Life is like a game, and business is the game you want to play. International Burch University, in collaboration with the Association of High School Students in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Smion (ex. Lean Startup Croatia), designed an educational and competition program in the field of entrepreneurship – Burch Start Me Up High School, which has been held for the sixth consecutive year.
Burch Start Me Up High School is the perfect program for all high school students who want to master the basics of entrepreneurship through a series of workshops and practical activities. This competition is not only an opportunity to learn, but also to gain practical experience through gamification and a variety of workshops and activities, with the chance to compete and apply the knowledge gained. It is also a place where high school students take their first, yet firm, entrepreneurial steps.
The goal of the competition is to awaken the entrepreneurial spirit in high school students, equip them with knowledge through a series of interactive workshops and activities, and provide them with the opportunity to test their knowledge and win excellent prizes.
Why is the Burch Start Me Up High School Competition Different?
What sets Burch Start Me Up High School apart from other competitions is its tailored concept for high school students. In the past two years, the concept has been enhanced with a hybrid model, incorporating gamification.
All activities in the program are gamified, making participants players within a virtual platform where they solve challenges in a point-earning quest.Participants engage in the game called “Start Me Up High School.” Through three interconnected modules, over January and February, participants learn how to create ideas, form quality teams, develop their concepts, and finally – make a demo or prototype of an application.
Upon completion of the competition, the best teams are rewarded with support for the development of their product or service prototype within the Burch Start-Up Incubator and a cash prize in the form of a scholarship for studying at International Burch University.
Who won this year’s Burch Start Me Up High School competition?
After 16 weeks of lectures, practical classes, and diligent work on developing ideas and business plans, the 10 best teams of high school students from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina presented their final pitches.
The teams that competed were:
- 1. InaćeLearn – a platform containing elements of virtual reality to help users learn languages through various interactive scenarios.
2. Pocket Teacher – a modern platform for learning in a more innovative and engaging way.
3. Overrule – a platform designed to exchange experiences and share potential solutions and support for the problem of workplace bullying.
4. SafeSpace – using technology, SafeSpace provides emotional support for those in need.
- Make it Better – a platform for virtual assistance in education for students requiring help due to physical or mental challenges.
- 6. Flauna – solves the problem for students and nature enthusiasts by providing an easier way to recognize plants and their characteristics.
- 7. CuraAI – uses artificial intelligence to assist medical staff and patients in responding more quickly in emergencies.
- 8. BrainKeepers – the team created the “Bujrum radi” platform, aiming to provide an online space for more efficient job finding in Bosnia and Herzegovina, primarily for young people, and secondarily for others.
- 9. M-tus – an abbreviation for “Medical Appointment in Seconds,” which, with the help of technology and public health data, allows people to schedule appointments faster and more easily.
- 10. StudyPoint – a platform that creates an online space for learning and knowledge sharing for students in primary and secondary schools across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
How Satisfied Were the Participants and Organizers with the Competition Concept?
After the program, students shared their impressions of the competition and how they experienced it. The general impression among the students was very positive. They especially liked the quizzes that tested their knowledge and felt that the competitive aspect was a useful guide to assess how much they had learned.
Regarding team formation, the students had no major problems and fit well into their teams.
From the first to the final module of the program, the students were communicative and enjoyed the interactive presentations. They were eager to participate in discussions and actively contributed to the lectures. The communication and explanation game, along with the quizzes, were extremely popular among the students and formed a large part of their overall impression of the competition.
Overall, the competition was very successful, and the students had a positive experience. Congratulations to the winning teams!
