Burger Biz Finale Burgers

Building the Best Burger at Burger Biz

Janet Redwine Events, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

What’s your favorite burger? YouthBiz teamed up with Park Burger restaurants to present this challenge to middle and high school students.  The result?  A lot of learning, thought, and inspiration, and four of the best-tasting burgers judges have ever tasted! Burger Biz began when 22 students met industry experts over the course of a week.  The group met for two …

Young Americans Bank Logo on Pumpkin

Halloween Fun at Young Americans Bank

Janet Redwine Bank, Events Leave a Comment

Being a bank that’s just for kids means we take Halloween very seriously around here.  Halloween is seriously fun!  Young Americans Bank invites you to participate in any or all of the exciting events we have planned: Spirit Week at Young Americans Bank From Thursday, October 24 through Thursday, October 31, Young Americans Bank staff will be wearing their favorite …

Ryan and Jack Fleming Yard Boyz Youth Business on stage holding check

Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars Winner: Yard Boyz

Janet Redwine Events, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

16-21 Age Category Many teens mow lawns to earn money in the summer. But Jack Fleming has re-defined what it means to be the neighborhood lawn-kid through his business Yard Boyz. In existence since 2015, Jack’s unparalleled customer service, marketing efforts and determination helped him grow his businesses from mowing a few lawns a week to providing lawn and basic landscaping to more than 70 regular clients this …

HER Design Store Products Displayed

Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars Winner: HER Designs

Janet Redwine Events, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

12-15 Age Category Hannah calls herself an accidental entrepreneur, but this “accident” has become called HER Designs. Named after her initials, Hannah’s business sells hair clips, mirrors, pop-socket-like phone holders and mini personal alarms, each customized with her signature rosette. Hannah estimates that she’s sold more than 1,000 hair clips in the four years she has owned her business. Owning a business has enabled Hannah …

Ryder Matz Gumball Machine Iconography

Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars Winner: Ryder’s Riches LLC

Janet Redwine Events, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

6-11 Age Category When Ryder received a gumball machine for his birthday, he decided to start a business: Ryder’s Riches LLC. Ryder’s Traveling Gumball Machine spends time visiting shops and restaurants in the Lafayette, Louisville, and Boulder area, adventuring to a new spot every month or two. The best part about owning a business for Ryder, besides seeing how much money he makes, is being able …

