What is the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!)? YEA! program began in 2004 at Rochester Institute of Technology and will enter its 13th year in Fall 2017. Open to students entering grades 6-12. A yearlong academic program that supports students desire to become entrepreneurs and innovators, by teaching core entrepreneurial skills. Provides students with the opportunity to brainstorm ideas, write a business plan, pitch to potential investors, obtain funding, and really launch their company. Course focuses on themes of driving innovation, viewing the world in new ways, recognizing opportunities, valuing risk taking, providing solutions and creating value. All of the learning is real and experiential, and fun!
YEA! Curriculum Highlights In groups, students brainstorm ideas for business creation or social change they would like to initiate and then develop a business plan for one of these ideas. Students are encouraged to identify their passions and skills. Students receive instruction on all processes of operating a business or social movement, including financing, marketing, and selling the product or service idea. Students learn how entrepreneurs must adapt and change their plans to run a successful venture. Professional graphic designers create a logo, business card, and letterhead for each business.
YEA! Class Structure Class runs during the Polk County School Board s academic year, from mid- October through May. No class during school breaks and holidays. Students meet on Tuesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the Southeastern University campus.
YEA! Class Structure Students receive additional instruction through: Business mentors. Guest lecturers. Fieldtrips.
Event Highlights CEO Roundtable on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 Helps students connect the dots between local businesses and the entrepreneurs who lead those businesses to success with a moderated panel discussion.
Event Highlights Investor Panel Event ( Shark Tank ) on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Students present business plans to receive real funds from local Investors to help launch their enterprises.
Event Highlights Trade Show Event on Thursday, May 17, 2018 Students debut their businesses or social movements. Event is open to the public. Students have the opportunity to connect with consumers and potential investors. Students make real money selling their products or services. Graduation on Tuesday, May, 22, 2018 Parents, family, and friends are invited.
YEA! Tradeshow
Saunders Scholars Competition Investor Panel winner moves onto regional semi-finals Regional semi-final winners move to the Finals Top three winners receive college scholarships Top two businesses in America s Small Business Summit in Washington, DC
Demographics 100% of YEA! students graduate high school on time 56% are underrepresented minorities 99% of students enroll in college Over 6,000 students nationwide launched over 4,000 businesses Founded in 2004 at the Rochester Institute of Technology, with support from the Kauffman Foundation YEA! is in over 110 communities in 39 states and in India
Intended Outcomes Provide a focused introduction to the business world for middle & high school students. For each student to build a local network of contacts by combining a dynamic, proven curriculum with the experiences of local leaders of industry, community members, educators, and entrepreneurs. For each student to identify their passions and talents and to successfully launch their own business, while learning the repeatable steps of launching a business. For each student to equate entrepreneurship with freedom.
Financial Literacy Income As part of the YEA! program, students are able to explore and identify endless ways of making an income, and are taught to analyze the factors that may affect one s income as an essential part of the career decision-making process. YEA! students are taught how career choices, education and skills can affect income even from an early age, and benefit from a Taxes expert who comes into the classroom as the YEA! guest speaker to help the students understand the basics of how taxes work and how they affect income.
Financial Literacy Money Management With the help of YEA! participants such as the Instructor, Program Manager, Taxes Guest Speaker, Banking Guest Speaker, Accounting Guest Speaker and Business Mentor, YEA! students undergo a thorough training in money management and the process by which an organization or individual develops, implements, and evaluates a spending and savings plan. YEA! students also continue to learn about how taxes in the United States affects personal and business income, and are encouraged to utilize resources such as business checking accounts, personal record keeping software and additional banking services to help manage their funds.
Financial Literacy Spending and Credit Class lessons paired with developed tools and handouts help students begin to examine various factors that can affect one s choice of type of credit to apply for, the risks and costs associated with credit, and the legal aspects of using credit as a means of financing your business. Furthermore, students acquire skills through classroom learning, interactions with business professional and direct experiences that help them form and shape the processes they will utilize to compare the pros and cons of various spending options, and to critically evaluate information regarding prospective products and services to be utilized by the company.
Financial Literacy Saving and Investing Both in advance of, and continually afterwards, YEA! students are trained to evaluate different savings and investment options to help them meet short and long term goals the students themselves have identified for their business. Students are taught to examine the nature of the relationship between saving and investing, how to compare possible risk versus potential reward and to consider how different factors may affect the rate of return on investments. YEA! students value the importance of both saving and investing, and through YEA! begin to explore the roles of each in business development. Protecting All YEA! students are encouraged to make smart choices about how their business interacts in the marketplace and the free enterprise system and are taught how to distinguish honest, credible business practices from those that are fraudulent and deceptive.
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