Ascend Indiana, the talent and workforce development initiative of the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), has launched a new initiative to support student-led businesses, defined as real or simulated enterprises that are designed, managed and operated primarily by students.
Student-led businesses generally fall into three categories – school-based enterprise, workplace simulation and student entrepreneurial experience – and meet the state of Indiana’s approved work-based learning requirements for new diploma seals legislated for high school students beginning with the class of 2029.
Ascend’s student-led business initiative is backed by new research demonstrating the value of student-led businesses as scalable, high-impact work-based learning opportunities, especially in under-resourced communities.
“At Ascend, we believe the most effective way to prepare students for the workforce is simple: give them the opportunity to do real work. That’s why we are leaning into student-led businesses as a powerful extension of work-based learning across our state,” said Brad Rhorer, president and CEO of Ascend. “These experiences move beyond traditional models. Instead of observing or participating in short-term projects, students take ownership by managing operations, solving problems and making decisions that have real consequences. In doing so, they build the durable skills employers consistently tell us they need: communication, adaptability, teamwork and critical thinking.”
Ascend’s student-led business initiative includes three core components:
The Case for Student-Led Businesses Report
Today, Ascend published “The Case for Student-Led Businesses,” a report that highlights key research findings on the urgent need for student-led businesses and showcases Indiana high schools that are successfully operating them. The report identifies common barriers to work-based learning and ways student-led businesses can overcome them, along with the benefits for students, schools and employers. The report can be viewed and downloaded here.
Student-Led Business Digital Hub and Toolkit
Ascend has launched a new website hub focused on student-led businesses that provides definitions of the types of approved student-led businesses, benefits for students, schools and employers and case studies on real-life student-led businesses.
This spring, the web hub will include a Student-Led Business Toolkit to provide guidance and resources to help schools successfully implement or strengthen student-led businesses.
Indiana Student-Led Business Coalition
Ascend has launched the Indiana Student-Led Business Coalition, a statewide community of student-led business educators dedicated to helping schools, intermediaries and employers strengthen or launch student-led businesses. The first convening of the Student-Led Business Coalition will be on May 6, 2026, in Indianapolis. Ascend is inviting educators who currently operate a student-led business or those interested in launching one to attend the convening. Registration is available here.
