VentureLab IGNITE: San Antonio’s Next Generation of Founders
About this Event
San Antonio’s next great founder may still be in school.
Join VentureLab on Thursday, October 1, for a featured day of San Antonio Startup + Tech Week dedicated to young people with ideas worth hearing.
This free event is open to everyone throughout the entire day. You do not need to be an IGNITE finalist, student participant, educator, or mentor to attend the talks and public programming. Community members are welcome to join us beginning at 9:00 AM—or attend whichever sessions fit their schedules.
The day includes an inspirational speaker, a mentor round table, entrepreneurship workshops, a student showcase, and the IGNITE Final Pitch Event. From 2:00–4:00 PM, IGNITE finalists will take the stage to present their ideas, but attendees are encouraged to experience the learning, conversations, and activities leading up to the competition.
This is more than a pitch event. It is an opportunity to see the work behind the pitch: curiosity, empathy, research, collaboration, prototyping, feedback, courage, and persistence.
Whether you are an entrepreneur, educator, student, parent, mentor, investor, or curious community member, you are invited to participate in the day and support San Antonio’s next generation of innovators.
Come for one session or spend the entire day with us. Registration is free.
Why Attend?
At the VentureLab IGNITE Finals, you will:
- Meet young founders working on creative solutions to real problems.
- Explore student-created ideas and prototypes.
- See entrepreneurship education in action.
- Hear live pitches from emerging student innovators.
- Connect with educators, mentors, founders, and community leaders.
- Learn how mentorship and design thinking help students build confidence.
- Help make San Antonio’s startup ecosystem more accessible to young people.
Who Should Attend?
This event is designed for:
- Students and families
- Educators and school leaders
- Entrepreneurs and startup professionals
- Mentors and business leaders
- Investors and ecosystem builders
- Youth-development professionals
- Nonprofit and community leaders
- Anyone interested in education, innovation, or youth entrepreneurship
No previous entrepreneurship experience is required. Bring your curiosity and your willingness to encourage the next generation.
Agenda
🕑: 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
IGNITE Introduction and Inspirational Speaker
Info: Begin the day by welcoming the IGNITE student founders and exploring what becomes possible when young people are given the tools, relationships, and confidence to turn ideas into action.
🕑: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Mentor Round Table
Info: Students will connect with entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders for an interactive mentoring experience.
Rather than handing students the answers, mentors will help them question assumptions, communicate their ideas, consider new perspectives, and identify their next experiment.
🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Entrepreneurship Mini Workshops for Students
Info: Students will participate in focused workshops covering practical entrepreneurship topics such as customer discovery, creative problem-solving, value propositions, prototyping, storytelling, and pitching.
These workshops are designed to give students ideas and feedback they can apply immediately.
🕑: 01:00 AM - 02:00 AM
Student Tabling and Showcase
Info: Meet the young founders and explore their ideas up close.
Students will display their concepts, prototypes, and business ideas while answering questions from attendees. Guests are encouraged to ask thoughtful questions, offer constructive feedback, and learn about the problems students are working to solve.
This is an excellent arrival point for community members who cannot attend the entire day.
🕑: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
IGNITE Final Pitch Event
Info: The day culminates with the VentureLab IGNITE Final Pitch Event.
Student finalists will present their ideas to a live audience and panel, demonstrating how they identified a problem, developed a solution, incorporated feedback, and communicated the value of their idea.
Come celebrate their courage, creativity, resourcefulness, and entrepreneurial growth.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
