History of GSE.
The past leads the future. Or does the future lead itself?
At Governor's School for Entrepreneurs, it is our goal to teach students how to become creative, innovative, courageous, kind, and critically thinking entrepreneurs.
These young entrepreneurs are the future. The future of our economy. Of our communities. Of Kentucky.
Learn more about our history of impact below.
A fresh infusion of young entrepreneurs.
At the Governor's School for Entrepreneurs (GSE), we continue to work with our most promising Alum, and support their efforts to launch businesses. In the US, 64% of new jobs over the last two decades were generated by small businesses. A fresh infusion of young entrepreneurs can change the economic landscape by creating more companies and more jobs right here in Kentucky.
Alumni Businesses Spotlight
DoseDEFENSE
COMPLEX PROBLEM. Despite the standardized use of childproof medication caps across the pharmaceutical industry– an average of 160 kids a day visit Emergency Rooms across the nation seeking treatment for accidental overdoses. It’s time to face the truth: the standard childproof cap is not enough to keep the most vulnerable…
Read MoreAnneli White Designs
Everything changed in 2019. I attended the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE). I ramped up artisan shows. I printed my first color T-shirts. I began wholesale more seriously. I created all kinds of new products. And I started to refine my vision for what Anneli White Designs would become. …
Read MoreRAK Louisville
RAK Louisville (Random Acts of Kindness Louisville) is a movement to flood the city of Louisville with random acts of kindness and epic acts of service. We identify serving opportunities throughout the community that are suitable for students, promote RAK Louisville projects and continue to raise up RAK Louisville team…
Read MoreFlip through the years.
The first session of GSE is held at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. 49 young entrepreneurs in 12 distinct teams developed creative ideas into distinct and feasible business models.
Learn more about our inaugural year below.
Held at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. 14 teams developed businesses - the top 5 teams gave their pitches to the Lexington Venture Club. 4 teams have continued their business post-GSE.
The third session of GSE was held at Georgetown College. Sixty-five students participated on 16 business teams.
In its first four years, the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs has attracted students from every corner of Kentucky. GSE offers a diverse environment where open, inclusive learning takes place. 2016 brought us 44 students and 11 teams.
In 2017, The Governor's School for Entrepreneurs was on Transylvania University's Campus in Lexington, Kentucky. We served 60 participants and 15 business ideas were born.
In 2018, GSE grew to serve 72 students, bringing to life 18 business ideas.
In 2019, GSE moved to Northern Kentucky University. We again served 72 students from all around the Commonwealth.
The 2020 GSE experience was our most unique. Faced with challenges surrounding Covid-19, we pivoted our program masterfully into a hybrid experience for our teens. We again served 72 teen entrepreneurs!
We kept pushing boundaries and attaining new heights this summer as we added a second session to give 120 Kentucky teens, up from 72 in previous years, an opportunity to explore their entrepreneurial spirits and pitch their business startup ideas at two highly competitive Demo Days.