Investor Panel Pitch Event — Young Entrepreneurs pitch to real investors for investment funding to start their businesses. Photo courtesy of amcphotostudios.com

For most students, entrepreneurship is something they read about — a case study or someone else’s success story. YEA! Philadelphia makes it their own, guiding students through building an actual business from the ground up.

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy is a nationally recognized program with a Greater Philadelphia chapter that has been running since 2013 — the first YEA! program in Pennsylvania. Over an academic year, students research a market and write a business plan. Then they pitch it to a panel of real investors for actual funding and launch a business or social movement that is entirely their own.

“YEA! is where a young person stops saying, ‘I have an idea,’ and starts learning how to build something real,” says Joey Mazza, Philadelphia Director of YEA! Philadelphia. “This is not pretend business.”

What Kind of Student Thrives Here?

Students do not need to arrive with a fully formed business idea, a perfect GPA, or a polished presentation. What the program is looking for is something harder to teach.

“We are not looking for a miniature adult wearing a business suit,” Joey says. “We are looking for drive, coachability, curiosity, and follow-through. Give me a young person who keeps asking, ‘Why not?’ and I will show you someone worth betting on.”

Classes run from November through May on Wednesday evenings from 5–8 pm at Eastern University in St. Davids. Enrollment is limited to 18 students and applications for the 2026–2027 academic year are open through September 15, 2026. Tuition is $995, with needs-based scholarships available. For families already exploring after-school programs for the year ahead, YEA! is worth adding to the list..

Three Segments, One Real Business

From November to May, students move through three connected phases — laying the groundwork, building a real plan, and finally launching. Each segment builds directly on the last, ending with a business that’s actually ready to sell.

Segment One: Building the Foundation

The first segment gives students a working foundation in business planning, market research, and financial viability. Students brainstorm alongside classmates, instructors, and volunteers to identify and test ideas. They learn to ask the questions every entrepreneur must answer. Does this solve a real problem? Is there a market? Can it realistically make money or create sustainable impact?

Segment Two: From Idea to Business Plan

After winter break, each student is paired with a local business mentor. Together, they develop a full business plan covering the company name, target customer, competitive landscape, pricing, marketing, and revenue projections. It all leads to the program’s signature investor pitch, where students present to a panel of local investors who commit actual funding based on the quality and viability of each business.

“This is where preparation meets pressure,” Joey says. “Students learn that confidence matters, but confidence without numbers is just noise.”

Segment Three: Launch and Trade Show

After the investor panel, students move into launch mode. They build their online presence, refine their message, and prepare for the final YEA! Trade Show, where they introduce and sell their products or services to the public. Finally, they graduate with something most adults have never completed — a researched, tested, and launch-ready business.

Student Stories That Show What Execution Looks Like

Photo caption: (Left) Om Gagrani, Founder and CEO of Script Masterminds at the YEA! Tradeshow at the Haverford YMCA. (Right) William Frederick, Founder and CEO of Scent-Pop at the YEA! National Pitch Event in Frisco, TX. Photo courtesy of amcphotostudios.com

Om Gagrani developed a board game designed to teach children how to program. He earned investor funding through YEA!, then entered his business in a Penn State LaunchBox competition. There he won the People’s Choice Award and an additional $1,000.

“What stands out about Om is that he did not stop at having a clever idea,” Joey says. “He turned it into a product, identified the audience, explained the value, competed for funding, and continued putting the business in bigger rooms. That is execution.”

William Frederick took his company, Scent-Pop, to the national YEA! competition in 2026. He won both first place and the People’s Choice Award — claiming the title of America’s Next Top Young Entrepreneur.

The program’s impact extends beyond product-based businesses. Nava Khojasteh, a Baldwin School student, founded Perisco through YEA!. Her nonprofit raised more than $5,000 and provided over 150 hours of free math tutoring to underserved students. Nava was among the first honorees of the Young Women of Influence Awards, a partnership between Main Line Parent and YEA! Philadelphia recognizing the next generation of female leaders.

What Parents Don’t Expect

Parents often enroll their child expecting lessons about business plans and marketing. The transformation frequently goes deeper.

“Parents may think they are signing their child up for a business class,” Joey says. “What they often get back is a more confident communicator, a stronger problem-solver, and a young person who understands responsibility and accountability. The business is the vehicle, but growth is the real return.”

“Vienna’s confidence in public speaking has been a huge change. She’s learned to find opportunities in small moments and approach things with creative thinking she hadn’t considered before. Most importantly, she feels like she can really do and accomplish anything. She took what felt like a small idea and made it into something much bigger, and I think that concept is going to push her forward in future endeavors.”

— Gabrielle C., Philadelphia

Students learn to introduce themselves professionally, speak in front of adults, and manage deadlines. They recover from setbacks and make decisions without waiting for someone else to provide every answer. They also learn that founding something means owning everything that comes with it.

“Founder is not a fancy title,” Joey says. “It means you own the problem, the numbers, the customer experience, and the follow-through.”

YEA! Applications Are Open — But Not for Long

Applications for the 2026–2027 academic year are open now to students ages 12–18, with a deadline of September 15, 2026. Enrollment is limited, and interested families are encouraged to begin the process well before the deadline.

“The student who surprises everyone is often the one nobody expected,” Joey says. “Give them a framework, real accountability, mentors who challenge them, and people who believe the work matters. Then get out of the way and watch what they can do.”

If a child has ever tried to sell something, dreamed up a company on a car ride, noticed a problem everyone else ignores, or often asked “Why can’t I?” — it may be time to find out what they are capable of building.

Learn more about the program at yeaphiladelphia.org, explore success stories, or find out why YEA! works for students at every experience level.

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This YEA! Philadelphia story is featured in the Back to School Guide. 
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