Join Now

Big Ideas Meet Real Investment

A Night of Big Ideas and Bold Pitches

The future of entrepreneurship in Frisco was on full display as students from the Frisco Chamber Foundation’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) pitched their businesses during the program’s annual Investor Panel.

The Investor Panel marks the culmination of months of work as students move from idea to launch, developing business plans, conducting market research, and preparing investor-ready presentations. Local business leaders serve as judges, awarding real seed funding to help students bring their ventures to life.

$150,000 Invested in Young Entrepreneurs

This year, the judges awarded $10,000 in seed capital, bringing the total investment awarded through YEA! Frisco to $150,000 over the program’s 16-year history. The milestone reflects the community’s continued commitment to cultivating the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and business leaders.
 
The student businesses covered a wide range of ideas, from technology designed to simplify everyday tasks to products that make gardening easier for beginners. Each concept reflects the entrepreneurial mindset students develop through the YEA! program: identifying problems, building solutions, and learning how to launch a business.

Advancing to the National Competition

Two businesses were selected to move forward to the Young Entrepreneurs Academy National Competition in June 2026. Glowga and Bioming Lab will represent YEA! Frisco, while Delphia was named the alternate, should the need arise.
These young entrepreneurs will compete with students from across the country for the title of America’s Top Young Entrepreneur.
 
YEA! Frisco has built an impressive national reputation, with student entrepreneurs earning either first or second place at the national competition for five consecutive years.

YEA! Nationals Coming to Frisco

Adding to the excitement this year, the YEA! National Competition will be held in Frisco, Texas, from June 10 to June 12, 2026, with the Frisco Economic Development Corporation serving as the Host City Sponsor. The event will bring student entrepreneurs from across the nation to Frisco to showcase their ventures and compete on a national stage.

Community Leaders Serving as Judges

The Investor Panel would not be possible without the local business leaders who volunteer their time to evaluate the student pitches and help distribute the investment funding.

Investor Panel Judges:

Jay Bass
Vice President of Investments
RISE Family Office

Christal Howard
President/CEO
Frisco Chamber of Commerce

Sangame Krishnamani
Director of Software Engineering
Capital One

Ramesh Nuti
Founder | Angel Investor
Action EDI

Gopal Ponangi
Founder and President
Shubham Foundation

Caleb Rush
Partner in the Financial Services and Corporate Transactions Practices
Spencer Fane

Krish Sivarajah
YEA! Frisco Alumni
Structural Engineer

Emcee: Trent Greene
YEA! Frisco Alumni
Export Management Operations

Launching the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

The Investor Panel is one of the most anticipated milestones of the YEA! program, which guides middle and high school students through the process of launching real businesses throughout the school year.
 
From brainstorming ideas to registering their companies and pitching investors, students gain hands-on entrepreneurial experience rarely available at such a young age.
 
This week’s event was a powerful reminder that Frisco’s entrepreneurial spirit isn’t just thriving today—it’s already taking root in the next generation.
 
Read more about the businesses created by this year’s class here.
I think you’ll agree – the future looks pretty bright!
Karen's signature
Picture of Karen Kim, IOM

Karen Kim, IOM

Karen Kim currently serves as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Frisco Chamber of Commerce. She has over 20 years of marketing, management, communication, and graphic design experience in a variety of industries. Karen is an avid reader (ask her what she is currently reading and it will make her day!) and loves to write! Her favorite day of the week? Every day! She is a graduate of Leadership Frisco Class XXII and has recently earned an IOM designation through the US Chamber of Commerce. Karen's Top 5 Strengths: Ideation | Significance | Strategic | Learner | Input.

Share This Post

Get our communications

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

More to explore