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Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneurs Academy

Over the course of 25 weeks, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) teaches middle and high school students how to start and run their own real business or social movement.

Developed at the University of Rochester in 2004 with the support of a grant from the Kauffman Foundation, YEA! has graduated over 9,000 students across the country who have started over 6,000 businesses and social movements. YEA! graduates start the program as students, and leave as CEOs of their own companies!

Over the course of the program, students:

  • Brainstorm business ideas
  • Write a business plan
  • Interact with business professionals
  • Pitch their business plan to potential investors
  • Obtain funding
  • Legally register their businesses
  • Participate in a trade show
  • Launch their own businesses or social movements

This program offers students the chance to:

  • Develop hands-on entrepreneurial experience
  • Learn about real businesses - why they succeed or fail.
  • Hear from local entrepreneurs.
  • Become more confident in their ideas and abilities.

Interested in learning more about the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneurs Academy, contact Program Director Justine Paradiso. Click here to go to the application page. 

View the full video of our 2020 presentations below and after, click here to view the results.

YEA! Dubuque Area Application
YEA! Dubuque Area Nomination Form
YEA! Dubuque Area Scholarship Application
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