News

Five Long Island VE firms made it to the 2018 National Business Plan Competition. These teams competed presented amongst 28 teams from across the U.S. during the 2018 Youth Business Summit. The Long Island firms included Elluminate from Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK … Continue reading →

TeaTreat Box Co. from JP Taravella High School took home first-place in the Human Resources Competition. Twelve students and three chaperones made it to New York City from Coral Springs, Florida, to participate in the 2018 Youth Business Summit thanks to … Continue reading →

For the first time in VE history, California-based teams have taken home first-place in the National Business Plan Competition for three consecutive years — the two most recent wins accomplished by Bakersfield High School. 23ABC’s Alyssa Flores covered the achievement in … Continue reading →

The 8th-graders running the VE firm Dough Re Mi will show you that it’s never too early to learn entrepreneurial skills. The company sells an array of baked goods while being conscious of different diets by including nut-free and gluten-free products. … Continue reading →

Fox’s Eyewitness News segment covered a warm welcome home for the 2018 National Business Plan Competition winners, Anomalous, a VE firm “focused on fighting local food waste one juice at a time.” Read the article here: “BHS Students return from … Continue reading →

In the next few days, New York City will be welcoming thousands of teenage entrepreneurs for the 2018 Youth Business Summit. Wanda Thibodeaux wrote about the YBS, “one of the largest business exhibitions in the United States,” in her Inc.com … Continue reading →

2018 Los Angeles Conference and Exhibition World on a Plate, Banning High School  A group of chefs and entrepreneurs walk into an exhibition… and take home the gold! Congratulations to Banning’s MATCH academy business, World on a Plate, for winning … Continue reading →

VE firm TECRAID recently took a trip to Morrisville State College to present their company to the college’s students and professors, as reported by Andrew Aurigema of the Oneida Daily Dispatch.   “‘We’re given our own aspect to the business … Continue reading →

  Selene Rivera of Hoy Los Angeles gave an inside scoop on the California-based VE dessert firm, Scoopalicious. Rivera highlights the real-world business skills VE students are learning in the classroom, and how there is a role for every student and every … Continue reading →

Students are developing and applying their career readiness competencies through their daily work experience in the classroom, professional development activities, leadership events, major VE program components such as business planning and the National Website Competition. If you want to be … Continue reading →

Pasadena Now covered the 2018 Los Angeles Conference and Exhibition at the Pasadena Convention Center, which took place in February. There were 1,300 students in attendance, trading with fellow VE employees and firms and participating in numerous competitions. Nick Chapman commented … Continue reading →

Contributed By: Gina Pol, NYC Program Coordinator On Thursday, March 8th forty-one high school student executives gathered together for the Winning Women Leadership Conference. Winning Women is VE’s Female Leadership Conference Series designed to support and prepare high-potential VE female … Continue reading →

The following 28 teams have qualified for the 2018 National Business Plan Competition, taking place during the 2018 Youth Business Summit on April 16, 2018 at Microsoft Technology Center. This event is the most prestigious and rigorous annual business plan … Continue reading →

March 6, 2018 Advanced Technology Center, Tidewater Community College Virginia Beach, VA Key Stats 248 total attendees 14 schools 16 firms 198 students Competition Results Results for the top teams at this event’s competitions can be found at the Competitions … Continue reading →

On March 7, 2018, Parkway High School in St. Louis, Missouri, hosted the VE spring networking event entitled: “Rise and Grind: Taking your VE Experience to the Next Level.” The event was put together by VE firms, Global Goodies VE and VIVID+, with … Continue reading →

VE was recently featured in The Voice of America, the U.S.’s largest international broadcaster. “The money isn’t real, but the skills are, said a student entrepreneur with the virtual company Big City Tours, who won a scholarship to college. “I … Continue reading →

February 13, 2018 Pasadena Convention Center Los Angeles, California Key Stats 2,300 total attendees 49 schools 74 firms 1,300 students 70 volunteers Competition Results Results for the top teams at this event’s competitions can be found at the Competitions Results … Continue reading →

