Young NE Wisconsin entrepreneurs to compete on statewide stage

Heather Graves

Staff

February 9, 2026

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN – Three young entrepreneurs from Northeast Wisconsin are preparing to pitch their businesses for scholarships and statewide recognition at the Junior Achievement (JA) Young Entrepreneur Statewide Competition later this month.

Abigail Sommer (Kimberly High School) of Sommer Media Photography and Repeluxe founders Danielle Dobke and Kaylee Gustafson (Horace Mann High School, North Fond du Lac) will compete live against Caden Vroman (Middleton High School) and Ethan Eriksen (Barron High School in Almena) in a taped television event before a panel of celebrity judges, vying for a $5,000 scholarship and other awards.

The competition, which Jenni Stein – Junior Achievement of Wisconsin area director, Sheboygan Area – said will be taped in partnership with FOX 6 Milwaukee Feb. 27, will air on JA Wisconsin’s YouTube channel the week of March 10-14.

Originally created out of the COVID-19 pandemic to replace another event, Stein said the “Shark Tank”-style competition has grown into an annual program focused on supporting young business owners along the entrepreneurship pathway.

“This is our sixth year,” she said. “While it was intended to be something probably for one year, it’s been so positive that our president [at the time] – we’re in the process of hiring a new president – said ‘keep it,’ so we keep planning it.”

Stein said the statewide event spotlights students in grades nine through 12 who have successfully transformed ideas into operational ventures.

Responsible for statewide student entrepreneur recruitment, Stein said she works closely with area directors statewide in deciding on applicant finalists.

Every year, she said she’s “blown away” by the application videos JA receives from budding entrepreneurs located across the state.

“Not only are these young men and women, but they are also business owners,” she said. “And for some of them, it’s not just a little side hustle, but a really robust business… It’s awesome to find these needles in the haystack, these students that are excelling throughout the State of Wisconsin.”

Competition details

Mentoring, Stein said, is a central piece of the event, giving student business owners direct access to experienced professionals from across Wisconsin. 

A statewide selection committee of eight members, she said, works with the finalists leading up to the Feb. 27 pitch, with two committee members assigned to each student.

Stein said mentors help finalists refine their three-minute live pitch and, just as importantly, prepare them for the unscripted questions that come from the judges.

This year’s celebrity judging panel, she said, includes: Craig Culver (Culver’s), Louis P. Gentine II (Sargento), Mario Costantini (La Lune Collection), Anna Lardinois (MkeStartup.News) and Jim Popp (Johnson Financial Group).

“The questions are not pre-scripted,” she said. “They are all based on the live pitching events. So, students have to have the adaptability of answering on the fly.”

Stein said finalists are also able to review recordings from previous years to see how others handled tough questions and high-pressure situations.

As part of their preparation, Stein said students are coached to think deeply about their finances, plans for growth, philanthropic efforts and how they will continue their business after high school – whether that means college, trade school or going straight into entrepreneurship.

Beyond the technical aspects of pitching, Stein said mentors also help prepare students for the realities of being in the spotlight, encouraging them to “absorb everything” from media interactions to networking with well-known business leaders.

As a result, she said participants often see increases in confidence, visibility and sales.

“[This] is definitely not something that happens every day,” she said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them. We’ve had students who have gone on to do many other pitch competitions, but it’s really what they make of it.”

Stein said each student who participates in the live pitch is guaranteed at least a $1,500 scholarship to support post-high school education or business-related training, with the top winner receiving a $5,000 scholarship.

A separate viewers’ choice vote, she said, awards a $500 cash prize that can be invested directly back into the student’s business.

“One of the amazing things that has happened over the years is we always stay in contact with these students and find out where they’re going,” she said. “We [even do] ‘Where are they now?’ pieces.”

Stein said students who get the most out of the program are those who are open to coaching and willing to be pushed.

Abigail Sommer – Sommer Media Photography

Sommer, a senior at Kimberly High School, said she’s always had a strong interest in business and marketing – especially photography and branding.

