High School hustle
you were made to create,
made in the image of a creator god.
What is a hustle?
Vertical Immersive’s Role in the Hustle
Vertical Immersive serves as the faith-focused training and support hub for High School Hustle students. We provide the biblically-integrated curriculum, weekly mentorship, coaching, and community that help students turn simple ideas into real-world income.
We partner with homeschool families, Christian schools, and co-ops to guide students step-by-step as they build and run their own “hustle.” Our team equips students with skills, encouragement, accountability, and the tools they need to succeed—spiritually and practically.
“In the Hustle, students design and launch their own mini-business (their ‘hustle’). We don’t just talk business — they build it. They earn real money. They apply practical steps. And they grow as creators, stewards and leaders.”
hustle timeline
PHASE 1 — Sign Up & Get Ready
November–January
Apply Online. Students register for the Faith-Focused High School Hustle through Vertical Immersive.
Meet Your Coach & Group. Join a welcome call, meet your facilitator, and connect with other Christian students across the state.
Get the Hustle Starter Kit. Receive your faith-integrated curriculum, worksheets, and idea prompts to spark creativity.
PHASE 2 — Discover Your Hustle Idea
January–February
Guided Idea Workshops. Learn what makes a good hustle: simple, fast, profitable, and service-minded.
Choose Your Hustle. Pick an idea that fits your gifts, skills, and interests. No business experience needed!
Build Your Launch Plan. Create a simple plan: who you’ll serve, how you’ll deliver value, and how you’ll earn your first dollar.
PHASE 3 — Launch & Start Earning
February–April
Weekly Coaching + Faith Formation
Join weekly online sessions to receive:
practical instruction
accountability
encouragement
biblical teaching on creativity, stewardship, and work
Launch Day. Start your hustle! Introduce your idea to real customers and take your first orders.
Track Your Growth. Use your Hustle Dashboard to record progress, customers, revenue, and wins.
PHASE 4 — Grow, Improve & Serve
April–May
Learn Real Business Skills
Students practice:
marketing
messaging
customer service
budgeting
problem solving
perseverance
Mentor Check-ins. Your mentor helps you navigate obstacles, refine your idea, and grow your revenue.
Build Confidence Through Action. Students experience what it feels like to build something real — and see God use their gifts.
PHASE 5 — Summer Hustle Challenge
June–July
Go All-In for Summer. Students focus on growing their hustle during 6–8 weeks of increased activity.
Compete for Awards. Top earners across Indiana are recognized with scholarships, awards, and prizes.
Celebrate Your Wins. Students share stories, revenue milestones, and how God used their hustle to impact others.
PHASE 6 — Showcase & Next Steps
August
Hustle Celebration Event
Students present their journey, celebrate their results, and reflect spiritually on how they grew.
Leadership & Future Pathways
Students can continue their hustle, expand it, or step into more advanced Vertical programs.
Lifelong Impact
Students leave the program with:
real income
a real business
real confidence
real skills
and a deeper understanding of their God-given identity and calling
What You’ll Achieve
By the end of the Faith-Focused High School Hustle, you won’t just learn about business—you’ll have actually built and run your own hustle.
As a student, you will:
Launch a real hustle
Turn a simple idea into a real product or service and earn actual income—not just “classroom money.”Gain practical business skills
Learn how to:find and serve customers
price and sell your work
track revenue and expenses
communicate clearly and confidently
Grow in confidence & courage
Experience what it feels like to take initiative, solve problems, and keep going—even when things don’t work perfectly the first time.Discover your God-given gifts
See how your talents, interests, and personality can be used to create value, bless others, and honor God through your work.Build a standout portfolio
Finish the program with a real story to share on resumes, scholarship essays, college applications, and interviews:“Here’s the business I launched. Here’s what I earned. Here’s what I learned.”
Join a community of Christian creators
Hustle alongside other students who are also learning to think like builders, stewards, and leaders—encouraging one another in faith and in business.
Christian Perspectives: Why Faith Matters in the Hustle
At Vertical Immersive, we believe entrepreneurship is more than making money—it’s a way for students to discover how God uniquely designed them to create, serve, and lead.
