Young Entrepreneurs Academy Lakeville Developing Tomorrow’s Business Leaders Today!
The Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce and Lakeville Area School District 194 are excited to announce the 2017-18 Young Entrepreneurs Academy. We are the only YEA program in the state of Minnesota!YEA! is a groundbreaking program that will take Lakeville students (grades 6 – 12) through the process of starting a launching a real business or social movement over the course of an academic year. By the end of the class, students own and operate fully-formed and functioning businesses, which may be carried after their graduation from the program. YEA! aims at teaching students at an early age how to make a job, not just take a job.Founded in 2004 at the University of Rochester with support from the Kauffman Foundation, today the Young Entrepreneurs Academy is a proud national partner of the United States Chamber of Commerce and Campaign for Free Enterprise and can be found in communities nationwide.
YEA! guides students through the process of fulfilling their very own American dream. By bridging the business and educational communities students are taught by trained instructors, and are exposed to guest lecturers, successful entrepreneurs and mentors. Over the course of the program, studentsOver the course of the program, students:
Brainstorm business ideas
Write a business plan
Interact with business professionals
Attend field trips for a behind-the-scenes look at local businesses
Pitch their business plan to potential “investors” for start up funding. (Think Shark Tank meets the Apprentice)
Opportunity to advance to regional and national competitions.
Legally register their businesses
Participate in a local YEA! Trade Show
Launch their own businesses or social movements
Graduate from the program with lifelong leadership and business skills
Organization of ProgramYEA! classes will meet October through May, for three hours weekly. Applications will be accepted from students in grades 6-12.There are no classes during regular school holidays and recesses. Students are taught by an instructor, but are exposed to guest lecturers, successful entrepreneurs and business mentors. The class goes on field trips to a variety of local businesses. Finally, the students participate in three major events throughout the year: the Investor Panel, Trade Show and a formal graduation ceremony.Why Apply?This program offers students the chance to:
Develop the skills necessary to launch their own business or social movement (hands-on entrepreneurial experience!)
Learn about real businesses – why they succeed or fail.
Hear from local entrepreneurs.
Launch their own business or social movement!
Become more confident in their ideas and their abilities.
Student Selection ProcessTo apply for YEA! students must:
Fill out the YEA! application YEA Lakeville Click Here to Download YEA! Lakeville 2017-18 Student Application
Complete the essay and the short answer questions
Submit their transcripts
Submit a letter of recommendation
Once the completed application packet is received, students will be asked to come in for an interview. Acceptance in the program is based on all aspects of an application, as well as the personal interview. 24 Students will be admitted to the program. Prior experience with business is not required! Find more information at www.yealakeville.com.
How Business Professionals Can Get InvolvedThrough their interactions with business professionals during the year, YEA! students gain some of the most important knowledge and experience they need to succeed. Local professionals volunteer their time and expertise as guest speakers, mentors, investors, graphic designers, field trip hosts, business plan reviewers, and much more. The time YEA! students spend with adults who encourage their futures is invaluable, and participants often report getting even more out of their participation than they put in to it!If you are interested in becoming involved with YEA! as a guest speaker, field trip host, or volunteer, contact Tim Roche at 952-469-2020 or email at tim@lakevillechambercvb.org.
