TIFTON – Ten high school students with 10 unique ideas and a single dream of running their own business competed in the Georgia FLEX State Finals in Tifton this month. The young entrepreneurs pitched their businesses to a panel of judges on stage for the chance to win up to $10,000 in seed funding and college scholarships.
FLEX stands for “Foundational Leadership and Entrepreneur X-perience” and collaborates with local businesses and educators to help students learn about running a business. Students representing their high schools competed in “Shark Tank” style, pitching their businesses to judges on stage at the University of Georgia Tifton Conference Center on April 2.
All students gave their one-minute elevator speech in the first round; then the judges chose three finalists for the next round, where they gave 10-minute presentations. Addison Hilsman of Morgan County won first place and received $10,000 for Elite Diesel Performance and Accessories, a truck and auto repair business.
Hilsman said he had worked on engines since he was four years old. “This is my dream, it is what I’ve wanted to do,” he said. Hilsman said he plans to invest the winnings into his business and buy tools and possibly a car lift.
Isabelle Peek of Houston County received $7,500 for second place for her photo and video business, CATCH Film and Media. Peek told the judges that she started the business to help high school athletes prepare for attracting college scholarships and NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) money through tailored social media photographs and videos. She plans to take college courses online through Arizona State University while continuing to build her business.
Lauren Harris of Sumter County received $2,500 for third place for her business, Laurynce Fragrance, a line of androgynous fragrances. When a friend developed a rash from using perfume, she was inspired to make her fragrances with all-natural ingredients.
Harris started her business with a $150 loan from her mother, which she paid back, and built her brand of 16 fragrances that she sells on social media and Esty. She plans to attend Georgia Tech and continue developing her business.
FLEX began five years ago at Fitzgerald High School College & Career Academy as a tool in business education. It has grown into a state-wide program at 10 high schools. FLEX is a partnership between local businesses and young people in their communities. As students build their businesses, local businesspeople help by being mentors. Many of the students credited their mentors with helping them start their businesses and keeping them going with advice and encouragement.
FLEX Executive Director Melissa Dark explained that the program not only teaches students about business but is also a workforce development tool for the state to prepare the next generation of workers. With FLEX, students learn valuable life skills like time management, financial literacy, self-confidence and responsibility – skills that employers seek “Success isn’t defined by winning the competition, but by participating in it,” Dark said.
“So whether our students continue down a path of entrepreneurship and fill up one of those storefronts in our local downtown, or if they come to work at one of our businesses, they are equipped and prepared to be a great employee and have a great life at your business and better themselves up that ladder with these skills,” Dark said.
Dark added that although there is only one winner and two runners-up, that group makes up 12 percent of all students who have competed in FLEX. But overall, 59 percent of all students’ businesses are still in operation.
Chris Clark, president of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, served as one of the judges on stage. During a luncheon with FLEX partners, he said that programs like FLEX are needed as the state prepares for the next 25 years. According to the Chamber’s Georgia 2050 strategic plan, the state is projected to see significant growth in population and job demand. Georgia is expected to add 2.5 million residents and 3.1 million new jobs.
Clark told the gathering that the workforce will be more diverse and younger as Baby Boomers and Gen Xers approach retirement age. The advancement of technology will also mean employers will need a different set of skills from workers.
Georgia Grown is partnering with the Georgia FLEX competition to encourage student business development. Demonstrating this commitment, they are awarding a complimentary one-year Georgia Grown membership to all 10 high school students competing in the FLEX State Finals.
To learn more about FLEX and to become a FLEX community, visit georgiaflex.org.
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce will be presenting Georgia 2050 on a tour across the state beginning on May 28 in Dahlonega. Go to gachamber.com/Georgia-2025 for more information and tour dates.
