North Texas students are headed to New York City next week to compete in the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship’s National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge.
The Hockaday School’s Hannah Wahl and Woodrow Wilson High School’s Mary Holt combined their love of baking and math to develop an idea for a build-your-own brownie bar, according to the Preston Hollow Advocate. Meanwhile, Amari DeFrance, a student at the Seagoville Pathways to Technology Early College High School, dreamed up an eco-friendly home cleaning business. Irving’s Clifton Jackson is also listed under the regional winners for North Texas for his multi-tool combo for professional electricians.
The students will present their businesses Oct. 12 in New York City along with other regional winners from across the country. According to the contest website, they have a chance to win a $10,000 grand prize, but the public can help them snag prize money before the national event.
Each contestant has created a video pitching their business. The one with the most unique votes will receive $2,500 to use for their education or as a loan to jumpstart their business. Voting runs through 11:59 p.m. EDT Oct. 10. Take a look at the videos here.
Get on the list.
Dallas Innovates, every day.
Sign up here to get what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth.
And, you’ll be the first to get the digital edition of our new Dallas Innovates magazine:
The annual edition publishes in January.
R E A D N E X T
-
The hybrid event in August will take place in person at SMU and virtually. The seventh annual Dallas Startup Week powered by Capital One is Dallas-Fort Worth's largest event focused on driving entrepreneurial success, economic impact, and innovation in the region.
-
You'll find deadlines coming up for a new accelerator program; and many more opportunities.
-
The city’s inaugural Entrepreneur-in-Residence position was recommended by the Mayor’s Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship to better foster the start-up environment in Dallas. "While Dallas is known as a great place for big business, now we need to show that we are a great place for scalable, sustainable, and high-growth startups as well," Vaca says.
-
Here's our rundown of each speaker, award, and Q&A from the Dallas Entrepreneur Center's annual State of Entrepreneurship.
![Erica Kosemund, Chief Brand Officer, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Gillian Breidenbach, Chief Partnership Officer, North Texas FWC Organizing Committee; Chief Gary Batton, Chief of Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Monica Paul, Executive Director of Dallas Sports Commission and President of North Texas FWC Organizing Committee; John Hobbs, Senior Executive Officer of Communications, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; and Heidi Grant, Senior Executive Officer of Commerce Administration, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, celebrate Choctaw Casinos & Resorts becoming an Official Dallas World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter. [Photo: North Texas FWC Organizing Committee/Choctaw Casinos & Resorts]](https://s24806.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/FIFA-Choctaw-dec-2025.jpg)
