Fredericksburg High Students Raise $21K Launching Six Startups in INCubatoredu Debut

Roemer spent three years in retail management before what he calls “the coaching bug” pulled him into education. Twenty-seven years, 23 of them coaching volleyball, and one incubator program later, he says the classroom feels new again: “My education career has really been rejuvenated by this program, and the way that these kids have responded to it.”

In year one, Roemer:

• Recruited more than 30 local business owners, board advisors, and judges into the classroom

• Guided six student teams through building real businesses, from idea to public pitch

• Raised $20,000-$25,000 for the program - money Roemer says stays entirely in the classroom, on top of his teacher's salary, inside a Texas school finance system that pulls funding back out of rural districts

• Closed the year with a sold-out theater pitch night and $21,000 awarded in seed money and scholarships

One of his mentors has a story he tells the students every year - a Main Street business owner who scaled too fast, nearly went under, and had to sell. It's not the version of him you'd find on LinkedIn.

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The volunteer bench reads like a cross-section of the local economy. David Pedragon, who built and later sold Dogology, a Main Street pet store, mentors students on failure and pivoting. Chad Myers, CEO of Core Javelina Holdings, manufactures and distributes rubber components used on an estimated 90% of new-build airbag suspension systems for 18-wheelers - from a facility just outside Fredericksburg. Dan Kemp, CEO of Security State Bank (headquartered in Fredericksburg, with 19 branches and 120 local employees), talked to students about a different kind of ambition: “I'm not an entrepreneur, I'm an intrapreneur. I look to grow my business every day.” Central Texas Electric CEO Mr. Hinojosa taught project management, and rancher Sam Sage of Hillside Beef rounded out the mentor team.

Roemer credits the model, not himself, for the results:

“The coach is only as good as the players. We've been blessed with a tremendous team of volunteers, starting with David Pedragon and going all the way down.”

Heading into year two, Roemer says the program has already roughly doubled its volunteer pool - helped along by Caroline, a student from the winning pitch team, who asked to come back as a mentor the day after the contest. He's also in talks with Fredericksburg's Chamber of Commerce about a permanent Main Street presence for the program, and he's shared the model with educators in Hondo, Dripping Springs, and College Station who are considering it for their own districts.

FAQ: What Is INCubatoredu?

What is INCubatoredu?

It's a national high school curriculum, built by Uncharted Learning, where students spend a school year developing, building, and pitching a real business to a panel of community judges - instead of studying business from a textbook.

How is the program funded?

Fredericksburg's program raised $20,000-$25,000 in year one through community fundraising. Roemer says every dollar raised stays in the classroom; the only tax dollars involved are his teacher salary.

Can other Texas school districts start a program like this?

Yes - Roemer has already talked with educators in Hondo, Dripping Springs, and College Station about adopting the model, and points interested districts to Uncharted Learning's curriculum as the starting point.

Watch More From The Building Texas Show

This episode is part of an ongoing series spotlighting the founders, educators, and community champions building Texas's entrepreneurial economy - from rural Hill Country classrooms to fast-growing metros. New episodes post 2-3 times a week.

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About The Building Texas Show

The Building Texas Show, hosted by Justin McKenzie, spotlights the founders, educators, civic leaders, and community champions shaping Texas's entrepreneurial economy. Each week the podcast travels from rural Hill Country classrooms to fast-growing metros, telling the stories of the people quietly building what comes next. New episodes are available on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and all major podcast platforms.

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