California-based VE coordinator Alan Gersten was interviewed by Tim Ranzetta of Next Gen Personal Finance about what it’s like to facilitate a VE firm. From daycare, to marriage licenses, to resigning jobs, Gersten’s VE students get the full real-life experience … Continue reading →

Submissions Period: 2/26/2018 – 3/16/2018 Judging Period: 3/17/2018 – 4/8/2018 Results Announced: Week of 4/16/2018 For the 2018 National Video Commercial Competition, students will produce a 30- to 60-second video commercial that effectively promotes their VE business, product(s), and/or service(s). … Continue reading →

Friday, February 2, 2018 Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Chicago, IL Key Stats 860 Total Attendees 39 Schools 60 Firms 800 Students 30 Volunteers Competition Results Results for top teams in Advanced Website, Basic Website, Best Booth, Impact Marketing, Marketing … Continue reading →

Kevin Smith of Pasadena Star-News provides an inside look at the 2018 Los Angeles Area Conference & Exhibition. He interviewed chief executives from the VE firms, Drone Vision from La Mirada High School and Podz from South Pasadena High School, to … Continue reading →

Tuesday, February 6, 2018 Nova Southeastern University Ft. Lauderdale, FL Business Plan Competition Results 1st Place – TropiCoffee, Cooper City High School 2nd Place – New Wave Travel, Clearwater High School 3rd Place – Live Wild, Cooper City High School … Continue reading →

January 17-18, 2018 Bakersfield, CA Key Stats 1,675 total attendees 50 schools 68 firms 14 Trade Show competitions and State Business Plan competition Competition Results Results for top teams in Business Plan, Company Sales Presentation, Marketing Plan, Human Resources, The … Continue reading →

Students are developing and applying their career readiness competencies through their daily work experience in the classroom, professional development activities, leadership events, major VE program components such as business planning and the National Website Competition. If you want to be … Continue reading →

February 2018 marks the second annual International Trade Month. During this month, VE students are encouraged to buy and sell with some of the 7,500 practice enterprise firms in more than 40 countries. This is an excellent opportunity for students … Continue reading →

January 8-9, 2018 Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, New York Key Stats 63 schools 87 firms 10 competitions, including Business Plan Competition Results Results for top teams in Company Branding, Company Newsletter, E-Commerce Website, Employee Handbook, Sales Materials, Video Commercial, Booth Design, Salesmanship, and Impact Marketing can be found … Continue reading →

WGN Radio’s Steve Grzanich discussed the upcoming Great Lakes Conference & Exhibition and more with Nick Chapman, VE’s President and National Program Director, on The Opening Bell. Interview Highlights Mr. Chapman spoke about what makes VE different from typical business or computer … Continue reading →

January 18, 2018 Fairleigh Dickinson University, Florham Campus Madison, New Jersey Key Stats 200+ total attendees 11 schools 11 firms 4 competitions Competition Results Here are the winners of the Business Plan Competition: First Place: Unperplexed Solutions, The Academy for … Continue reading →

Submissions Period: 1/29/2018 – 2/16/2018 Judging Period: 2/17/2018 – 3/4/2018 Results Announced: Week of 3/12/2018 The 2018 National Company Newsletter Competition is now open! Firms will showcase their company updates through the submission of a company newsletter that is unique to … Continue reading →

  Michael R. Ebert of Newsday wrote about the VE Long Island Regional Conference & Exhibition that took place earlier this month. The event brought in over 1,000 students from 65 high schools. Read the full story by following this … Continue reading →

VE firm The Vision Media posted a recap of the 2018 New York Citywide Business Plan Competition that took place on January 10, 2018. The article was submitted to them by VE’s NYC Regional Director, Paul Presti. All the participants … Continue reading →

