During National Women’s Entrepreneurship Month, Uncharted Learning celebrates young women who are building more than businesses — they’re building confidence, creativity, and community.
One of those women is Alexa Tercero Soriano, an INCubatoredu alum and 2023 National Pitch Finalist from Lorenzo Walker Technical High School in Naples, Florida.
Through the INCubatoredu student entrepreneurship program, students experience authentic entrepreneurship — not simulations or worksheets, but real business building. They identify problems, design solutions, and launch ventures with the guidance of teachers and local volunteer mentors and coaches. It’s learning by doing — where success grows from curiosity, persistence, and reflection.
Alexa’s story shows what happens when students are trusted to take the lead — and supported by a community that believes in them.
“I learned how to build.”
My INCubatoredu experience shaped everything I’m working toward today.
In 2022, I co-founded Fair for Everyone, a jewelry business that celebrated self-expression through handmade pieces. What started as a simple classroom project turned into something real — more than $18,000 in revenue over two years, selling during lunch hours, local events, and pitch competitions.
In 2023, our team was selected as a National Pitch Finalist, and although we didn’t win, that wasn’t what mattered most. The win was discovering more about myself.
INCubatoredu wasn’t just a class. It was the spark that helped me grow, lead, and find my voice.
“Although we didn’t win, the win for me was discovering more about myself.”
Learning from failure and building forward
After graduation, I felt what so many young adults do: lost. I didn’t know what came next. But INCubatoredu had already taught me that clarity often begins with doing.
So I kept experimenting.
I launched an embroidery business called Unica with my dad — a father–daughter brand selling custom designs at local events in Naples, FL. It was exciting and creative, but over time I realized it wasn’t fulfilling me as I'd expected.
And that’s okay. Because sometimes what looks like a step back is actually a step forward. Each experiment taught me something new about myself — what I value, what motivates me, and what I want to build next.
The power of mentorship and local connection
One morning at work, I was talking with my coworker — and former high school mentor — Matthew Dunham. I told him I felt lost. He said, “Experience so much that you have options.”
That single piece of advice changed my perspective. It reminded me that growth isn’t linear. Every experience, every setback, every small win gives you more to build from.
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The mentors I met through INCubatoredu — many of them local business and community leaders — taught me that entrepreneurship isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about learning how to find them. Their feedback, encouragement, and belief in me gave me the courage to face the unknown.
“Experience so much that you have options.”
Bravely facing the unknown
Today, I’m developing a new project: a podcast called Words That Stay. It’s a space to share stories, connect with others, and inspire growth — the same feeling I had when I stood on that national pitch stage and realized what I loved most wasn’t just selling a product, but connecting with people.
I’m still building. Still learning. Still experimenting.
Because that’s what entrepreneurship — and life — is really about.
“Experiment until the unknown becomes familiar.”
That’s the message I want others to remember. We only get one chance at this life, and the best way to live it isn’t by waiting for things to be perfect — it’s by being real, trying new things, and being true to yourself.
Every time I’ve taken a risk or stepped into the unknown, I’ve learned something new about who I am and what I can create. That’s how you build a life that’s truly your own.
Why her story matters
At Uncharted Learning, we believe entrepreneurship is essential learning — a foundation for critical thinking, collaboration, and self-discovery.
Alexa’s story reflects what happens when students are empowered to learn by doing, supported by teachers and local mentors who bring real-world experience into the classroom. This mix of authenticity, community, and creativity helps young people build confidence — and the mindset to face whatever comes next.
This National Women’s Entrepreneurship Month, we celebrate Alexa and every young woman learning how to build — not just companies, but courage.
