JC FLEX | JC FLEX

WHAT IS JC FLEX?

Jones County Foundational Leadership and Entrepreneurship X-perience

is an entrepreneurship contest for students in 9th - 12th grade

who want to begin their business while still in high school.

ROUND 1:

Student entrepreneurs form teams consisting of no more than three people. These teams are referred to as companies. Student entrepreneurs MUST select a business mentor and submit a business plan application to be judged by a panel of local business leaders. It will be a blind submission process. Out of the inital applicants, 10 will be selected to advance to the next round. Applications are due September 30.

ROUND 2:

On October 27, the selected 10 companies will be announced and will have a short meeting at 3:30 in the Community Room to review next steps and to receive their $100 seed money loan. Student companies will then operate their businesses for approximately 8 weeks, while working collaboratively with their business partners and mentor to fine-tune their business plan and financials. A hard copy of financial statements, the business plan, and all visual aides are due to the company's mentor of December 16 for his/her feedback (ensure all sites are accessible) and students then make needed revisions prior to the January 9 final hard copy deadline.

By January 9, a hard copy of the company's financial statements and business plan MUST be submitted to Mrs. Varnadoe. These documents will be copied for each panel member for Round 2's initial business presentations on January 13 in the Community Room. On January 17, the top 3 Finalists will be announced and receive information regarding Round 3.

ROUND 3:

The top 3 companies give a “Shark Tank” style business pitch to a panel of judges made up of business leaders in front of friends, family, members of the business community, and their peers. Students will have a practice run-through of their presentation on February 28 ($100 seed money loan must be paid by this date) followed by the Round 3 Final Presentations on March 1. This presentation will include all the components of their initial business presentation with the addition of a commercial and other enhancements.

RULES

The competition is open to 9th-12th grade students.
Companies must be 1-3 person teams.
Company team members MUST attend all required dates noted under the Timeline section on the next page.
Companies must pay back their $100 loan to be considered for Round 3.
For Round 2, companies must have an advisor from the Jones County School System and confirm a business mentor that will work with your company throughout the JC FLEX Competition (advisor & mentor could be the same).
For Round 3, all finalists MUST attend the practice run-through on February 28th.

Important Dates

Throughout September: Advertisement for JC FLEX Contest to students
September 12: Application Q/A for student teams and/or school system mentors: Meeting 3:30 p.m. JCHS Cafeteria
*September 30: Deadline for applications and business plans
*October Date TBA - Check your email for the date, time, and location for the business plan workshop
*October 27: Top 10 announced and students MUST pick-up a check for a $100 investment loan to help get their businesses off the ground and the Round 2 Information Packet from Mrs. Varnadoe
*November/December Date TBA: - Check your email for the date, time and location for the business plan workshop
December 16: Financials/Information, any updates to Business Plan Due for Top 10
*January 9 - Final financial statements, business plan and presentation due to Mrs. Varnadoe for creating copies for judging panel for Round 2
*January 13: Round 2 Contest with Panel
January 17: Announce Top 3 Finalists and Provide Round 3 Information Packet
*February 28: Practice/Coaching Session for JC FLEX Top 3 Finalists & $100 seed money loan must be paid
*March 1: JC FLEX Contest Finals

*=Required attendance by all company team members

DISCLAIMER:

The opinions and decisions made by the panels of judges at each round of the competition are final. The opinions of the judges are independent of JCHS-CCA, JCSS, Jones County Development Authority, Gray/JC Chamber of Commerce, and the sponsors of JC FLEX.