COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of this years Maverick Challenge, in which young student entrepreneurs are awarded prize money for innovative ideas.
Twelve students representing Columbus East, Columbus North, CSA New Tech high schools and the homeschooling community pitched their business plans at a local finals competition for a chance at the Maverick Challenge Cash Prizes.
This year’s winner was Aspire Group, pitched by Trey Nebergall, Columbus North High School. Nebergall has already launched this business as a full-service real estate media company providing professional photography, video, drone and 3D virtual tours for real estate agents. Details about the business can be found at aspiregroupmedia.com.
Second place went to The Paper Rose Design Co., pitched by Emma Folz, who is homeschooled. Her business idea is a lettering and digital design company for home, lifestyle and business. She too has already launched the business where her work may be viewed on Instagram at @the.paper.rose.design.co.
The Judge’s Choice Award went to Rustic Roots, pitched by Jadi Miller and Rebecca Moore of CSA New Tech. Their business idea is a vegan restaurant in Columbus that serves fresh and healthy ingredients from local and sustainable sources.
Honorable mention for Innovation went to The.Treasure Map, pitched by Caue Benedetti, Columbus North High School. The business idea is an app for advertising and fining “Treasure Sales” or garage sales. Sellers may advertise their products for a small fee and shoppers may map out and preview sale offerings before attending the sale.
Nebergall of Aspire Group will represent Bartholomew County at the Maverick Challenge Regional Finals.
Students participating in the Maverick Challenge must complete an online curriculum on business foundations to help them take their ideas from a concept to a developed business plan. Students then pitch those business plans in multiple rounds of judging at the county and regional levels.
This year’s Maverick Challenge Regional Finals will be held via Zoom on Feb. 20.
Coordinated by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, the challenge is designed to give high school entrepreneurs hands-on experience in entrepreneurship. This year, 300 students from Bartholomew, Dearborn, Franklin, Jackson, Jennings, Monroe and Scott counties participated in the program. Since its inception, more than $50,000 has been awarded.
Local partners for the Maverick Challenge include Gold Sponsor Agresta, Storms & O’Leary CPA firm, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp., Carl Marshall and Mildred Alman Reeves Fund, the chamber, IUPUC Business Department, Old National Bank Foundation and the Southeastern Indiana Small Business Development Center.
