Chicago Youth Biz Expo Showcases Student Business Plans

Career and technical education students presented business plans to a panel of judges at the third annual event held at Malcolm X College.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Job Fairs

Chicago Youth Biz Expo Showcases Student Business Plans

The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and Chicago Public Schools hosted the 3rd annual Chicago Youth Biz Expo at Malcolm X College. More than 200 CPS Career and Technical Education sophomores, juniors, and seniors attended and took part in an interactive workshop.

Why it matters

The expo gives high school students hands-on experience developing business plans and receiving feedback from judges while still in school. It connects career-focused CTE coursework with real-world entrepreneurial skills relevant to Chicago's future workforce.

More than 200 CPS Career and Technical Education students attended the third annual expo, which is a count of attendees rather than a measure of program outcomes. The source does not report how many students presented business plans or how the judges scored them.

The players

Chicago Public Schools

The Chicago Public Schools is the nation's third-largest public school district, operating career and technical education programs across the city.

Malcolm X College

Malcolm X College is a City Colleges of Chicago campus on the city's West Side that hosts community and workforce programming.

The details

Students presented their business plans in an interactive workshop and received feedback from a panel of judges. The expo was organized by the city's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection in partnership with Chicago Public Schools.

The most recent expo was the third annual event, held at Malcolm X College.

Roadmap

CPS Career and Technical Education programs are designed to give students career-focused, experiential learning and industry-recognized certifications. The Youth Biz Expo extends that model by asking students to build and defend business plans before a panel of judges.

Students who complete CTE pathways can earn industry-recognized certifications that help them move into jobs or college after graduation. Families and students interested in similar events can look for CPS CTE programming at their high schools.

The takeaway

Students interested in careers in business or entrepreneurship can seek out CTE pathways and hands-on competitions offered through their high schools. Early exposure to planning and presenting a business idea can build practical skills before graduation.