Watch and be inspired, as YEA! students and mentors discuss the incredible ways that this program has impacted their lives.
Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!)
The Arlington Chamber is pleased to announce our partnership with Arlington Public School Career Center to provide the students of the Career Center, the exciting opportunity to complete the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) program. Through this partnership, the Chamber is able to make the program more accessible to a broader student base.
YEA! is a groundbreaking program that transforms high school students into real entrepreneurs. During the semester-long program, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors, obtain funding, and then actually launch and run their own legally-registered, fully-formed companies. YEA! classes are taught and hosted at Arlington Public Schools Career Center as part of their new entrepreneur course curriculum. All signature YEA! events, including the Investor Panel and Graduation, will be hosted by Marymount University.
The Arlington Chamber’s YEA! curriculum includes:
YEA! is a groundbreaking program that transforms high school students into real entrepreneurs. During the semester-long program, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors, obtain funding, and then actually launch and run their own legally-registered, fully-formed companies. YEA! classes are taught and hosted at Arlington Public Schools Career Center as part of their new entrepreneur course curriculum. All signature YEA! events, including the Investor Panel and Graduation, will be hosted by Marymount University.
The Arlington Chamber’s YEA! curriculum includes:
- Work with Arlington business professionals to develop ideas and create an actual business plan and presentation.
- CEO Roundtable – Students meet with local CEOs to learn what it takes to launch and operate a successful business.
- Investor Panel Event – Students pitch their business plan to a panel of investors made up of members of the local business community, who decide which students receive funding to launch their business or social movement.
"I think that YEA! is an amazing opportunity that teaches you not only how to start a business, but the important skills that you'll need later in life, such as public speaking and building connections. ... Throughout my life, I have been enrolled in many after-school programs, but by far YEA! is the most useful and rewarding program that I've ever attended." - Laura Canseco, 2016 YEA! Graduate
Read more about Laura's experience here.
Get Involved
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We're looking for volunteers who mean business.
YEA! offers our members a variety of opportunities to engage with students and share their experience and talents with these budding entrepreneurs. This includes mentoring the students through developing their business plans. Graphic designers also have the opportunity to help create the branding and web presence for a student business startup. There are many other available opportunities to get involved, including volunteering as a mentor or a CEO roundtable panelist or joining the YEA! Booster Committee. For a full list of volunteer opportunities, check out the Community Engagement Packet. Contact Membership Engagement Director, Jennifer Garry, at engagement@arlingtonchamber.org for more information. |
A great way to show your support for the business leaders of tomorrow is by sponsoring or donating to the YEA! program.
This program is a prime representation of the Chamber's overall mission: to foster an economic environment in which local businesses can thrive so that Arlington may be a better place for all who work, live, and do business here. As a Chamber member, you have the opportunity to align your business with the program as a sponsor through personal involvement and a financial contribution. Your generous support will directly transform local students into real business owners, and entrepreneurial success stories, strengthen our business and educational communities, and secure the next generation of business leaders. You can find more information about all of the available opportunities by viewing our sponsorship document. For questions regarding sponsorships, contact Membership Engagement Director, Jennifer Garry, at engagement@arlingtonchamber.org or (703) 525-2400. |
"The YEA! experience is immensely rewarding for mentors and students alike. As a mentor, I learned as much as I taught and found myself continually inspired by a remarkable group of young entrepreneurs." - Greta Menard, YEA! Business Mentor
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Chamber President & CEO Kate Bates and 2017 YEA! graduate Tasnim Alam join WUSA's Great Day Washington to discuss the successes of YEA! and how the program benefits our youth and community.
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2017 YEA! student Tasnim Amin pitches her business, Heatless Hotness, at the YEA! Saunders Scholarship competition in Rochester, NY.
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Thank you to the following Sponsors:
Premier Partners
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University Partner
