
The Young
Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) launched in 2004 with the support of a grant from
the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, is a groundbreaking program that takes
students in grades 6-12 through the process of starting and running real
businesses over the course of a full academic year.
YEA! teaches
students the process by which one establishes a business enterprise or social
movement. YEA! students are taught to write a business or social plan, make a
pitch to potential investors, obtain funding, register with governmental
agencies, and actually launch their own company.
In YEA!, students
take all the real and necessary steps to launching an enterprise. Brainstorming
ideas, preparing a business plan for their enterprises, pitching their business
ideas to real investors at the YEA! Investor Panel presentation, developing
marketing materials and preparing to sell their products and/or services to
customers at the trade show and else where. As with all entrepreneurs, they
learn that new business or non-profit creation requires determination, courage,
and motivation.
These lessons
take on various forms, and are not limited to classroom lecture. Students work
with attorneys, insurers, tax professionals, designers, printers and suppliers.
They listen to guest speakers, shadow mentors in the community, and take
exciting field trips to reinforce principles and witness applications of the
skills taught in class.
At YEA!, all of
the learning is real and experiential, and focused on teaching students how to
start and run their own businesses or social movement.
YEA! offers an
after-school program at colleges for 6-12 graders and an in-school high school
program for 9-12 grade students. Learn more about YEA! today!