Local middle and high school students from the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) class of 2016-17 will reveal 12 new start-up businesses to the public and sell their products and services at the YEA! Trade Show on Sat., May 20, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at South Plains Mall.

The presentation is a culmination of 30 weeks of hard work, resulting in the graduates owning and operating their own businesses.

YEA! students are taught by local entrepreneurs and are introduced to guest lecturers, successful entrepreneurs, and business mentors.  They brainstorm ideas, write business plans then launch their own company or social movement. YEA!’s academic year runs from October to May, with classes meeting every Tuesday from 4:30-7:30 p.m. The program is now currently accepting applications for next year’s YEA! class of 2017-18. To apply, please visit https://yeausa.wufoo.com/forms/z1s0mvj0gb2hwv/.

For questions or more information, call (806) 761-7002 or email amy.marquez@lubbockbiz.org.

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a 501(C) 3 offering groundbreaking year-long classes that teach middle and high school students how to start and run their own businesses. Throughout the class, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors for startup funds, and launch and run their own, fully formed companies and social movements. The project-based program empowers students to take charge of their futures.
                                   
Founded in 2004 at the University of Rochester with support from the Kauffman Foundation, YEA! today serves thousands of students nationwide. In 2011, the United States Chamber of Commerce Foundation became a national sponsor and partner of the Academy to help celebrate the spirit of enterprise among today’s youth and tomorrow’s future leaders.

YEA! bridges the business and educational communities to fulfill its mission of teaching more students how to make a job, not just take a job. YEA! is made possible by The Kauffman Foundation, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the E. Philip Saunders Foundation. For more information, visit yeausa.org.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness and educating the public on how the free enterprise system improves society and the economy.
                               
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club®, a division of Walmart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is a leading membership warehouse club offering savings and services to millions of members in 651 clubs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Sam’s Club offers affordable access to innovative services for families and small business owner, including travel, payroll and HR services, protection plans, legal solutions, cash rewards and more. To learn more about time and money with Sam’s Club visit www.SamsClub.com/services.

Lubbock Chamber of Commerce
The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce represents over 2,000 businesses and over 79,000 employees on the South Plains which accounts for over $2 billion in annual household earnings in Lubbock and West Texas. The Chamber has twice earned the distinguished 5-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is a two-time Chamber of the Year recognized by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Texas Tech Innovation Hub
The Texas Tech University Innovation Hub at Research Park (the Hub) opened in 2015 to assist in the formation of startup companies relevant to today’s local, regional and global economy. Texas Tech is experimenting with new approaches to economic and sustainable development focusing on commercializing and translating research, creating and growing jobs and developing a complete entrepreneurial eco-system with its community, state, and federal partners. Intended as the first of a series of facilities, the Hub, a 40,000 square foot state of the art platinum LEED building equipped with office and wet laboratory facilities is home to robust programs to advance the impact of the region’s economic development efforts. The Hub programs support faculty, students, and local entrepreneurs in early and growth stage companies.

(News release from Young Entrepreneurs Academy)