It was these very interests, she said, that inspired the launch of Sommer Media Photography.

“My brand focuses on making senior photos more affordable while still looking professional,” she said. “I started it because I noticed that a lot of families want high-quality photos but feel like they are too expensive.”

At the same time, Sommer said young photographers often struggle to find meaningful opportunities to build experience. 

“My business brings those two issues together by combining affordability with youth opportunity and creating a networking platform that benefits families and young individuals interested in photography,” she said.

Sommer said the entrepreneurial side of her work allows her to control her schedule and remain responsive to clients, while also turning creative ideas into products that deliver tangible value.

“Starting my own business has helped me gain confidence, and it has been really rewarding to learn that I can figure things out on my own when something does not work,” she said.

As she builds her own business, Sommer said she is inspired by entrepreneurs who prioritize making a difference in their communities as much as making money.

“That is something I try to reflect in my business, including offering free photos to students at my high school who did not have photos for the yearbook,” she said.

Participating in JA’s statewide competition, Sommer said, provides her with an opportunity to present her idea, gain constructive feedback and learn from entrepreneurs with real-world experience.

“The competition pushes me to think bigger and clearly explain my business,” she said. “It is also motivating to be around other students who are passionate about what they are creating.”

This fall, Sommer said she will attend the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where she plans to explore different business- and marketing-related paths, while continuing to grow her business.

“For my business, my goal is to grow it into a mentored photography network across Wisconsin and eventually beyond, helping young photographers gain experience while still offering affordable, professional photos to families,” she said.

Sommer said she is maximizing the opportunities offered by the Junior Achievement program.

“I am very open to feedback and mentorship, and my business has already improved a lot because of advice from others,” she said. “I see this as a chance to learn from professionals who have more experience than I do, and I am excited about what this could become and am committed to building it in a sustainable and expandable way.”

Kaylee Dobke & Danielle Gustafson – Repeluxe

At 16 years old, Horace Mann High School junior Kaylee Dobke is one of the young entrepreneurs behind Repeluxe.

Dobke said she has been passionate about business and entrepreneurship from a young age.

“I started Repeluxe because I was tired of constantly getting mosquito bites and couldn’t find a product that truly worked for me,” she said.

Through her school’s INCubatoredu, Dobke said she partnered with a classmate – Danielle Gustafson – to turn their shared experiences and frustrations into a business.

The result, she said, is a line of stylish jewelry that provides mosquito protection while remaining fashionable.

Dobke said becoming an entrepreneur helped her discover a passion for working with numbers, forecasting and managing finances.

Her participation in Junior Achievement, she said, has helped her grow as both a leader and an entrepreneur – skills she intends to carry forward.

Seventeen-year-old Gustafson – the second half of the team behind Repeluxe – said her and Dobke’s mutual passion for the outdoors and dislike of mosquitoes helped form a strong partnership, ultimately leading to the creation of Repeluxe.

“We wanted to create stylish jewelry that offers protection without the need for messy sprays,” she said.

Gustafson said becoming an entrepreneur has helped her gain confidence in public speaking and clarified her future career path, while her involvement with Junior Achievement has provided her with the opportunity to grow as a young entrepreneur and develop practical business skills.

Though neither Dobke nor Gustafson plans to pursue entrepreneurship full-time after high school, both said they intend to remain involved with Repeluxe and build on its momentum.

With plans to attend college to pursue a career as a financial advisor, Dobke said they hope to grow Repeluxe by bringing it to mainstream platforms like Etsy, TikTok Shop and Shopify.

“While I don’t see entrepreneurship as my main career, I definitely see it as something I can continue alongside a full-time job,” Dobke said.

With plans to attend a two-year technical college after high school to study marketing and social media management, Gustafson said the skills she has gained through her entrepreneurial journey will serve her well in a future marketing career.

“Though I don’t plan to pursue entrepreneurship full-time after high school, I do plan to go into marketing,” she said.