Young Entrepreneurs Academy! (YEA!)
YEA Investors Panel
The 15th Annual YEA Investors Panel was held March 21 during which 18 student businesses were awarded a total of $6,300. The business chosen to move on to the YEA Saunders Scholars Competition at Rochester Institute of Technology is Expressive Echo Tutoring created by Roman P. The first runner up is J 'ND J Marketing established by Jake I., Nick S., Drew H., Jack S., and Maya P., and the second runner up is On The Line by Juliana F.
YEA transforms students into real, confident entrepreneurs. Throughout the year-long program, Webster Schroeder and Webster Thomas high school students generate business ideas, conduct market research, and write business plans as they prepare to launch their businesses into the world.
The Investors Panel provides the young entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their businesses in Shark Tank-style to a panel of investors. The businesses that presented were: JJS Services, J ‘ND J Marketing, WanderShare App, BackLinked, Meeson Embroidery, Culinary Revolution, Volt Energy, Elevate Wallets, Addie’s Beaded Boutique, Revolt Energy, LC Welding & Repair, Western Landscapes, MJR Auto Detailing, Expressive Echo Tutoring, Smart Planning, M & M Athletics, On the Line, and 2 Man.
Thank you to this year’s YEA investor panelists: Bill Boulter - Boulter Industries; Barry Howard - Webster Chamber of Commerce; Jerry Christopher - State Farm; Brian Neenan - Webster CSD; John Gabriele - Marina Dodge; Ben Austin - West Herr; May S. Chiccino - Family First Credit Union; Brian Benedict - Reliant Credit Union; Webster Schroeder FBLA - Annabelle Weis; and Webster Thomas FBLA - Adam Watson.
The Webster YEA! student(s) receiving the largest investment at the Investor's Panel will advance to the finals of the YEA Saunders Scholars Bright Ideas college scholarship competition to be held in June. There they will vie for one of three scholarship awards ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 to Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and an opportunity to display their product or service at Imagine RIT: Innovation Creativity Festival.