C. Wood & Associates, a VE firm from Crestwood High School in South Carolina, was featured in an article by a local news publication last Sunday. Students had participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, put on by the Greater … Continue reading →

The following eight teams have moved on to Round 2 of the 2018 VE Venture Challenge. Each team was evaluated as real-world entrepreneurs soliciting start-up funds from investors. These businesses excelled in the following criteria: viability, scalability (growth potential), team, innovation, … Continue reading →

Nakeem Grant of the Long Island Herald covered the preparation of the 2018 Long Island Regional Conference and Exhibition taking place on January 4th and 5th at Farmingdale State College. The article covered the West Hempstead High School’s two VE … Continue reading →

23ABC News featured the 2018 California State Conference and Exhibition in an article published online: “Students from all over California are participating in a two-day conference and exhibition in downtown Bakersfield. There are 1500 students competing in the Virtual Enterprises … Continue reading →

Bermuda’s CedarBridge Academy has introduced a new series of courses designed to prepare students for their future careers, one of which is VE. The school states that these courses have added to the rigors and richness of their students’ education. … Continue reading →

On Friday, December 8, 2017, eighteen VE firms competed in the 2017 Illinois Business Plan Competition held at Northern Illinois University-DeKalb Campus. The following six firms advanced to the final round: Clever Contraptions, St. Charles East High School Core, Timothy … Continue reading →

Article submitted by Maddie Schaafsma, CMO of Core, Inc., Timothy Christian High School On Thursday, October 5, the average person walking into Northern Illinois University’s Naperville campus would have seen hundreds of teenagers gathered together and talking. These teenagers were … Continue reading →

Fox 5’s New York Minute featured the 2018 VE Long Island Conference and Exhibition hosted at Farmingdale State College. Like and share the video below!

Verizon FiOS1 – Long Island featured VE students at the 2018 Long Island Conference and Exhibition. Like and share the video below!

Announcement Schedule Pre-trade show Competitions: 10:00 AM Day of trade show Competitions: 12:25 PM Please report to Room 109 by 1:15 PM to pick up your award(s). Tuesday, January 9th 2018 Company Branding Gold Silver Trubambu A Helping Hand 5urfs … Continue reading →

The article features VE students from Cary-Grove High School’s VE firm, Wavelength, who will be traveling to New York City to compete in the 2018 Youth Business Summit. The feature covers how the students prepared for the 2017 Great Lakes … Continue reading →

December 4, 2017 Jacobs Center San Diego, California Key Stats 950 total attendees 34 schools 45 firms 6 competitions Competition Results Results for top teams in Company Branding, Sales Materials, Video Commercial, E-Commerce Website, Creative & Novice Booth, Salesmanship, and … Continue reading →

The National Teachers Conference is the best way for new and returning VEI teachers and school administrators to get ready for the upcoming school year. The next conference will be held July 9-12, 2018 at Long Island University Post Campus … Continue reading →

“The class really helped me grow a lot as a person,” Jose Barcia, VE Alumnus, said, “At the beginning of the year, I fooled around but by the end, I was a completely different person.” Barcia also mentioned that at … Continue reading →

November 20-21, 2017 LeConte Event Center Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Key Stats 1,617 total attendees 72 schools 92 firms 13 competitions (including Business Plan) 7 states (Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee) Competition Results Southern Regional Business … Continue reading →

Ramblewood Middle School’s VE-JV students visited JP Taravella High School’s VE firm, Tea Treat Box Co. on November 17 to learn more about the VE program from their older counterparts. “My VEI students and I LOVED having Ramblewood’s VE-JV students … Continue reading →

With the help of the business partners, supporters, board members, educators, mentors and advocates who are part of our mission, in 2016-17 we transformed 12,000 students across 400 schools in 19 states into business professionals and entrepreneurs. It is both … Continue reading →

“The real world skills that VE promotes for students are essential for modern learning.” Education Week Teacher recently published an article on their website about how VE effectively helps students learn real-world skills in a hands-on, applicable way. It features West Hempstead … Continue reading →

