EP Venture Fund is a student-led initiative that provides seed capital and mentorship to Eden Prairie High School students with ideas that create community impact.
We believe that the best time to start building is now: not after college, not after a job, but right here in high school. EP Venture Fund exists to remove the financial barrier that stops great ideas from becoming real ventures.
We provide $1,000–$5,000 in startup grants to EPHS students working on ventures with meaningful community or social impact in Eden Prairie and the Twin Cities, paired with mentorship from local business leaders who have been there before.
We envision Eden Prairie High School as a place known for producing not just great students, but founders, change-makers, and community leaders who started building while they were still in school.
In the long term, we aim to build a network of EPHS alumni entrepreneurs: people who learned how to pitch, how to build, and how to fail forward before they ever left high school.
Our quarterly grant cycle runs over eight weeks, from open applications to funded ventures.
Current EPHS students in grades 9–12 submit an application during an open quarterly cycle. No prior business experience required.
The Student Investment Committee scores each application on a 100-point rubric: problem clarity, feasibility, use of funds, passion, sustainability.
Top-scoring applicants present to the committee and advisory board, a real investor pitch experience.
Grants are disbursed in two stages through our fiscal sponsor: 50% upfront, 50% after a progress check.
Operated by students, guided by experienced advisors, grounded by faculty oversight.
The heart of the fund. Reviews every application, conducts interviews, scores submissions, and recommends funding decisions, with real stakes and real responsibility.
Local business leaders and community members who contribute financially, attend pitch sessions, and mentor funded ventures. Final approval on grants over $2,500.
Provides institutional oversight, ensures compliance with school policies, and reviews all funding decisions before distribution.
Every aspect of the grant process is designed with accountability in mind.
All grant funds are held and disbursed by our fiscal sponsor directly to approved vendors and expenses, never as cash.
50% released upfront. The remaining 50% only after the Week 12 progress check-in confirms momentum.
Every funded student signs an agreement outlining expectations and acceptable use of funds before release.
A faculty advisor reviews all decisions before distribution. The board has final approval on grants over $2,500.
Applications are open to all EPHS students. If you have an idea, even a rough one, we want to hear it.