Custom dog collars, cupcakes, shoe cleaners and homemade lip gloss. These were just some of the businesses presented at the Young Entrepreneurs Academy trade show Saturday morning.
Originally founded in 2004 at the University of Rochester, the Academy is now a worldwide organization developing and delivering experience-based entrepreneurship programs to young people.
After months of developing business plans, meeting with community leaders and presenting their ideas to a panel of investors 21 new startups, both for and nonprofit, revealed their businesses to the public.
Grace Czechowski, Client Service Associate for the Academy says it’s humbling to watch the students grow over the course of the year.
"Just their confidence level, their self-esteem, their ability to talk to people. I had an 11 year old girl come up to me, shake my hand and start telling me about her cupcake business. And for an 11 year old to be doing that is just really phenomenal."
Many of the student’s products will be available at local retailers and farmers markets.
Czechowski says the goal is to show kids what hard work can achieve, and help them discover work they’re passionate about.
"It’s not just about the business skills you really see a change in the students over the course of the year. Just the way they carry themselves."
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy is now in the process of recruiting for next year’s class of students, age 11-18. You can find out more at yeausa.org.