This year’s Fall Executive Conference took place at Deloitte’s National Office on Wednesday, November 8. Thirty-five VE Executives from twenty-nine New York City high schools enjoyed the view of the city’s skyline from the building’s 42nd floor while participating in … Continue reading →

“The Basix employees sold to over 150 customers at their Open House and we are hoping to reach our sales goal of $200,000! Overall the Open House was very successful. I am so proud of our VE students for all … Continue reading →

Students are developing and applying their career readiness competencies through their daily work experience in the classroom, professional development activities, leadership events, major VE program components such as business planning, the National Elevator Pitch Competition, and the National Branding Competition. VE … Continue reading →

Submissions Period: 10/16/2017 – 11/3/2017 Judging Period: 11/4/2017 – 11/26/2017 Results Announced: Week of 12/4/2017 The 2017 National Company Branding Competition is now open! Firms will demonstrate their company branding through the submission of a branding package that includes the … Continue reading →

A Unique Class to Prepare Students for the Real-World “One of the most unique classes the academy offers is the Virtual Enterprise program, which gives students the opportunity to run their own virtual company. Seniors Brandon Prenz and Entasa Chowdhury … Continue reading →

Seven high-level officials from the Brazilian Ministry of Education visited VEI’s National Office as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. The program brings officials to the U.S. to visit educational institutions and meet with their … Continue reading →

A main feature of the VE experience is “Assuming the Role” which means students interview for departments, such as Finance and Marketing, and roles, such as CEO, VP, and Associate. Below are some clips from VE’s social media world to … Continue reading →

A new U.S. Department of Education report from the National Center for Innovation in Career & Technical Education (CTE) outlines the opportunities, challenges, instructional approaches, and noteworthy practices of U.S.-based simulated work-based learning (WBL) programs. The report cites how VE serves … Continue reading →

VE’s Store Manager lets students and firms easily buy and sell products through e-commerce websites. This gives VE firms a chance to learn how to do business like a real-world business, which is what VE is all about. After logging … Continue reading →

Wednesday, October 11, 2017 10 AM EST/7 AM PST VEI is excited to announce a free webinar in partnership with award-winning author and speaker Danny Rubin. Danny is an award-winning author on business communication skills and will show us simple … Continue reading →

Elevator Pitch Submissions Period: 9/18/2017 – 10/6/2017 Elevator Pitch Judging Period: 10/7/2017 – 10/22/2017 Results Announced: Week of 10/30/2017 The 2017 National Elevator Pitch Competition is now open! This is a video submission competition that challenges VE students to make … Continue reading →

A post shared by #veinternational (@veinternational) on Aug 25, 2017 at 11:00am PDT On August 25, 2017, the VEI National Office welcomed fifteen educators from Seoul, South Korea as part of the Empathy SEEDS Tour, a United States study tour … Continue reading →

From Simulation to Startup The purpose of the VE Venture Challenge is to allow VE students to pitch their unique real business concept to a panel of leading entrepreneurs — who are titans in their industry — at VEI’s annual Gala on … Continue reading →

Doing What Matters is program of California Community Colleges that aims to turn community colleges into essential catalysts for California’s economic recovery and job creation at the local, regional, and state levels. The program focuses on ten priority sectors, including … Continue reading →

  Last year, 48 high school students from two Parkway schools participated in a pilot experiential learning program that was a resounding success…Thanks to West High’s business teacher Emanuel Young, it came to Parkway South and West high schools during … Continue reading →

When you attend your VE class, you’re walking into an office to become a young business professional. For students who are starting VE for the first time, the beginning of the school year marks the beginning of this transformation and … Continue reading →

During the week of July 10th, 2017, over 130 teachers from across the U.S. gathered together at LIU Post to share advice, discuss the future of work, and learn the essentials of facilitating a VE class at the third annual National Teachers Conference. Continue reading →

