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Startup Sprint

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Lesson Plan

Startup Sprint Lesson Plan

This 30-minute lesson guides 10th graders to brainstorm small business ideas, define target markets, and sketch a basic business plan outline, fostering entrepreneurial thinking, teamwork, and practical problem-solving skills.

Gives students real-world experience in entrepreneurship, boosts creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, and introduces key business planning concepts essential for career readiness.

Audience

10th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive pairing with guided worksheets.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Hook

5 minutes

  • Briefly introduce entrepreneurship and its relevance to everyday life.
  • Highlight today's objectives: idea generation, market definition, and plan sketching.
  • Share a real-world example (e.g., a successful local startup) to spark interest.
  • Refer to Startup Sprint Lesson Plan for overview.

Step 2

Brainstorm Business Ideas

7 minutes

  • Students form pairs.
  • Distribute Business Idea Worksheet.
  • Set timer for 7 minutes; students list at least three business ideas.
  • Teacher circulates to prompt creativity and note standout ideas.

Step 3

Define Your Target Market

8 minutes

  • Each pair selects one promising idea to develop.
  • Provide Target Market Template.
  • Students define target customer demographics, needs, and pain points.
  • Set timer for 8 minutes; teacher supports groups with questions.

Step 4

Sketch a Simple Business Plan

8 minutes

  • Distribute Mini Business Plan Template.
  • Students outline value proposition, revenue streams, and key resources.
  • Encourage concise, clear answers within the 8-minute window.
  • Teacher checks progress and offers quick feedback.

Step 5

Share & Reflect

2 minutes

  • Each pair takes 1 minute to share their chosen idea and plan with the class.
  • Highlight diverse approaches and encourage positive peer feedback.
  • Summarize key takeaways: importance of market fit and clear planning.
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Slide Deck

Startup Sprint

10th Grade Entrepreneurship Workshop
30-Minute Interactive Lesson

Welcome students to the Startup Sprint session. Introduce yourself and the day’s agenda. Explain that in 30 minutes they’ll go from idea to mini business plan. Encourage energy and creativity.

Introduction & Hook

• What is entrepreneurship?
• Why it matters in everyday life
• Today’s goals:
– Brainstorm ideas
– Define a market
– Sketch a plan

Briefly define entrepreneurship: turning ideas into real-world solutions. Share a quick local startup story (e.g., a student-founded business or a popular campus venture). Emphasize relevance: these skills apply to any field.

Brainstorm Business Ideas

• Form pairs
• Use the Business Idea Worksheet
• List at least 3 potential businesses
• 7 minutes – go!

Explain the pairing process and distribute the Business Idea Worksheet. Start the 7-minute timer. Circulate and prompt pairs: “What problem does this solve? Who would pay for it?”

Define Your Target Market

• Pick your best idea
• Complete the Target Market Template
• Identify customer demographics & needs
• 8 minutes – go!

Have each pair choose their top idea. Hand out the Target Market Template. Encourage students to think: demographics, needs, pain points. Start an 8-minute timer.

Sketch a Simple Business Plan

• Use the Mini Business Plan Template
• Outline:
– Value proposition
– Revenue streams
– Key resources
• 8 minutes – go!

Distribute the Mini Business Plan Template. Prompt concise answers: value proposition, revenue streams, key resources. Run an 8-minute timer. Offer quick feedback as you walk around.

Share & Reflect

• 1 minute per pair to share
• Highlight standout ideas
• Discuss lessons learned

Invite each pair to share their idea and one key insight in 1 minute. Highlight creative approaches and reinforce positive feedback. Summarize the importance of market fit and clear planning.

Key Takeaways

• Creativity drives innovation
• Knowing your customer is essential
• Clear, concise planning leads to success

Next Steps:
Refine, test, and iterate your plan!

Recap the session: creativity + market understanding + concise planning = a strong business foundation. Encourage students to refine their plans, seek feedback, and maybe even launch!

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Worksheet

Business Idea Worksheet

Work with your partner to brainstorm three potential business ideas. For each idea, answer the prompts below.

Business Idea #1

  • Name of the Idea:



  • What problem does this idea solve?







  • Proposed solution (how it works):







  • What makes this idea unique?




Business Idea #2

  • Name of the Idea:



  • What problem does this idea solve?







  • Proposed solution (how it works):







  • What makes this idea unique?




Business Idea #3

  • Name of the Idea:



  • What problem does this idea solve?







  • Proposed solution (how it works):







  • What makes this idea unique?




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Worksheet

Target Market Template

Use this template to define the key characteristics of your ideal customer for the chosen business idea.

Business Idea

  • Briefly state your selected business idea:



Customer Demographics

  • Age range:



  • Location (city, region, etc.):



  • Gender (if applicable):



  • Income level or socioeconomic status:



  • Education or occupation:



Customer Needs & Pain Points

Identify the top three needs or problems your customers face.

  1. Pain Point #1:




  2. Pain Point #2:




  3. Pain Point #3:




Communication Channels

How will you reach these customers? (e.g., social media, email, in-person, ads)






Motivations & Behaviors

What motivates this market to buy? What are their typical habits or preferences?






Key Insight

Summarize the single most important thing you learned about your target market that will shape your business strategy.








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Worksheet

Mini Business Plan Template

Use this template to turn your chosen idea into a concise business plan.

Business Idea

  • Restate your selected business idea:



Value Proposition

  • What core benefit or unique value does your business offer to customers?






Revenue Streams

  • List all ways you will generate income (e.g., product sales, subscriptions, service fees, ads):






Key Resources

  • Identify the essential resources (people, equipment, technology, partnerships) needed to deliver your value proposition:






Cost Structure

  • Outline your major costs (production, marketing, operations, salaries):






Next Steps

  • What is one immediate action you will take to advance this business plan (e.g., market research, prototype, pitch practice)?:






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