An entrepreneur’s journey often begins with a keen eye for identifying problems others overlook. Fueled by curiosity and determination, entrepreneurs delve into understanding the root cause, brainstorming innovative solutions, and crafting a vision to address the issue effectively. The path is rarely straightforward, marked by challenges and setbacks that test their resolve. Yet, with each obstacle, they refine their approach, pivoting when necessary and persisting with unwavering commitment. Ultimately, their relentless pursuit brings a solution to the problem and inspires change, creating ripples that transform industries and improve lives.
Now imagine being a middle or high school student embarking on this adventure. This journey is all possible through the Frisco Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), a program of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce and the Frisco Chamber Foundation in partnership with Frisco ISD and the Frisco Economic Development Corporation. YEA! is entering its 15th year and is open to middle and high school students. The program is led by dedicated business leaders and successful entrepreneurs who work with the students turned CEOs throughout the school year to help them create real businesses or social movements.
Each Spring, YEA! Frisco holds a local investor panel competition, where the young CEOs compete for real seed money and are judged by a panel of local investors. The winner then goes on to the YEA! National Competition in Rochester, New York, to compete for additional funding, college scholarships, and the title “America’s Top Young Entrepreneur.”
In May 2024, Gayle Jagel, Founder/CEO of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, extended an invitation to the YEA! Frisco program to bring not one, but three businesses to compete in the national competition in honor of YEA’s 20th anniversary and Frisco’s long-term commitment to the program. And compete they did! Students from the Frisco program claimed the top two spots, winning both first and second place overall at the national level.
“This program is among one of our most impactful offerings. Guided by dedicated local business community volunteers, students gain life-changing skills that undoubtedly pave the way for future success. We fully expect to see many of these students become successful business owners in adulthood and top talent recruits for our local employers’,” said Christal Howard, President/CEO of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce.
YEA! Frisco Program Manager Peter Burns often remarks that he envisions a future where he drives along the tollway and sees a former YEA! student’s business name atop one of the tallest buildings in Frisco.
YEA! Frisco CEOs have been featured locally and nationally in the news and on programs such as Good Morning America. Many past YEA! graduates are currently negotiating business contracts that would make their adult counterparts envious. The Frisco Chamber is proud that for the four years prior, the YEA! Frisco program produced two first-place national winners and two second-place national winners, a testament to the dedication of the volunteers and commitment to hard work by the student CEOs.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2024-2025 school year. Students do not need to come to the YEA! program with an entrepreneurial idea; they just need curiosity and a desire to work hard and learn. Entrepreneurs wanting to help shape the future can also reach out to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
