The mission of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce is to protect and promote commerce through advocacy, resources, and connections.
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, or YEA!, is a groundbreaking educational program that takes students ages 11 to 18 through the process of starting and running real businesses/social movements over the course of a full academic year.
Students work in close cooperation with local industry leaders, community members, and educators to develop ideas and objectives, write business plans, pitch to potential investors, register with governmental agencies, develop their brand identity, participate in a tradeshow, and much more!
The Frisco Chamber of Commerce was the first chamber of commerce in Texas to offer the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. YEA! was originally launched at the University of Rochester in 2004. With support from the Kauffman Foundation in 2008, YEA! spun off from the university level and was offered to local chambers of commerce to help bridge the gap between an area’s education and business communities. YEA! continues on a path of sustained growth, and is well on its way to making experiential entrepreneurship education available to students in each and every corner of our great country. YEA! continues to empower each and every student across the nation to embrace their passion, live their dream, and change the world!
For additional information, please contact Roz Righetti, Office Manager at the Frisco Chamber of Commerce.
Our program is successful because of our industry partners. There are several opportunities to volunteer as mentors, guest speakers, participate in the CEO roundtable, or be the host of a cool field trip. Contact us today to learn how you can get plugged in.
Mentors serve in an advisory role, working with our young CEOs, reviewing their business plans and financials, and helping hone their individual pitches in preparation for a shark-tank-like investor panel where they compete for real money.
Mentor training and initial meetings with student CEOs will take place in January each year. Mentors work with students on Tuesday evenings beginning in January, through the Investor Panel in March. Interested in mentoring? Please let us know of your interest here , and our program managers will contact you.
YEA!’s direct mission is to help students embrace their passion, energy, creativity and talents, launch a venture, and view entrepreneurship as synonymous with success and freedom.
Students learn to make a job–not just take a job!
By the end of the class, students own and operate fully functioning businesses that can be carried on after graduation.
Each year, YEA! Frisco students compete locally in an “Investor Panel” competition. The winner of that event moves on to the national competition.
Saunders Competition Winners
2024: Sowmya Nandyala -1st Place, Diya Balagopal -2nd Place
2023: Siddarth Nandyala – 2nd Place
2022: Sajani Silla & Stephanie Gallagher – 2nd Place
2021: Rudy Arora – 1st Place
2020: Gurnoor Narula – 1st Place
The application is now closed for the 2025/26 school year. Applications will be available in May 2026 for the 2026/27 school year.
Students who have been invited to participate in the 2025/2026 YEA! program will have a mandatory student and parent meeting on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 from 4:45 PM to 7:30 PM at the Frisco ISD Admin Bldg. located at 5515 Ohio Drive, Frisco TX 75035.
