The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a groundbreaking and exciting year long class that transforms middle and high school students into real, confident entrepreneurs. Throughout the class, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors, and actually launch and run their own real, legal, fully formed companies and social movements. Complete with dynamic guest speakers from the local business community and exciting behind-the-scenes trips to local companies, the fun, projects-based YEA! approach empowers students to take charge of their futures in a profound way. YEA! Mission: Develop and deliver experience-based entrepreneurship programs to young people to: - Enable them to transition successfully to adulthood; - Help them to pursue their dreams by harnessing their creativity and energy; - Help them transform their ideas into tangible enterprises that create economic and social value for a better world; - Develop the character of tomorrow’s leaders based on personal principles and values; - Enable educational institutions and Chambers of Commerce to provide successful and effective entrepreneurship programs for middle and high school students; - Create a culture of innovation in schools and communities across the nation; and - Foster the entrepreneurial mindset in young people, educators, and community members.
