Minnesota Business Venture

Register now for MBV 2024!

MBV is a weeklong business and career development summer camp that brings together students in grades 9-12 to learn business, leadership, and financial literacy skills.

This is a great opportunity for you to network with students from across the country, hear from business owners, build skills needed for your resume and future job, learn information you’ll need for college applications, and help you learn about the career you’d like in the future.

At MBV students work in small teams or “companies” to create a fictitious product and business plan that is presented at the end of the session, Shark Tank-style. Other activities include guest keynote speakers, games, mock interviews, team-building exercises, breakout sessions, and more!

MBV is the perfect opportunity for students to learn about the jobs of the future, career skills they will need, develop technology skills, and connect with new people. MBV is open to any student in grades 9-12 in the United States.

2024 MBV Camp Dates:

Sunday, July 7 – Friday, July 12 at the University of St. Thomas

Sunday, July 21 – Friday, July 26 at the University of St. Thomas

MBV is open to all students in grades 9-12 from public, private, charter, and home schools. The cost is kept low for all students thanks to BestPrep’s generous sponsors of businesses, foundations, associations, and individuals.

For questions, call 763-233-6325

Did you enjoy MBV so much that you want to come back to camp for another summer? Apply for one of our student leadership roles!

What if I’ve only been to MBV virtually? If you attended one of our virtual camps in 2020 and 2021, you can choose to attend MBV again as a student, OR apply to be a student leader! Register as a student here. Note: if students have already attended MBV in-person, they must apply for a leadership role to return to camp.

 

Student leadership roles:

Intern: This role is responsible for supporting and being an extension of BestPrep staff during the week of camp. View the job description here.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO): This role leads a company of 10-15 students to brainstorm and develop their Business Plan. View the job description here.

Returning Chief Executive Officer (CEO): View the job description here.

Communications Specialist (CS): This role involves taking photos at camp, updating social media, writing blog posts, and creating content for BestPrep’s various web, social media, and communication channels. View the job description here.

All of these roles are great ways to build on the professional skills you learned at MBV, and will provide valuable experience for a resume, college application, or future job!

Paid Opportunities:

Dorm Monitor: This role supervises students in the dorms, enforces MBV’s Code of Conduct, and helps facilitate activities. Pay starts at $500 per week. View the job description here.

  • Jesse Ross – Mr. Jesse Ross LLC
  • “Dare to Dream” – Stephen Weatherly, Minnesota Vikings
  • “An Entrepreneur Story,” – Abenezer Ayana, BraillEazy and Fendesha
  • David Clark, Nestle
  • “Money and Values,” – Sophie Bera, Gen Y Planning
  • “Developing Your Brand,” – Jim Scott, MONO
  • Dessa – Singer, rapper and writer
  • “Leadership Today” – Roz Tsai, Thrivent
  • Biel Wiel, Dryvn AI
  • “Tips to Presenting” – Jesse Ross, Mr. Jesse Ross LLC
  • “Dream to Action” – Jael Kerandi, University of Minnesota
  • Harry Waters Jr.
  • Lindsay Moser, The Hunger Diaries
  • Bella Lam, Coconut Whisk Co.

Create a business and present the plan. It’s a competition!

  • Get inspired by entrepreneurs
  • Stay engaged in interactive sessions
  • Learn about personal finance and how you can get ahead today
  • Practice interview skills with real professionals
  • Movement/stretch breaks
  • Build a resume
  • Learn about careers of the future
  • Understand your own personal brand
  • Practice presentation skills in a team setting
student at computer, others around her

Learn more about MBV and view answers to Frequently Asked Questions, including:

  • Who goes to MBV?
  • Why should I attend?
  • How much does it cost?
  • How do I apply?
  • How many students attend?
  • What do we do during the week of MBV?
  • What is a typical day like?
  • What do I need to bring?
  • AND MORE!

Since Minnesota Business Venture’s inception in 1981, we have had more than 10,000 high school students participate. We at BestPrep (formerly known as Business Economics Education Foundation – BEEF) would enjoy hearing about how MBV impacted you, your education and career.

There are many wonderful opportunities for you to participate and volunteer with MBV or BestPrep’s other programs. Contact us to get involved!

2023 Impact Numbers

Minnesota Business Venture makes an impact annually on the students in the program.

230
STUDENTS

school house icon

67
SCHOOLS

170
VOLUNTEERS

Connect With Us

Thank you to our 2023 MBV Sponsors!

Day Sponsors

Program Sponsors

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America
Boston Scientific
Cargill
Ecolab Foundation
Flaherty Family Foundation

Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation
General Mills Foundation
Great Clips
H.B. Fuller Foundation
K.A.H.R. Foundation

McVay Foundation
Piper Sandler Companies
Schott Foundation
Securian Financial Foundation
Voya Foundation
The WEM Foundation

Student Sponsors

  • Bell Bank
  • Choice Bank
  • Citizens Independent Bank
  • Coulee Bank
  • EY
  • Fingerhunt Family Foundation
  • First West Bank and Trust
  • Great River Energy
  • Highland Bank
  • Hiway Credit Union
  • Bob and Candee Kaitz
  • Margaret Rivers Fund
  • MidWestOne Bank
  • Minnwest Bank
  • Morgan Stanley
  • North American Banking Company
  • North Shore Bank of Commerce
  • North Star Resource Group
  • Northeast Bank
  • ONB Bank
  • Peace Women’s Financial Group
  • Platinum Bank
  • Rochester Commercial Banks-Associated Bank
  • Todd and Jenni Schnobrich
  • TCF Foundation
  • Wings Financial Foundation
  • Xcel Energy Foundation

In partnership with:

Schulze School of Entrepreneurship at St. Thomas logo

MBV News and Events

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Featured Student: Alanna Pundsack

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Featured Student – Vardaan Gupta

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October Featured Partner: Thrivent – a Four Decade Partnership

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Minnesota Business Venture Week 2 2023- Empowerment Day

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Want to volunteer at Minnesota Business Venture? Find Out More