Youth entrepreneurs helped fuel the energy and excitement of Denver Startup Week for a third straight year! Youth Pass, a partnership between Young Americans Center’s YouthBiz program, Junior Achievement and Denver Startup Week, enabled students to participate in event workshops, to lead panel discussions, to compete for cash prizes, and to pitch their business ideas to Colorado entrepreneurs and business leaders throughout the week of September 16-20. YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS SHOUKEN LOPEZ, LUKE ADEN, MIA HAYDEN, MELANIE ZHOU, AND JACK MCCONNELL PITCHED AT THE YOUTH PASS PITCH CHALLENGE. A highlight of the week occurred on Tuesday afternoon with the Youth Pass Pitch Challenge. Mirroring the adult Pitch Challenge, Youth Pass provided an opportunity for youth-owned businesses to pitch to a panel of judges. Four businesses took part: Luke Aden Photography created by Luke Aden, The Teen Entrepreneur created by Shouken Lopez, Katch created by Jack McConnell, and Oasis created by Mia Hayden and Melanie Zhou. Luke, who is a senior at Dakota Ridge High School, felt honored to participate: “The fact that teens have this opportunity is so exciting, and my goal is to hit the ground running whether I win or not.” Vice President of YouthBiz, Anna Leer, watched these entrepreneurs grow throughout the process of preparing for their pitch. “This experience has pushed them way beyond what’s comfortable,” she said. “Watching them grow, think, and develop what they really want for their business has been truly awe-inspiring for me and for everyone involved.” Team Oasis ended up taking top honors at the Youth Pass Pitch Challenge. Inspired to take action after a friend’s suicide, Mia and Melanie created Oasis to provide a physical “Oasis” space in schools for students to seek emotional care. After winning the Youth Pass Pitch Challenge, Oasis went on to compete against 19 other (adult-owned) businesses for a chance at the Denver Startup Week Pitch Challenge Finals. Mia and Melanie wowed the judges again, and they went on to win the Grand Prize Package worth $100,000! HANNAH, THE OWNER OF SIMPLY DENVER SOAP CO., TALKS TO CUSTOMERS AT THE DENVER STARTUP WEEK MARKETPLACE & EXPO. Youth entrepreneurs also participated in the third annual YouthBiz Marketplace and Expo at Denver Startup Week. While some of the 19 participants had long-established businesses, others, like 11-year-old Hannah, made their debut at the event. Hannah’s business, Simply Denver Soap Company, sells all-natural soaps for people with sensitive skin, just like her. For Hannah, talking to people about her products was, “a lot of fun!” She even made a few connections with business owners that would like to sell her soap in their shops. Marketplace visitors were also delighted and impressed with their experience. Entrepreneur and Denver Startup Week Participant Martin Rosenberg wrote on Twitter, “The young entrepreneurs here at #DENStartupWeek‘s Future of Entrepreneurship event were all so impressive, and I can’t thank @yacenter enough for putting this event on. I look forward to buying from all of them.” GABE NAGEL, CHLOE WARREN, CLAIRE FISK, AND EVAN HOING SHARED THEIR INSIGHTS WITH FELLOW MAKERS AT THE DENVER STARTUP WEEK MAKING IT PANEL. Youth Pass 2019 wrapped up with a panel discussion called Making It: Achieve Success in the Maker Movement at Any Age. Four young entrepreneurs led the discussion: Gabe Nagel, creator of Gabe’s Bazaar, Chloe Warren, Co-Owner of Sweet Bee Sisters, Claire Fisk, creator of Wonderful Words, and Evan Hoing, Owner of Evan Hoing Woodworking. In addition to sharing their stories, the entrepreneurs provided inspiration for getting started in the Maker Movement. Claire’s advice was simple: “Say yes! There’s so many opportunities if you just decide to say yes!” Gabe added, “Be persistent. Keep trying and don’t give up.” Through Denver Startup Week Youth Pass, youth entrepreneurs gained real world experience in running a business, pitching an idea and networking with the Colorado business community. And the real value of this week was that adult entrepreneurs could witness and interact with the future of entrepreneurship in our state.

Experience and Inspiration at Denver Startup Week 2019

Janet Redwine Events, YouthBiz 2 Comments

Youth entrepreneurs helped fuel the energy and excitement of Denver Startup Week for a third straight year!  Youth Pass, a partnership between Young Americans Center’s YouthBiz program, Junior Achievement and Denver Startup Week, enabled students to participate in event workshops, to lead panel discussions, to compete for cash prizes, and to pitch their business ideas to Colorado entrepreneurs and business …

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Meet a Mentor: Alice Jackson, President, Xcel Energy – Colorado

Janet Redwine Events, Get Involved, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars, the annual business competition and gala benefitting Young Americans Center for Financial Education is just a few weeks away!  As a result, this month we’re introducing esteemed mentor Alice Jackson, President of Xcel Energy – Colorado.  Jackson joins a group of distinguished Denver-area business people willing to share their experience and knowledge by mentoring an up-and-coming …

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Entrepreneurship Events for Youth at Denver Startup Week

Janet Redwine Events, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

Youth Pass returns to Denver Startup Week for a third straight year!  A collaboration among Young Americans Center for Financial Education, Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain, and Denver Startup Week, YouthBiz allows youth as young as six and as old as twenty to network side-by-side with local entrepreneurs and business leaders.  Students will participate in event workshops, lead panel discussions, compete …

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Meet a Mentor: Leroy Williams, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CyberTeKIQ LLC

Janet Redwine Events, Get Involved, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

This week, we invite you to meet the second of our three distinguished mentors hosting a youth entrepreneur in the Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars business competition.  Leroy Williams is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CyberTeKIQ LLC, a management consulting company that helps businesses understand the technology landscape. Entrepreneurship has defined Williams for as long as he can remember.  As …

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Meet a Mentor: Ryan Beiser, Regional President and Head of Corporate Banking, PNC Bank

Janet Redwine Events, Get Involved, YouthBiz 1 Comment

Every year, the Spotlight on YouthBiz Stars business competition pairs three Denver-area business leaders with three up-and-coming youth entrepreneurs.  The first mentor we are highlighting for this year’s 18th annual competition is Ryan Beiser, PNC regional president and head of Corporate Banking for Colorado. Beiser’s extensive background in business and finance and most importantly, his personal commitment to community engagement and …