Frisco Chamber of Commerce

Frisco Young Entrepreneurs Academy

Embrace Your Passion. Live Your Dream. Change the World

Mission Statement

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.

Goals

Students learn to make a job–not just take a job!

Value

By the end of the class, students own and operate fully functioning businesses that can be carried on after graduation.

Success Stories

Industry Involvement

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.

Program

SPONSOR
$ 10,000
  •  

Innovator

SPONSOR
$ 5,000
  •  

Investor

PANEL JUDGE
$ 2,500
  •  

Get Involved

To explore how you can make a difference through sponsorship or volunteering, please contact info@friscochamber.com, so we can help get you plugged in.

About the Program

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.

Redefining Entrepreneurship Education

YEA! Saunders Competition

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

Community Partners

Contact Us

Photo of Roz

Roz Righetti

Office Manager
Frisco Chamber of Commerce

Peter Burns

Committee Chair
The Bridge Delivery Service

Frisco Chamber of Commerce

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