Bermuda’s Virtual Enterprises International programme has been taking Berkeley Institute students out of the classroom and into the world of business. And their efforts have led to scholarships overseas worth thousands of dollars. Source: Berkeley students discover world of business … Continue reading →

Three of Valley Stream North High School’s Virtual Enterprise students have received full tuition scholarships to LIU Post and will be attending this fall. Congratulations to seniors Dylan Baldessare, Danny Keane and Justin Romano for this outstanding accomplishment, which is … Continue reading →

More than 1,200 students attended each event. The trade shows were held at the Pasadena and Oakland convention centers and set up to mimic the real thing with groups of students occupying booths and presenting their ideas and business plans … Continue reading →

The Bakersfield High School team that took part in an international business competition in New York last week didn’t merely win a first-place prize, the students may also have brought Source: EDUCATION ROUNDUP: BHS still buzzing over Bumble’s business prize … Continue reading →

The new legislation boosts education aid by $1.1 billion, including a $700 million increase in Foundation Aid. Source: Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation Investing Record $25.8 Billion in High-Quality Education Across New York | Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

High School Virtual Enterprise students attended the Youth Business Summit in New York City on April 3 – 6, hosted by the National Virtual Enterprise office,Virtual Enterprise teacher Tara Hubbard said the summit “allowed 4,300 students from over 40 countries … Continue reading →

The CrossFit-affiliated workout facility and healthy meal provider’s sales topped off at $18,000 – well short of its monthly goal. After redirecting its focus on marketing, the Bakersfield-based business bounced back and made $80,000 in March. Source: Virtual business; real … Continue reading →

ROC Security, a virtual enterprise firm run by Hewlett High School seniors that “sells” residential, online, commercial and personal security products took fifth place at the 2017 Virtual Enterprise International Youth Business Summit in Manhattan from April 3-5. Source: Hewlett … Continue reading →

The Greer High School Virtual Enterprise Class finished in a top group of 28 in the Business Plan Competition at the 2017 Virtual Enterprise Youth Business Summit in New York City.Greer was among 400 schools from 16 states to compete … Continue reading →

From serving as competition judges, to providing marketing advice, to making connections to real-world professionals and opportunities, volunteers play hundreds of different roles in order to help transform VE students into business professionals. In honor of the 2017 National Volunteer … Continue reading →

On March 26-27, 2017, a total of 60 schools came together to participate in the Bay Area Entrepreneurship Conference and Trade Show in Oakland, California. Key Stats 1200 total attendees 60 schools 79 firms 1112 students 98 volunteers 8 Trade Show competitions … Continue reading →

Thank you to the 4,300 attendees who joined us for an amazing three days. Competition Results Find competition results for National Business Plan Competition, National Human Resources Competition, National Marketing Competition, Global Business Challenge, Booth Competition, Salesmanship Competition, Sales Materials … Continue reading →

At first glance, the trade show last week at Pier 92 on the West Side looked just like any of the dozens of other conventions held in Manhattan each year. Thousands of conventioneers hailing from 10 countries navigated row upon … Continue reading →

The VE experience creates an entrepreneurial mindset and allows business thinking to flourish in the classroom. As a result, many students develop innovative ideas for real businesses during their time in VE. Through the new Venture Challenge, VE provides budding … Continue reading →

Event instills students with skills to start up small businesses Source: Entrepreneurial high schoolers give their best business pitch in competition | California Economy, California Economic Summit

On Thursday, March 9th, 2017, 10 schools participated in the Mid-Atlantic Trade Show at the Advanced Technology Center, Tidewater Community College. Key Stats 220 total attendees 10 Schools 13 Firms 190 Students Special thanks to the following volunteers: Daniel Girouard, Daniel Baxter, … Continue reading →

On Thursday, January 19, 2017, California held their State Business Plan Competition Finals. Eighty-one companies participated in the first two preliminary rounds during mid-December 2016. Forty-two companies participated in the third round on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 and sixteen companies … Continue reading →

