How the Program Works

Throughout the program, participants explore their interests and strengths, identify potential business ideas, and work step-by-step toward creating something they can offer to real customers.

Youth learn how to:

• Develop a product or service

• Create a simple business plan

• Identify potential customers

• Calculate startup and operating costs

• Set prices

• Create a business name and brand

• Market their products or services

• Create signs, displays, and promotional materials

• Practice sales and customer service

• Manage basic business finances

• Prepare inventory and supplies

• Communicate professionally with customers

• Evaluate the performance of their business

• Identify ways to improve and grow

Youth businesses may include arts and crafts, handmade jewelry, custom apparel, plants, digital products, creative services, service-based businesses, and other approved products or services.

No previous business experience is required.

Participants do not need to already have a business or even know what they want to sell. Helping youth identify their interests, recognize opportunities, and develop a workable business idea is part of the program.

From an Idea to a Real Business

The Youth Entrepreneurship Program is designed around a simple process:

Idea → Plan → Build → Launch → Sell → Evaluate → Grow

Youth begin by exploring what they enjoy, what they are good at, and what problems they might be able to solve for other people.

From there, participants develop a business idea and begin working through the practical steps required to bring it to life.

Depending on the business they create, youth may purchase materials, make products, prepare inventory, create packaging, develop a business name and logo, design signs and displays, practice their sales pitch, and prepare to interact with customers.

The goal is not simply to complete classroom exercises.

The goal is to build something real.

Learn From Real Entrepreneurs

One of the most important parts of the Youth Entrepreneurship Program is connecting young people with adults who have real-world business experience.

Local entrepreneurs, small business owners, vendors, professionals, and community leaders participate as mentors and guest speakers throughout the program.

They share practical knowledge and personal experience about topics such as:

• Starting a business

• Developing products and services

• Pricing

• Managing money

• Marketing

• Branding

• Sales

• Customer service

• Problem-solving

• Leadership

• Handling setbacks

• Learning from mistakes

• Growing a business

Youth have the opportunity to ask questions and learn directly from people who have actually experienced the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship.

Sometimes the most valuable lesson an entrepreneur can share is not what went right, but what went wrong and what they learned from it.

Real-World Market Experience

A key part of the Youth Entrepreneurship Program is giving participants the opportunity to put what they have learned into practice.

Youth may participate in a live Market Showcase or another approved community selling opportunity where they can present their businesses to real customers.

Participants gain experience:

• Explaining their products or services

• Interacting with customers

• Making sales

• Handling questions

• Receiving feedback

• Solving unexpected problems

• Evaluating how their business performed

• Identifying ways they could improve

This real-world experience transforms entrepreneurship from something youth simply hear about into something they have actually done.

Prizes and recognition may also be awarded to outstanding youth businesses based on factors such as creativity, preparation, presentation, customer service, and overall business performance.

More Than Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is the vehicle, but the skills youth develop extend far beyond business.

Participants have opportunities to strengthen:

• Confidence

• Communication

• Creativity

• Financial literacy

• Problem-solving

• Decision-making

• Responsibility

• Leadership

• Customer service

• Perseverance

• Time management

• Goal setting

• Professionalism

• Resilience

At Thrivival Academy, we believe many of the qualities young people already possess can become tremendous strengths when they are given direction and purpose.

Creativity can become innovation.

Hustle can become entrepreneurship.

People skills can become salesmanship.

Problem-solving can become leadership.

Our goal is to give young people a safe environment where they can discover those strengths, develop them, and learn how to use them to create positive and productive opportunities for themselves.

Completely Free for Youth and Families

The Youth Entrepreneurship Program is completely free for participating youth and their families.

Thrivival Academy provides program instruction, mentorship, supplies, snacks, business development resources, and other support needed to help participants develop their businesses.

We believe a family's financial circumstances should not prevent a young person from having the opportunity to discover what they are capable of creating.

But keeping this program free is only possible because of the generosity of individuals, businesses, and community partners who choose to invest in young people.

Sponsor a Youth Entrepreneur

One of the most direct ways you can support the Youth Entrepreneurship Program is by helping provide business seed funding for a young entrepreneur.

Seed funding gives participants the resources necessary to take their business idea off the page and turn it into something real.

Depending on the youth's business, seed funding may help purchase:

• Raw materials

• Inventory

• Packaging

• Business supplies

• Equipment or tools

• Product displays

• Signs

• Marketing materials

• Other approved startup expenses

Your donation does more than pay for a class.

