Launch Lab helps Clark County teens build businesses

A new project in Winchester aims to help local teenagers turn ideas into oppor­tu­ni­ty through Launch Lab, a nine-ses­sion intro­duc­to­ry pro­gram from the Winchester Clark Entrepreneurial Academy.

John Chaney, exec­u­tive direc­tor and founder of the Winchester Clark Entrepreneurial Academy (WCEA), has been work­ing on their flag­ship pro­gram, Launch Lab. The pro­gram allows par­tic­i­pants cre­ate and devel­op their own prod­ucts or ser­vices, build their clien­tele, and pitch at pub­lic events for seed prizes. 

“Students will learn how to iden­ti­fy prob­lems, devel­op solu­tions, test ideas, build sim­ple busi­ness mod­els, pitch to real audi­ences, and han­dle the prac­ti­cal side of start­ing some­thing — basic finance, mar­ket­ing, com­mu­ni­ca­tion, and team­work,” Chaney said. 

Providing real, hands-on expe­ri­ences is a major aspect of the program.

“They’ll work on real chal­lenges, cre­ate pitch­es and pro­to­types, com­pete in events, and get coach­ing from local men­tors. The focus is less on lec­tures and more on doing: launch­ing ideas, learn­ing from fail­ure, and build­ing the con­fi­dence that comes from cre­at­ing some­thing of their own.”

Chaney worked in the school sys­tem for 27 years, where he wit­nessed many stu­dents move away to chase their dreams. He has decid­ed to cre­ate an envi­ron­ment where they are encour­aged and moti­vat­ed to grow busi­ness in their hometown. 

“I spent years watch­ing tal­ent­ed young peo­ple grow up here and then leave because they didn’t see a clear path to build some­thing of their own,” he said. “It became clear we need­ed a prac­ti­cal, hands-on pro­gram that teach­es entre­pre­neur­ship the way it actu­al­ly works — not just the­o­ry. If we equip teens with the skills and mind­set to cre­ate val­ue, we strength­en both their futures and the long-term health of Clark County.”

Community sup­port will great­ly help and encour­age the young par­tic­i­pants to con­tin­ue chas­ing their ideas and dreams here in Winchester. Chaney explained many ways Winchester cit­i­zens can show up. 

“We need the com­mu­ni­ty in every way pos­si­ble,” he said. “Local busi­ness own­ers and pro­fes­sion­als can men­tor, speak, or open their doors for site vis­its and real-world learn­ing. Parents and com­mu­ni­ty mem­bers can vol­un­teer, help with events, or sim­ply spread the word. Businesses and orga­ni­za­tions can spon­sor chal­lenges, pro­vide prizes or work­space, or part­ner on projects.”

Launch Lab will have a pitch night held at the Cardinal Community Center at 6 p.m. on November 21^st. 

“Everyone can show up — attend pitch events, cel­e­brate stu­dent work, and treat these young entre­pre­neurs as the valu­able com­mu­ni­ty assets they are.”

Aside from prizes and grow­ing busi­ness­es, the lessons these stu­dents learn will help them grow, no mat­ter where life leads them.

“My main goal is to give teens in Winchester and Clark County real skills, con­fi­dence, and expe­ri­ence in entre­pre­neur­ship so they can cre­ate oppor­tu­ni­ty right here at home,” said Chaney. “We want young peo­ple to learn how to turn ideas into action, build some­thing of their own, and see that they don’t have to leave our com­mu­ni­ty to chase mean­ing­ful work or impact.”

More infor­ma­tion about WCEA and the Launch Lab can be found on the orga­ni­za­tion’s web­site: https://www.wceacademy.org/.