MINDSET WORKSHOPS

The workshop series empowers students through a design thinking journey with the help of entrepreneurs & coaches. Each workshop is 10AM-Noon @ REV: Ithaca Startup Works and includes a panel discussion of entrepreneurs sharing their experiences, followed by hands-on learning with featured tools at each workshop. The goal of the workshop series is to help students develop an entrepreneurial mindset and rapidly develop and iterate ideas that they can share with the community through a series of markets.

The after-school Get Messy Lab is also hosted weekly on Wednesdays at New Roots Charter School from 4-5:30PM, where students work with coaches and peers to develop their projects.

1.11.25

Idea Generation & Design Thinking

Students explore design thinking and an entrepreneurial mindset while developing ideas that can evolve into startup projects.

Guest Speakers: Diane Cohen (Finger Lakes ReUse), Jan Rhodes Norman (Silk Oak), Rod Rotondi (Shared Kitchen Ithaca), Grace Quagliata (Sew Unique - youth entrepreneur), Adrien Lavine (Green Lavine - youth entrepreneur)

Get Messy Lab (After-School): 1.15.25, 1.22.25 & 2.5.25

2.8.25

Project Planning & Sustainability

Students rapidly iterate and develop their ideas with the assistance of planning tools to create sustainable startup projects.

Guest Speakers: Chef Kuukua Yomekpe (Asempe Kitchen), Lauren Hamacher & Lee Hamacher (Gardella's Goodies)

Get Messy Lab (After-School): 2.12.25, 2.26.25, & 3.5.25

3.8.25

Budgeting & Financial Planning

Students develop a budget to explore what it takes to make their project achieve their desired goals.

Guest Speakers: Samantha Lethbridge (Visions Federal Credit Union), Amelia Grace (AGearings - youth entrepreneur), Wren Kaiser (Wren's Works Crochet - youth entrepreneur)

Get Messy Lab (After-School): 3.12.25, 3.19.25, 3.26.25, & 4.2.25

4.5.25

Marketing by Telling Your Story

Students prepare to launch their projects at community markets while developing their brand story and their pitch for Fish Tank.

Guest Speakers: Yxi Ojeda (Yxi's Arepas & The Chef Gordito), Russ Friedell (GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance & Ithaca Reggae Fest), Ava Thomas (avaxThomas)

Get Messy Lab (After-School): 4.9.25 & 4.23.25

4.26.25

Fish Tank

Students interested in sourcing startup funds for their projects have an opportunity to pitch their ideas to local entrepreneurs.

Guest Speakers: Coming soon...

Panelists: Via Carpenter, Tim McCabe, & more coming soon...

Get Messy Lab (After-School): 4.30.25, 5.7.25, & 5.14.25