As the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) prepares for its upcoming National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in New York this October 10, we caught up with Josh Kreuger, NFTE alumnus and the 2022 winner of the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge! Josh shares his experience, offers valuable tips for this year’s participants, and reflects on his journey as a NFTE student.
Josh Kreuger’s winning business idea from the 2022 challenge was MODRN Media, a multi-faceted digital marketing agency that trains and employs passionate content creators while providing budget-friendly digital marketing services to small businesses. Josh’s passion for video production and his observation of the challenges faced by both content creators and small businesses in the digital marketing space inspired this innovative concept.
Q: What was the most challenging aspect of the competition, and how did you overcome it?
A: The most challenging aspect was balancing all the small details of the presentation while maintaining a charismatic and compelling approach. I overcame this by practicing extensively, but also by recognizing that I shouldn’t be reading from a script. Instead, I focused on speaking from the heart and conveying my passion and knowledge of my business.
Q: Looking back, what do you think set your pitch apart from the others?
A: I believe my pitch stood out because it wasn’t just about me or my business; it was about how this business can help people in multiple ways. The simplicity of my presentation, both in the slides and in how I explained the problem and solution, combined with my evident passion for the topic, made it clear that I truly loved my business idea.
Q: For students preparing for the 2024 challenge, what advice would you give?
A: First, don’t stress too much. Present from the heart and let your passion for your business shine through. Second, remember that YOU are the expert in your business, so be confident. Third, have fun with it. You won’t ever be able to experience this again. Also, remember that you’ve made it this far – YOU are special in many ways.
Q: What resources or tools did you find most helpful during your preparation?
A: Talking to my mentors and practicing presenting in front of people with a timer were the most helpful resources for me.
Q: How did you handle nerves or stress during the competition?
A: I reminded myself that I am the expert on my business, and more often than not, people won’t notice if I make a small mistake on stage. I also kept in mind that whatever happens is okay because I had already made it that far.
Q: Were there any unexpected lessons you learned from the experience?
A: I learned that this was only one of many steps in my career journey, and there is a lot more to come. This is just the beginning! Also, I realized that LITERALLY ANYTHING can happen – I did not think I was going to make it that far in the competition by any means.
Q: How has winning the 2022 National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge impacted your business and personal growth?
A: Winning the 2022 National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge changed my perspective on what I can accomplish. It showed me that I can achieve what I put my mind to, and that I am better at presenting and selling than I thought I was. Above all else, it taught me that being successful in your own way is very possible.
To all our young entrepreneurs preparing for the upcoming challenge: remember Josh’s words – present from the heart, be confident in your expertise, and above all, enjoy the experience. Your NFTE journey is just beginning, and we can’t wait to see where it takes you. Good luck to all our participants!