For many high school students, entrepreneurship begins with a simple question: What if?

For Lacy School of Business (LSB) student Miles O’Shea, that question started with an idea and a willingness to explore what was possible.

Today, Miles is studying finance at Butler University while continuing to develop his entrepreneurial mindset through coursework, mentorship, and hands-on experiences. His passion for entrepreneurship first took shape through the STARTedUP Challenge—a statewide competition that helps students transform ideas into viable ventures.

Before arriving at the Lacy School of Business, Miles wasn’t certain exactly where his future would take him. What he did know was that he enjoyed business.

During high school, he enrolled in business management and marketing courses and quickly discovered they were unlike any other classes he had taken.

“It was the one class I actually enjoyed sitting down and learning,” the junior says. “A lot of what I was learning felt like something I could apply after high school.”

His interest in entrepreneurship grew when a teacher introduced his class to the STARTedUP Challenge. Alongside a friend, Miles developed an idea inspired by a common problem they encountered while setting up rooms and organizing spaces. Their concept focused on creating a tape-style extension cord that would eliminate the appearance of bulky cords while making it easier to mount and power items on walls.

While the idea itself never became a business, the experience opened Miles’ eyes to the entrepreneurial process and showed him what was possible when an idea is paired with creativity, problem-solving, and determination.

One of the biggest lessons the finance major took away from the competition wasn’t pitching—it was problem solving.

Entrepreneurship often starts with identifying a challenge and finding a unique solution. Through STARTedUP, Miles learned the importance of focusing on a specific need rather than trying to solve everything at once.

“The biggest thing I learned was finding different ways to stand out and focusing on a niche problem,” he says. “When you find that one thing that makes you different, that’s what helps push an idea forward.”

That lesson stayed with him long after the competition ended.

After arriving at Butler, Miles and a friend began exploring a new business concept inspired by a challenge familiar to many college students: moving.

After being paid to help a friend’s cousin relocate, they began asking a bigger question: Could this become a real business?

The idea evolved into a moving company concept designed to offer affordable, customer-focused service while treating clients’ belongings with care. Drawing on lessons first learned through STARTedUP and later refined through Butler’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, Miles continues to develop the concept while pursuing his degree.

“Instead of just making it a side hustle, we started thinking about how to grow it into an actual business and put all the pieces in place,” he says.

That entrepreneurial mindset continues to influence how he approaches opportunities today, both in and outside the classroom.

As a recipient of the Lilly Endowment Scholarship, Miles explored several college options. But when he visited Butler and the Lacy School of Business, something felt different.

“It felt like home,” he says with a smile. “I met with professors, had conversations with them, and realized they genuinely cared about students. You’re not just a number here.”

For a student interested in entrepreneurship and experiential learning, Butler’s collaborative culture stood out immediately.

Miles was impressed by the number of student-led organizations across campus and the willingness of faculty members to support students’ ambitions.

“The students here are serious about what they’re doing, and the professors are willing to help you achieve whatever you’re trying to accomplish,” he says.

Although Miles chose finance as his major, entrepreneurship remains a central part of his LSB experience.

Through entrepreneurship-focused courses, student organizations, and mentorship opportunities, he has learned how business ideas evolve from concepts into sustainable ventures.

One experience that made a significant impact was EI 300, an entrepreneurship course taught by Butler Entrepreneurship Director Nick Smarrelli.

“A lot of people say you don’t need school for entrepreneurship, but the information and guidance you get helps you understand what your idea needs to become something real,” he says.

Looking back, Miles sees a direct connection between his STARTedUP experience and where he is today.

The competition gave him an early opportunity to think like an entrepreneur. Butler gave him the resources, mentorship, and community to continue that journey.

For high school students who have participated in STARTedUP, Miles offers simple advice: don’t wait for your idea to be perfect.

“The fact that you already have an idea is incredible,” he says. “Focus on the little details and keep building. Don’t worry about having everything figured out right away.”

He believes entrepreneurial students thrive when they surround themselves with mentors, peers, and opportunities that challenge them to think bigger.

At the Lacy School of Business, he’s found exactly that.

“If you come to a place like Butler University and spend four years building your idea with professors and mentors who want to help, you can leave with something that’s truly ready for the real world.”