High School Hustle gives teenagers cash, mentors and a scoreboard to turn summer side jobs into real businesses, with students competing for $150,000 in prize money.

High School Hustle co-founder Scott Lingle and executive director Hunter Beale explain how the program grew from a 20-student pilot to more than 2,500 young entrepreneurs across Indiana and 30 states. Their model is built around action: students make their first $100, log the revenue and receive a $100 grant to reinvest in equipment or supplies.

Lingle and Beale break down the lunchroom recruiting strategy that uses a $100 bill, a QR code and a briefcase filled with $100,000 to get students pitching business ideas in 15 seconds. They also share the businesses students are building, from pressure washing, lawn care and car detailing to e-commerce, technology and sports-based babysitting.

One freshman tracked 1,031 doors knocked, heard yes from roughly 80 customers and closed a $6,000 pressure washing job that produced about $5,100 in profit. The conversation explains why hiring employees, learning sales, handling rejection and testing multiple ideas can move teenagers from self-employment toward building larger businesses.

Host Toph Day also asks about Orr Fellowship, mentorship, faith, the student marketplace and High School Hustle’s plans for national expansion. Schools, students and mentors can get involved at highschoolhustle.org. Sponsors and donors can contact [email protected].