Contest Overview
The Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Arlington ISD and is proud to announce the return of the high school expansion of the What’s Your Big Idea? Entrepreneurship Contest.
Do you have a knack for solving complicated problems with simple solutions? Do you sit around and think about ways to improve your everyday life with new technologies? Then this is the contest for you!
The What’s Your Big Idea? Entrepreneurship Contest invites you and a team of classmates from AISD high schools to tackle real challenges facing your community. Teams of three to five students will come up with an innovative, realistic solution and share their idea through a creative three-minute video pitch.
This contest is all about working together to solve real-world problems. You’ll brainstorm, test ideas, divide responsibilities, and think through how your solution could actually work in real life—from idea to implementation.
Along the way, you’ll build skills that matter beyond the classroom, including teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and entrepreneurial thinking. It’s also a great way to stand out on your resume while turning your ideas into something that could make a real impact.
How to Enter
Step 1: Organize a Team
- Establish a team of three (3) to five (5) members. Teams smaller than three students or larger than five students will be disqualified.
*Team members do not have to attend the same school and grade level and ages may vary. All students MUST be enrolled in one of the nine (9) AISD high schools.
Step 2: Review the Challenge
- Review each of the three proposed City challenges and decide which one best fits what you and your team want to focus on. YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE!
Step 3: Get Started
- Brainstorm a new solution for one of the revealed issues. Ensure each team member holds a specific responsibility in the collaborative process.
- Provide detailed solutions to the problem, including all the steps in the process.
Step 4: Generate a Video Pitch
- Communicate your team’s solution in a 3-minute video presentation to be attached to your final entry form. Videos less than two or over three minutes will not be evaluated.
2026 Challenges
CHALLENGE #1: Improve How People Learn, Connect, or Access Opportunities
Context Statement: Strong communities grow when people can easily learn new skills, connect with one another, and access education, jobs, and resources. Barriers to access—such as lack of awareness, limited connections, or inefficient systems—can slow economic growth and limit opportunity.
Challenge Statement: Design a new product, service, or experience that helps people in your community learn skills, connect with others, or access opportunities more effectively. Your idea should address a real gap and demonstrate how it could become a viable business that supports workforce and economic growth.
Things to Think About and Incorporate into Your Submission
- What specific barrier or gap prevents people from accessing opportunities?
- Who benefits most from your solution and why?
- How does your idea support workforce readiness or economic mobility?
- What makes your solution different from what already exists?
- How could this idea realistically operate and grow in your community?
- How did your team collaborate and divide responsibilities?
CHALLENGE #2: Strengthening Local Businesses and Services
Context Statement: Local businesses and service providers are essential to a healthy economy. When businesses struggle with efficiency, visibility, or customer engagement, it can impact jobs, revenue, and the overall vitality of a community.
Challenge Statement: Identify a real challenge faced by local businesses, entrepreneurs, or service providers in your community. As a team, develop a solution that helps businesses operate more effectively, reach more customers, or better meet community needs, while demonstrating strong potential as a new or improved business idea.
Things to Think About and Incorporate into Your Submission
- What problem are local businesses experiencing and why does it matter?
- How does your solution support business growth or sustainability?
- How could your idea help attract or retain businesses in the community?
- What steps would be required to implement this solution locally?
- How does your idea translate into a business that could be owned and operated in the community?
- How did each team member contribute to the idea’s development?
CHALLENGE #3: Improving Community Efficiency and Quality of Life
Context Statement: Communities that use their resources wisely—such as time, money, space, and services—are more attractive to residents, businesses, and investors. Inefficiencies can limit growth, strain resources, and reduce quality of life.
Challenge Statement: Develop a business idea that helps the community use resources more effectively while improving overall quality of life. Your solution should be practical, innovative, and demonstrate a clear economic benefit for the community.
Things to Think About and Incorporate into Your Submission
- What inefficiency or unmet need exists in the community?
- How does improving quality of life support economic development?
- Who benefits economically from your solution?
- What resources are saved, improved, or better utilized?
- What challenges might exist when implementing this idea?
- How could this idea be sustained over time as a business?
Entry Evaluation
Entries will be evaluated solely on the information presented in the video. However, documentation of your team’s idea development and brainstorming is required. Evaluators will consist of entrepreneurs and community/business leaders from diverse disciplines. Please view the Team Checklist to ensure each component of the challenge is met. Each entry will be evaluated on the following:
- Organization of team within the outlined guidelines
- Innovation in solving the problem
- Collaboration among team members
- Team member participation
- Communication of the value proposition
- Communication of idea and its uses
- The viability of the idea presented
- Steps to effective implementation
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Video Tips
HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTING SPONSORS
Contest Timeline
January 6: Challenges Released
March 11: Entry Form & Video Pitch Due 11:59 pm CST
March 25: Top Winning Teams Announced
April 2026: Recognition & Networking Event
Recognition & Awards
One team for each challenge who has demonstrated the most innovative and viable solution to the challenge question will be selected as our TOP WINNER!
Win a fantastic prize package including gift certificates to local entertainment & restaurants. Also, your idea may be implemented as a city-wide program. What an AWESOME thing to have on your resume!
The TOP WINNERS and two guests will be invited to a private recognition ceremony on April 2026.
Brainstorming Tools
Entrepreneurship Vocabulary
- Social Entrepreneur: A person who establishes an enterprise with the aim of solving social problems or effecting social change.
- Unique Selling Proposition (USP): the unique benefit exhibited by a company, service, product or brand that enables it to stand out from competitors.
- Customer Discovery: to understand customers and their needs that you may be able to satisfy.
- Value Proposition: an innovation, service, or feature intended to make a company or product attractive to customers.
- Minimal Viable Product (MVP): a product with just enough features to satisfy early customers, and to provide feedback for future product development
- Social Enterprise: a commercial organization that has specific social objectives that serve its primary purpose.
- Elevator Pitch: a brief speech that outlines an idea for a product, service or project.
- Pitch Deck: a brief presentation, often created using PowerPoint, Keynote or Prezi, used to provide your audience with a quick overview of your business plan.