micro-grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 for business support

Eligibility Criteria

• 🌍 Geographic Eligibility
• Open to participants from Reno County, Kansas
• 💼 Business Background
• No prior business background or mature business idea required
• 👥 Target Audience
• Specifically aimed at low-income households (ALICE households) and high school students
• ⏰ Program Duration
• Ice House program runs for 8 weeks from January 29 to March 26, 2026
• 🎓 Age Requirement
• Participants in the YEC must be high school students

Participation Commitments

• 📍 Physical Attendance
• Must attend weekly sessions of the Ice House program on Thursdays from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
• 🎤 Presentation Requirement
• Participants in the YEC must present their business ideas on March 10, 2026

Target Region

Open to entrepreneurs in Reno County, Kansas

Target Sector

Focused on entrepreneurship and business innovation