Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp

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Course overview
This ten-day course is a hands-on and team- and project-based learning program designed to help students apply the Design Way and Entrepreneurship Mindset to create innovative solutions for everyday challenges and business and action plans to for their implementation.

Students will develop and strengthen their creative potential and learn the core techniques of design thinking while having fun working in teams on real-world issues in real-world ways. The Design Thinking method is a collaborative and creative problem-solving process that puts human needs at the center (Human-Centered Design). Design Thinking is one of the critical 21st-century learning skills and mindsets that every student needs today to excel.

Through short presentations, collaboration with teammates, and instructor coaching, students will explore the design thinking process in a real-world project, working in a diverse team to solve a real-world challenge. Fundamental principles of design thinking include being human-centered, prototype-driven, collaborative, and mindful of the process. Topics include need finding, human factors, visualization, rapid prototyping, team dynamics, and storytelling and storyboarding, to mention just a few. Student teams will also develop a business and action plan for their concept prototype solution. A final business pitch will give student teams an opportunity to present their solution and business plan to an invited panel.

This course is an invitation to participating students to rediscover their creativity and experiment with the design process joyfully and openly. It will be an opportunity for students to enhance their skills and empower themselves to create innovative solutions that are meaningful and make a difference to their communities. It will energize students to tackle challenges differently and provide them with a unique opportunity to experience how Design Thinking and entrepreneurial thinking can add a new perspective to their studies and life.
  • Instructor: Raymond, Sophia, and Angelene
  • Requirements: Grade 7 - 12, class taught with English.
  • Time: 8/20-9/18 (Weekly,10 days)
    Sat - Sun
    8:00-10:00PM(EDT)
    5:00-7:00PM(PDT)

Instructors

Raymond

Mr. Raymond Mathis' Viswise students are the reigning champions of the most prestigious global high school investment competition. Previously, Raymond was a Portfolio Manager for Spirit of America Investment Funds, a family of equity and fixed income mutual funds. At Spirit of America, he took over Real Estate Income and Growth Fund, in addition to the Large Cap Value Fund, and subsequently launched an Energy Fund and several fixed income funds.
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Sophia

Sophia is the Managing Partner of StoneBridge Consulting Company, which focused on local Chinese companies for its operational excellency support. Sophia has more than 30 years of leadership and management experience in various industries, such as International Trade and Business Attractions, Banking, IT, Hospitality, F&B, etc.
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Angelene

Founder and chairman of Alliance for Impact 501(c)(3)
Former head of the asset management department of the world-famous quantitative hedge fund. 
Former senior analyst and currency trader in IBM Investment
Former Researcher, International Environmental Consulting Company
Yale MBA/ Tsinghua University undergraduate

                Learning Outcomes

  • Understand the process for design thinking 
  • Use design thinking tools and techniques to develop innovative solutions to a wide range of complex challenges in education and professional contexts
  • Advance their creative confidence and competence
  • Improve their teamwork and communication skills
  • Create a solution to a real-world challenge
  • Apply entrepreneurial tools and mindsets to create a compelling business and action plan
  • Pitch their solution and business and action plan to an invited panel of experts