YEA! Invest in youth entrepreneurship

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a program for our local students to learn entrepreneurial skills that can last a lifetime! 

Through the 24-week program, students in grades 6-12 generate business ideas, conduct market research, write business plans, pitch to a panel of investors, and launch their very own companies.

Impact

YEA! Richland is a life-changing program that positively impacts the entire community. From exciting local business to dynamic field trips to local companies, students learn how to develop and run a real enterprise in a fun, projects-based approach.

YEA! Richland provides a focused introduction to the business world, combining a dynamic, proven curriculum with the experiences of local leaders of industry, community members, educators and entrepreneurs. The goal of YEA! is for each student to successfully launch their own business that will operate long after the program ends.

Since 2016, 54 students have graduated from the program, 52 businesses were launched with a total of $32,655 dollars invested.

With an established network of professionals, and a viable business, there is a likelihood the participants will remain or return to Richland County following their education.

Use of Funds

By contributing to the Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Richland County, your funds will go towards to the support of the program and students in multiple ways. 

Each year our goal is to make sure the students we select can take part in the program without the worry of paying the YEA! tuition of $345 per student. Through Richland Gives, we are able to provide scholarships to students that show financial need so that they can take part in this beneficial program. Also, each of these students will be pitching their businesses at the YEA! Investor Panel event in the spring in hopes of receiving start up funding to launch their businesses. A portion of donated funds will go to the support of student businesses that were created through the YEA! program. 

Donate Now

Donate now to support entrepreneurial growth in the Richland County community. These brilliant young people invest time over the course of six months to learn, build, and launch their own businesses. It is through the support of this community that our young people see that they can thrive and make a difference in Richland County.