2024 Project Venture Competition
Congratulations Teen Mobile!
During Tuesday’s Project Venture competition, the top four teams from 24 submissions statewide came together to pitch their ideas in front of a panel of judges. We were excited to see each team present their business plan and promotional video before taking a series of touch questions from the judges and the audience.
Congratulations and first place go to Gulf County for their Teen Mobile business!
Second place went to Broward County North for their Paw Pros business. The third place winner was Duval County West and their Mobile Mechanic service idea with fourth place going to Leon County for their business Support HS.
Check out recent news coverage of the event, and additional photos and a link to each team’s promotional video are available below.
Winning this competition feels incredible. We were able to push ourselves outside of our comfort zones to present a project that can really make a difference. We learned so many valuable skills, including working together for a common goal and supporting each other’s strengths.
Project Venture Photo Gallery
Thank you to our Executive Coach Sponsors who helped prep
the Project Venture finalists!
Broward County North, for their business “Paw Pros.”
Paw Pros works to produce and deliver customized, 3-D printed prosthetics for pets and service animals who have lost the use of a limb. The Able Trust’s High School High Tech partner for Broward County is the Center for Independent Living of Broward.
Duval County West, for their business “Mobile Mechanix.”
Mobile Mechanix brings basic auto repairs to a consumer’s home, business or any other location to provide timely service. The Able Trust’s High School High Tech partner for Duval County is The Arc of Jacksonville.
Gulf County, for their business “Teen Mobile.”
Teen Mobile aims to meet the needs of elderly technology users by connecting the right teen technician to arrive and assist each individual user. The Able Trust’s High School High Tech partner for Gulf County is CareerSource Florida Gulf Coast.
Leon County, for their business “Support HS.”
Support HS provides a mobile after-school club for students to share their thoughts, feelings and struggles with a compassionate group of their peers. The Able Trust’s High School High Tech partner for Leon County is Ability1st.
Each team submits a promotional video and you can click the button below to view the videos of these top teams.
Thank You Project Venture Judges!
We appreciate the time and effort of our volunteer judges. We appreciate their leadership in making this year’s competition such a success!
Round Two Judges
Round One Judges
- Tracy Burger, Consortium of Florida Education Foundations
- Dennis Hartin, Hartin Dynamics
- Bill Hoffman, Bill Hoffman & Associates, LLC
- Mike Kiser, Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Anna Lebesch, JAXUSA Partnership
- Rachel Ludwig, Florida Chamber of Commerce
- Deborah Martin, Florida College Access Network (FCAN)
- Tina Pepin, Pepin Family Foundation
- Stephanie Royal, Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship
- Liz Winslow, Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida
Click the below image to watch the 2024 Project Venture finals recap!
Project Venture
Project Venture is a competition for high school students with disabilities who participate in The Able Trust High School High Tech program. Project Venture teams prepare and present a comprehensive business plan to promote and sell a new product or service.
Students who participate in this competition gain important skills they will need as they transition out of high school into post-secondary education or training, or go directly into the workforce:
- Introduce students to entrepreneurism and the entrepreneurial spirit.
- Facilitate students working in teams on real-world applications.
- Allow students to develop workplace communication skills and other soft skills.
- Enable students to learn by doing.
During the competition, a panel of judges review the business plan and commercials submitted by all Project Venture teams. Three teams are selected by this panel to compete in person in a second round of judging that takes place in front of an audience.
As a freshman, I was in the program thinking this is just a program to join. I wasn't really thinking about college and the future. But, it helps me know what I want to do after high school. Since we've visited college and campus tours, it gives me an idea of what I want to do outside of high school. It's really helped me mentally know what I want to do in life. That's what I take from HSHT.
2024 Project Venture Teams
A record number of High School High Tech teams submitted business development plans for the 2024 competition. We are excited to have mobile business ideas submitted by the following High School High Tech teams and partners. Congratulations to each team on their hard work and innovative ideas!
- Alachua County HSHT – Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida
- Bay County HSHT – Chautauqua Learn and Serve Charter School
- Brevard County HSHT – Brevard Schools Foundation
- Broward County North HSHT – Center for Independent Living of Broward
- Columbia County HSHT – CareerSource Florida Crown Workforce Board, Inc.
- DeSoto County HSHT – School District of DeSoto County
- Duval County East HSHT – The Arc of Jacksonville
- Duval County West HSHT – The Arc of Jacksonville
- Escambia County HSHT – Goodwill Gulf Coast
- Flagler County HSHT – Flagler County Education Foundation
- Gulf County HSHT – CareerSource Gulf Coast
- Hillsborough County HSHT – ServiceSource dba Abilities Inc.
- Lake County HSHT – Education Foundation of Lake County, Inc.
- Leon County HSHT – Ability 1st
- Madison County HSHT – Madison County School District
- Miami-Dade County HSHT North – Miami Lighthouse for the Blind
- Nassau County HSHT – Nassau County School District
- Orange County West HSHT – Foundation for Orange County Public Schools
- Pinellas County LiFT HSHT – Learning Independence for Tomorrow (LiFT)
- Polk County HSHT – Polk County Public Schools
- Polk County Transition HSHT – Polk County Public Schools
- Sarasota County HSHT – The Haven
- St. Johns County HSHT – The Arc of Jacksonville
- Union County HSHT – CareerSource Florida Crown Workforce Board, Inc.
Thank You to our 2024 Project Venture Sponsors!
As Seen on TV Sponsors
Executive Coach Sponsors
First 100 Customers Sponsors
Black Friday Sponsors
