NVCA Kicks Off EntrepreneurshipWeek USA with BIG IDEAS

This year the NVCA joined more than a thousand partner organizations across the country to support EntrepreneurshipWeek USA from February 24 – March 3, 2007. Sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation, EntrepreneurshipWeek is a national effort to inspire and encourage young people to consider entrepreneurship as a career choice and to celebrate America’s unique culture of inventiveness.

In conjunction with the week, the NVCA sponsored a “Big Ideas” essay program which engaged a group of K-12 schools from across the country to encourage students to write about their innovative ideas. More than 200 students were asked to share their thoughts on a product, service, or business that would solve a problem. The essays were collected and read by an NVCA member who made a visit to every school during the week to speak with the students about their ideas, entrepreneurship and venture capital.

Click here for a press release about the "Big Ideas" essay program

Click here for a list of all of the "Ideas"

Click here for excerpts from the most innovative "Ideas"

	Venture capitalist Salem Shuchman of Entrepreneur Partners met with 4th and 5th graders from Wallingford Elementary School in Pennsylvania Monday. Ideas there ranged from heated gloves and mittens to a GPS shopping cart to a clip-on soundproof door. The lively discussion helped the children think further about their ideas and ways to improve upon them.
	EWeek participant contemplates suggestions from Novak Biddle Venture Partner Phil Bronner on her business strategy!
	Potomac Lighthouse Charter School essay writers proudly display their participation certificates.