God placed creativity, purpose, and potential inside every student. The Hustle gives them the opportunity to put those gifts into action.
Created to Create
Students are reminded that they were made in the image of a Creator God (Genesis 1:27).
Because God creates, we create.
Launching a hustle becomes a small, real-world way to reflect His creativity.
Stewardship in Action
Hustling teaches students to steward their time, ideas, resources, and opportunities wisely.
They learn that faithfulness in small things leads to greater responsibility (Luke 16:10).
Work as Worship
Scripture teaches that “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23).
Students experience what it means to work with excellence—not for applause, but to honor God.
Serving Others Through Value
Every hustle centers around helping someone else.
Students learn to identify needs, bring solutions, and serve their community—mirroring the heart of Jesus, who came “not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45).
Discovering Calling & Confidence
As students launch something real, they begin to understand how God wired them—what they love, what they’re good at, and how their work can honor Him.
They build courage, resilience, and identity rooted not in performance, but in Christ.
In every step of the Hustle, students learn:
Who God made them to be
How to use their gifts for His glory
What faithful work looks like
How to serve others through creativity and action
What it means to follow Jesus in everyday life—including entrepreneurship
This is more than a business challenge.
It’s a discipleship journey—one that shapes faith, character, and future calling.
Awards & Competition Details
The Summer Hustle Challenge is where students put their skills into action, grow their hustle, and compete for national recognition. This is the moment when their hard work—and God-given creativity—really shines.
The Summer Hustle Challenge (June–July)
After launching during the spring, students continue building their hustle through the summer.
During these two months, they:
Grow their customer base
Increase revenue
Track progress in the Hustle Dashboard
Share stories and results with their cohort
Students can continue at their own pace, but those who go “all in” have the best shot at national awards.
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Awards & Honors
Each year, the top-performing High School Hustle students from across Indiana are recognized for their results, effort, and creativity. Awards may include:
🥇 Top Earners Award
The students who generate the highest revenue across the summer challenge are honored as the year’s Top Hustlers.
💰 The $10K Awards
In partnership with the High School Hustle movement, the top 10 earners each receive a $10,000 award.
These awards recognize students who show exceptional initiative, follow-through, and impact
join the movement. start a hustle. become a participant.
FAQS
FAQS
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No! Most students start with no idea at all.
We guide them through simple, fast, low-cost ideas they can launch right away. -
Perfect. This program is designed for beginners.
Students learn step-by-step, build confidence through action, and discover gifts they didn’t know they had. -
Students should expect:
45–60 minutes for the weekly coaching call
1–4 hours per week working on their hustle
Time varies depending on the type of hustle they choose.
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Primarily yes.
Ideal ages: 14–18
Advanced 8th graders may be approved with parent and coach agreement. -
Absolutely. The program is fully online and designed for homeschool families, Christian schools, and co-ops.
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Yes. Siblings may join the same cohort or choose separate meeting times.
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Students will need:
A device with Zoom (phone, tablet, or computer)
Internet connection
A way to track progress (dashboard access is included)
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All students receive weekly recaps and step-by-step instructions.
Missing a session won’t disqualify a student, but consistency helps them grow—and earn more. -
We incorporate Scripture, biblical principles, and short faith conversations into each session.
Students learn how work, creativity, and serving others all connect to following Jesus. -
Only with small things like transportation or simple logistics.
The program is designed to be student-led and coach-supported—not parent-led. -
The possibilities are endless, but common examples include:
Babysitting, lawn care, pet care
Custom baking, crafts, or handmade goods
Photography basics, video editing, tutoring
Cleaning, organizing, house help
Tech support or digital services
E-commerce
We help students choose something simple and doable.
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Students track their revenue and progress during the Summer Hustle Challenge.
Top earners and standout students may receive:State recognition
$10,000 awards
Specialty honors (creativity, service, perseverance, etc.)
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Yes!
Students keep 100% of what they earn from their hustle. -
Many of our best Hustlers start this way.
The program builds communication, courage, and confidence in a supportive, Christian community.
How do we get started and how much does it cost?
There are no program fees and all you have to do is fill out our student application form.