JA Be Entrepreneurial® (Rapid Business Planning)

JA Be Entrepreneurial® is a reimagined, modular learning experience that teaches students about the mindset and the skills needed for success by aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators who add value to any organization. Students completing all three modules use Design Thinking, a problem-solving approach, to create business ideas. They also learn to transform their ideas into concise, effective, actionable one-page business plans.

In the Rapid Business Planning module, students learn about Lean Canvas, the strategic management template for developing business models. The business model canvas is an easy-to-understand, one-page business plan that is the foundation for fleshing out a business idea.

Following participation in the learning experience, students will be able to:

• Practice the lean business planning process
• Identify cost structure for a product/service by listing fixed and variable costs
• Identify a competitive advantage
• Describe the importance of testing and validating the assumptions and ideas that frame a business plan
• Produce a lean business plan in the Lean Canvas template

JA Be Entrepreneurial® is part of the JA Entrepreneurship Pathway and is recommended for high school students (Grades 9–12). This blended learning experience includes teacher-led content, volunteer-led opportunities, and self-guided content to support flexible implementation options. JA Be Entrepreneurial is available as a classroom-based, remote live, or after-school experience.

Modules can be offered together or as stand-alone experiences to meet the diverse needs of teachers and students. Each module offers a culminating, self-guided project for students to create an artifact that allows them to apply what they have learned.

Participating students have the opportunity to compete in the JA Social Innovation Challenge™, a new national virtual competition that provides a platform for them to share their innovative ideas for improving their communities and to compete for national honors.

As part of this learning experience, JA teachers and volunteers are encouraged to use the resources available in JA Connect® Learning Pathways, located at connect.ja.org. This self-guided experience includes interactives, JA Here to Career™, and games and apps for student use.

JA Learning Experience support national and state standards in reading, mathematics, social studies, and work and career readiness. See here for more information on alignment with national and state standards.