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TURN YOUR AP BUSINESS CANVAS PROJECT
INTO A REAL-WORLD COMPETITION
A Ready-Made Capstone Experience for AP Business with Personal Finance
Your students are already doing the heavy lifting. Project ECHO simply provides the authentic audience, expert mentors, and cash prizes to reward their hard work without altering your syllabus.
Project ECHO gives them an authentic audience for that work.
Through Project ECHO’s Teen Entrepreneurs’ Business Plan Competition, students can extend their AP Business Canvas Project into a competition-ready business plan and pitch, present to experienced business professionals, receive real-world feedback, and compete alongside young entrepreneurs from other schools.
Project ECHO has been developing young entrepreneurs through hands-on entrepreneurship education since 1996.
A NATURAL EXTENSION OF THE AP BUSINESS CANVAS PROJECT
AP Business with Personal Finance requires students to complete a Business Canvas Project centered around an entrepreneurial idea that addresses an identified customer problem, need, or want.
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That’s where Project ECHO comes in.
Project ECHO does not replace your AP curriculum or Business Canvas Project. Instead, we provide a structured pathway for students to take the entrepreneurial work they are already doing and prepare it for an authentic external audience.
AP Business → Business Canvas Project → Project ECHO Competition
Students move from learning and applying business concepts in the classroom to explaining, presenting, and defending their ideas before experienced business professionals.
WHAT PROJECT ECHO ADDS TO THE AP EXPERIENCE
AN AUTHENTIC AUDIENCE
Students present their entrepreneurial ideas to experienced business professionals—not just their classmates and teacher.
EXTERNAL EVALUATION
Written business plans and presentations are evaluated by volunteer judges with professional business experience.
REAL-WORLD QUESTIONS
Students must think on their feet, explain their assumptions, and defend the decisions behind their business concepts.
OPTIONAL BUSINESS MENTORS
Student teams may have the opportunity to work virtually with background-screened business professionals as they develop and refine their ideas.
COMPETITION
Students put their work to the test alongside entrepreneurial teams from other schools and programs.
RECOGNITION & AWARDS
Outstanding teams are recognized, with winners eligible for cash awards that can support their entrepreneurial or educational goals.
A UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE
Southern California teams have the opportunity to compete on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills.
College Board's AP Business course guidance specifically recognizes the opportunity for teachers to extend the Business Canvas Project into student business competitions.
AP BUSINESS + PROJECT ECHO ALIGNMENT
Entrepreneurship: Students develop an entrepreneurial opportunity into a competition-ready venture
Decision Making: Students explain their strategic choices and respond to questions from judges.
Communication: Students transform their work into a persuasive written business plan and live business pitch.
Business Canvas Project: Students extend their AP project into an authentic external competition experience.
THE TEEN ENTREPRENEURS’ BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION
Sunday, May 16, 2027
California State University, Dominguez Hills | Carson, California
Project ECHO’s annual Teen Entrepreneurs’ Business Plan Competition gives students the opportunity to experience entrepreneurship beyond the classroom. Students are evaluated in two areas: their written business plan and a “Shark Tank-style” pitch, including Q&A with experienced business professionals.
Teams can pitch their business in person at CSU Dominguez Hills, or virtually on Zoom.
SEE PROJECT ECHO AND THE BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION IN ACTION
Meet the young entrepreneurs, see the pitches and experience the energy of Project ECHO's university-hosted competition.
A SIMPLE PATH FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE COMPETITION
1. REGISTER YOUR CLASS
Choose the participation option that works best for your school and students. Deadline to register is March 12, 2027.
2. BUILD ON THE AP BUSINESS CANVAS PROJECT
Students continue developing their entrepreneurial concepts while completing their AP Business coursework.
3. PREPARE FOR COMPETITION
Project ECHO provides business-plan and pitch guidelines, competition expectations, judging criteria, and preparation resources.
4. CONNECT WITH BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS
Optional virtual mentoring can give students additional feedback as they develop their ventures.
5. SUBMIT YOUR BUSINESS PLAN
Students submit their written plans for evaluation by Sunday, May 9, 2027 and prepare to present their start-ups.
6. COMPETE
Students showcase their work at the Teen Entrepreneurs’ Business Plan Competition on Sunday, May 16, 2027.
TWO WAYS FOR YOUR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE
SCHOOL-SPONSORED CLASSROOM
$3,100 per classroom
One school-sponsored fee covers participation for up to 30 students
INDIVIDUAL STUDENT ENROLLMENT
$200 per student
Project ECHO provides a dedicated enrollment and payment link for your school so participating students and families can register and pay directly.
Both options include Project ECHO competition preparation resources and participation.
READY TO GIVE YOUR AP BUSINESS STUDENTS A REAL-WORLD STAGE?
Let’s talk about how Project ECHO can complement your AP Business with Personal Finance course and turn your students’ entrepreneurial work into an authentic competition experience.
Schedule an Informational Call
2027 Teen Entrepreneurs’ Business Plan Competition
Sunday, May 16, 2027
California State University, Dominguez Hills
In-person and virtual participation available
About Project ECHO
Project ECHO (Entrepreneurial Concepts Hands-On!) is a nonprofit entrepreneurship education organization established in 1996. Project ECHO provides experiential entrepreneurship opportunities that help middle and high school students develop business, financial, leadership, communication, and career-ready skills.
AP Business with Personal Finance Alignment
Project ECHO is an independent nonprofit educational organization and is not affiliated with or endorsed by College Board. References to AP Business with Personal Finance are provided to demonstrate alignment between course learning objectives, the Business Canvas Project, and the Project ECHO competition experience. AP® is a trademark registered by College Board.