Hyderabad: Hyderabad is pleased to bring the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) to the area to transform middle and high school students into business owners as part of a weekly entrepreneurship education class beginning this summer. YEA! is a cutting-edge program that takes students ages 11 to 18 through the process of starting and launching a real business or social movement over the course of an academic year. By the end of the class, students own and operate fully-formed and functioning businesses, which may be carried on after their graduation from the program.
“The Young Entrepreneurs Academy will help Hyderabad to fulfill its goal of supporting small business development in the area by training future leaders and helping them to establish strong, lasting relationships with their hometown business community,” says Gayle Jagel, Founder and CEO of YEA! USA.
The program will enhance business education for students and provide a unique, challenging and fulfilling experience for all participants, including the marquee guest speakers and mentors that are excited to partner with YEA! again this year. After successful completion of the program in year one at some of the top schools in India, including American School of Bombay, Cathedral School, and Shri Ram School, we are excited to be expanding to two additional cities, bringing the total up to four cities within a year and a half of launch. YEA! India currently operates in Mumbai and Dubai, with the addition of Hyderabad this month at the Glendale Academy, and debuting in Bangalore in August 2017 at the Bangalore International School.
“YEA! offers a unique model that helps bridge the business and academic communities together, while creating meaningful ties to the area for students. We are excited about launching this expansion in the Hyderabad community,” says Jagel. “YEA! aims to teach students at an early age how to make a job, not just take a job,” adds Jagel. “Young entrepreneurs with the right training can become a powerful force of innovative thinkers and even employers.”
YEA! India reinforces this sentiment by sponsoring several deserving students from Teach for India so that they can have a larger impact on the youth throughout India. Additionally, the program is currently sponsored by Bank of Baroda and Luxor, companies that believe in the mission of fostering entrepreneurship in our youth and that will be providing funding for student ideas at the investor panel.
Throughout the program, students will brainstorm and form their business ideas, and make pitches to investors for startup funding for their businesses or social movements. Mentors and local entrepreneurs across a variety of industries, such as graphic design, web development, law, accounting, retail, manufacturing, technology and more are invited to support the students throughout the hands-on curriculum as mentors, field trip hosts or guest lecturers. Past YEA! graduates from the programs throughout India have been featured in leading media publications such as Economic Times, DNA, and Hindustan Times, a true testament to the real success that these young students are having with their businesses during and after the completion of the program.
“One of the interesting components of YEA! is the ‘behind the scenes’ knowledge that local business leaders are able to share with students. Community support will strengthen the program, and the Academy aims to strengthen the community,” says Namita Thapar of YEA! India. The students will also gain skills that they can apply to any field they choose to enter, and will have the foundation to become future leaders of their industries.”
