Governor's School for Entrepreneurs

About

Our Story

From high school through college and into the business world, GSE empowers the dreams of Kentucky students who have the grit, drive, and passion to be Bluegrass entrepreneurs and create jobs here.

Kentucky was one of the first states in the nation to create a Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs. Since our first class of 49 high school students in 2013, we have grown to more than 900 graduates, and now have high school and collegiate level programming.

Our Summer Startup Es have launched more than 30 businesses and filed multiple patents. Our Collegiate Pitch Es are growing their enterprises across the state.

GSE is an independent, non-profit 501c3. Our student programs are free, thanks to strong partnerships with the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet and the Cabinet for Economic Development, along with support from private donors and public foundations.

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Our Vision

What we aspire to achieve.

Transforming lives, culture, and the economy across Kentucky.

Our Mission

What we do everyday in pursuit of Our Vision.

Identify, inspire, and empower Kentucky’s future innovators.

Our Core Values

These values guide our decisions and strategies.

Our Es come first.

What’s best for our Entrepreneurs is at the heart of all we do.

Opportunity for all.

We are inclusive and serve all of Kentucky.

Scrappy makes us happy.

With an entrepreneurial spirit, we enjoy being resourceful, nimble, and driven – and look for the same in others.

Walk-E Talk-E.

We “walk the talk” with curiosity, innovation, passion, and energy, just like our Entrepreneurs.

Fail without fear.

We encourage taking risks, leaning into failure, and learning from it.