The $250 Flip Entrepreneurship Challenge
$250. 4 Teammates. One Business.
What if we gave you $250 and challenged you to turn it into a real business?
DOPE, in partnership with DeSoto Parks & Recreation, presents The $250 Flip Entrepreneurship Challenge, a hands-on entrepreneurship experience where teens won't just learn about business — they'll actually build one.
We're selecting 20 teens who will be randomly placed into five teams of four. Each team will receive $250 in real startup capital to develop a business from the ground up.
Create a product. Launch some merch. Buy and resell something. Develop a service. Come up with something we haven't even thought of yet.
The $250 is yours to flip.
But just like a real entrepreneur, you'll have to make the numbers work.
Your team will have to identify a customer, manage its startup budget, track expenses, save receipts, price for profit, build a brand, market the business and ultimately convince real people to spend real money with you.
Here's How It Works
OCT. 17 — BUILD IT
10 AM–2 PM
Meet your team, develop your idea, identify your customer and create your Business Launch Plan.
OCT. 31 — BRAND IT
10 AM–2 PM
Build your brand, determine your budget, source your products and figure out how to price for profit.
NOV. 7 — SELL IT
10 AM–2 PM
Learn how to market, pitch and sell your product while creating the strategy that will get customers to your business.
NOV. 21 — RUN IT
10 AM–2 PM
Get into the numbers. Learn inventory, transaction tracking, customer service and financial management before completing a Marketplace Simulation.
NOV. 28 — OPEN BUSINESS LAB
Optional Support Session
Need some extra help? Bring your questions, receipts, inventory challenges, marketing materials or anything else your team needs to get marketplace-ready.
Then We Take the Training Wheels Off.
DEC. 5 — SANTA'S WORKSHOP | Pop Up Market
No hypothetical customers.
No pretend sales.
Your business opens for real.
Teams will set up shop during Santa's Workshop, an event by the City of DeSoto, and sell their products to real customers.
At the end, DOPE will verify each team's finances:
REVENUE − EXPENSES = NET PROFIT
But you'll have to wait a few days to find out who won...
AND THE WINNER IS...
DEC. 10 | 6–8 PM
The $250 Flip Awards Ceremony
We'll bring everyone back together to celebrate what our teen entrepreneurs accomplished, reveal the final business results and announce the team with the highest verified net profit.
WINNING TEAM: $4,000
Who Should Register?
This challenge is for teens who are ready to create, collaborate, compete and try something new.
You do not need to have a business.
You do not need previous entrepreneurship experience.
You don't even need to know what you would sell yet.
We'll help you figure that out.
What you do need is a willingness to show up, work with your team and see this challenge through from beginning to end.
IMPORTANT: Attendance is Required
Because teens will be working in teams throughout the challenge, participants must be available for ALL required program dates.
When one person doesn't show up, it doesn't just affect them — it affects their entire business.
Please review the complete schedule before registering.
