What is the Young Entrepreneurs Program?

The Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) helps teens build real-world business skills through classroom lessons and hands-on experience. Participants explore entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and decision-making while learning from Fresno Chamber of Commerce business partners who mentor them throughout the program. YEP follows an official curriculum for school credit approved by the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools office.

What do Young Entrepreneurs do?

Students begin by learning basic business concepts, then they move on to more advanced principles that they use to strategize how to create a start-up. For example, they learn how to analyze the market, assess competitors, evaluate costs, and explore funding options. They use these lessons to develop their own unique start-up ideas.

Benefits of being a Young Entrepreneur

• YEP students gain practical knowledge about launching and running a business from experienced professionals.

• They apply what they learn to their own business plans, expanding their communication and critical-thinking skills.

• Students showcase their completed plans in a competition, with prizes from Chamber partners.

How can my business sponsor the Young Entrepreneurs Program?

To learn how your company can become a sponsor, please contact Gena Behrens at (559) 495-4810 or email gbehrens@fresnochamber.com