In a rural Texas school district, a new program has shown that high school students can build real businesses and attract significant community investment. The first year of Fredericksburg High School's INCubatoredu program, led by 27-year business educator Jason Roemer, culminated in six student teams launching startups and raising $21,000 in seed money and scholarships. The results, detailed in a recent episode of The Building Texas Show, highlight a potential solution for rural schools facing tight budgets and limited entrepreneurial opportunities.
INCubatoredu, a national curriculum developed by Uncharted Learning, immerses students in a full school year of building and pitching a business from scratch. Roemer recruited more than 30 local business owners, board advisors, and judges to mentor students. The program raised $20,000 to $25,000 in its first year, all of which Roemer says stays in the classroom, supplementing his teacher's salary in a Texas school finance system that often pulls funding away from rural districts. The year ended with a sold-out theater pitch night where $21,000 was awarded.
The mentor network reads like a cross-section of the local economy. David Pedragon, who built and sold a Main Street pet store, teaches students about failure and pivoting. Chad Myers, CEO of Core Javelina Holdings, manufactures rubber components used on an estimated 90% of new-build airbag suspension systems for 18-wheelers from a facility outside Fredericksburg. Dan Kemp, CEO of Security State Bank, shared his perspective as an "intrapreneur," while Central Texas Electric CEO Mr. Hinojosa taught project management and rancher Sam Sage rounded out the team.
Roemer credits the model and his volunteers. "The coach is only as good as the players," he said. "We've been blessed with a tremendous team of volunteers." The program's impact is already spreading. Roemer has spoken with educators in Hondo, Dripping Springs, and College Station who are considering adopting the model. He is also in talks with Fredericksburg's Chamber of Commerce about a permanent Main Street presence, and one winning student has asked to return as a mentor next year.
For rural districts, the implications are significant. By tapping local business expertise and community fundraising, schools can offer hands-on entrepreneurship education without relying solely on tax dollars. The model not only engages students but also strengthens ties between schools and local economies. As Roemer put it, "My education career has really been rejuvenated by this program, and the way that these kids have responded to it." With interest from other districts, the INCubatoredu approach could become a template for building the next generation of Texas entrepreneurs.