On Tuesday, January 24, 2017, the second annual Florida Business Plan Competition was held at the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business & Entrepreneurship of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale and drew more than 100 people interested in transforming … Continue reading →

On January 18th and 19th, a total of 52 schools participated in the California Trade Show in Bakersfield, California. Key Stats 1,650 total attendees 52 Schools 75 Firms 1,400 Students 250 Volunteers 19 Trade show competitions Competitions Results for top teams in … Continue reading →

  On March 17th, 200 VE students came together to participate in the North Carolina Trade Show at Granville Central High School in Stem, NC Key Stats 400 total attendees 6 Schools 11 Firms 200 Students 10 Volunteers 2 Trade show … Continue reading →

A group of Bakersfield High School students has earned some major praise for its business planning chops during a national competition this week in New York City.Dubbed “Bumble,” Bakersfield High’s Virtual Enterprise team won the national competition for business planning … Continue reading →

Varsity and JV Virtual Business teams swept up thirteen accolades at a two-day trade show competition in Oakland California, marking the Virtual… Source: Virtual Enterprise achieves sweeping success at final trade show competition of the year

At just 17 years old, Michael Christman is the chief executive officer of Advanced Performance Athletics.In a company that sells computerized soccer balls and basketballs, as well as training clothing, all of the employees and administrators are near Mr. Christman’s … Continue reading →

Source: American Portfolios Financial Services Hosts 2017 Virtual Enterprises International Business Plan Competition

HOLBROOK, NY–(Marketwired – March 15, 2017) – American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS), a privately-held, independent broker/dealer that services financial advisors across the country, hosted the finals for the seventh annual Long Island Virtual Enterprises International (VEI) Business Plan Competition … Continue reading →

Winning Women is Virtual Enterprises’ first-ever Female Leadership Conference Series designed to support and prepare high-potential VE female students for future success. This conference which took place on March 3 was the second in a series hosted by NBCUniversal, and … Continue reading →

These kids have bright futures in store! Source: Westhampton Beach Business Students Soar To Nationals – Westhampton, NY Patch

The Long Island VE firms that will move on to the National Business Plan Competition in New York City on April 3rd at Microsoft Technology Center are: Flip Chip, Syosset High School Poseidon Pure, Sanford H. Calhoun High School ROC Security, G.W. … Continue reading →

Twenty-seven high school business students launched SPIRE, a digital marketing and creative services firm, which runs out of room 2312 through an international program called Virtual Enterprise International (VEI). “In Virtual Enterprise we actually run a virtual business. We create … Continue reading →

On Monday, February 13, 2017, 72 VE firms and 1,200 attendees participated in the Los Angeles Area Trade Show. Key Stats 1200 total attendees 59 Schools 72 Firms 1,050 Students 45 Volunteers Special thanks to: Volunteers: OpenX, SCORE, Spin PR, … Continue reading →

On December 9, 2016, nine firms gathered for the 2016 Northeast Trade Show. Key Stats 212 total attendees 7 schools 9 firms 8 competitions Competitions Results for top teams in the Best Booth, Business Plan Competition, Company Newsletter, Human Resources Employee Manual, … Continue reading →

On January 13 and January 17, 2017, a total of 72 firms gathered for the 2017 Long Island Trade Show. Congratulations to the students in the 72 LI VE firms that participated the Long Island Business Plan Competition and Trade … Continue reading →

On Friday, February 3, 2017, 59 VE firms, including 800 students and facilitators from Illinois and Michigan traveled Chicago, IL for the Annual Great Lakes Trade Show. Key Stats 805 total attendees (740 students) 38 schools 59 firms 45 volunteers 14 … Continue reading →

The following nine teams have moved on to Round II of the 2017 VE Venture Challenge. Each team was evaluated as real-world entrepreneurs soliciting start-up funds from investors. These businesses excelled in the following criteria: viability, scalability (growth potential), team, innovation, … Continue reading →