HANCOCK, Mich. (WLUC) – A collaboration between the Copper Country Intermediate School District, Breakwater Federal Credit Union and the Michigan Small Business Development Center resulted in their first-ever \u2018Pike Tank\u2019 all-day event Tuesday. <\/p>\n
Held at Hancock Community Hub, the CCISD says 60 CTE juniors and seniors from Baraga, Keweenaw, and Houghton counties were invited to take part in activities focused on growing their skills. The activities included simulating running a business and a \u2018Shark Tank\u2019-like competition, focused on a student pitching a product prototype to judges, the \u2018pikes\u2019. <\/p>\n
CCISD CTE Business and Entrepreneurship Instructor Steven Kass said this allows students to use what they\u2019ve learned in the classroom. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut also, it\u2019s giving them confidence to get up in front of people and share their idea and maybe get some insight on how that idea can be improved and brought to the next level,\u201d Kass said. \u201cEntrepreneurship; it\u2019s rocket fuel for small communities.\u201d <\/p>\n
The students were also spoken to by keynote speakers, InvestUP CEO Marty Fittante and MTU Research and Innovation Senior Associate Vice President Jim Baker. We asked Baker what some of the obstacles young entrepreneurs face in the U.P. are. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are limited in resources,\u201d Baker said. \u201cWe are limited in talent resources, we\u2019re limited in capital resources, we\u2019re limited in logistical convenience to major markets.\u201d <\/p>\n
We then asked how entrepreneurs, like the ones at Tuesday\u2019s event, can overcome these challenges. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to take a team to solve those problems,\u201d Baker added. \u201cThey don\u2019t have to, nor can they, solve those problems by themselves…If the students don\u2019t take anything else away from today, that\u2019s my hope: that they realize they own the future and they can solve these problems… and they need to exercise creative skills to do that.\u201d <\/p>\n
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