It gives a young person the resources to build something of their own.

By sponsoring a youth entrepreneur's business seed fund, you help turn an idea into an actual product, service, or business experience.

Sponsor a Youth Entrepreneur or Donate to the Program

Thrivival Academy is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Eligible donations are tax deductible.

In-Kind Donations Are Welcome

Financial donations are not the only way to support the Youth Entrepreneurship Program.

We also appreciate in-kind donations that help reduce our operating expenses and allow us to put more of our resources directly toward youth and their businesses.

Common program needs include:

• Individually packaged snacks

• Bottled water and beverages

• Office and classroom supplies

• Printer paper and ink

• Craft and business materials

• Packaging materials

• Poster board and signage supplies

• Storage supplies

• Cleaning supplies

• Market display materials

• Other general program operating supplies

You can also support Thrivival Academy by purchasing items we regularly need through our Amazon Wish List.

View Thrivival Academy's Amazon Wish List

Every donated item helps us reduce program expenses and continue offering the Youth Entrepreneurship Program completely free to participating families.

If your business has products, materials, equipment, snacks, supplies, or other resources you believe could benefit the program, please contact us. We are happy to discuss whether they can be used by our youth entrepreneurs.

Apply for an Upcoming Session

Thrivival Academy intends to offer Youth Entrepreneurship Program sessions throughout the year.

Parents and guardians interested in having their child participate can download and complete our Youth Entrepreneurship Program application.

The program is open to youth ages 13–18 who are interested in learning, creating, and developing a business.

Participants do not need previous business experience, and they do not need to already have a business idea.

How to Apply

1. Download the Youth Entrepreneurship Program application below.

2. Complete the application with your child.

3. Email the completed application to findyourpurpose@thrivivalacademy.com.

[Download the Youth Entrepreneurship Program Application]

Applications may be submitted at any time for consideration for a future session.

Submitting an application does not guarantee placement in a particular session. Thrivival Academy will contact parents or guardians regarding upcoming sessions and available spaces.

When Is the Next Session?

Program dates and enrollment periods vary throughout the year.

For announcements about upcoming Youth Entrepreneurship Program sessions, application deadlines, Market Showcases, and other Thrivival Academy opportunities, follow us on Facebook.

Follow Thrivival Academy on Facebook

Become a Mentor

Young people benefit tremendously from having access to adults who have built businesses, sold products, worked with customers, managed money, solved problems, and learned from experience.

We invite local entrepreneurs, business owners, vendors, professionals, and community members to volunteer as Youth Entrepreneurship Program mentors.

You do not have to own a large company or have decades of business experience.

If you have started a business, sold a product, provided a service, worked with customers, developed a brand, managed finances, marketed a company, or learned valuable lessons through entrepreneurship, you may have knowledge that could make a meaningful difference in a young person's life.

Volunteer as a Youth Entrepreneurship Program Mentor

Become a Guest Speaker

We also welcome entrepreneurs, business professionals, and subject-matter experts who would like to share their knowledge with participants.

Guest speakers can help youth understand specific areas of entrepreneurship while exposing them to different businesses, careers, industries, and paths to success.

Possible topics include:

• Starting a business

• Branding

• Marketing

• Sales

• Customer service

• Budgeting

• Pricing

• Business law

• Taxes

• Social media

• Product development

• Leadership

• Overcoming setbacks

• Lessons learned through entrepreneurship

You do not need a perfect success story.

Sometimes hearing how someone failed, adapted, and tried again can teach a young entrepreneur more than hearing about success alone.

Become a Youth Entrepreneurship Program Guest Speaker

Continuing the Journey

Completing the Youth Entrepreneurship Program does not necessarily have to be the end of a participant's business.

Youth who create a business they want to continue may receive additional guidance from Thrivival Academy, with the involvement of their parent or guardian, as they explore the next steps toward operating independently.

Depending on the needs of the youth and their business, this may include helping families understand topics such as:

• Business registration

• Record keeping

• Permits and licensing

• Business banking

• Taxes

• Business structures

• LLC formation

• Continuing to sell products or services

Our goal is not simply to help a young person create something for one afternoon.

Our goal is to help them discover that they are capable of creating opportunities for themselves.

Help Us Build the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

The Youth Entrepreneurship Program is completely free because members of our community make it possible.

There are many ways to help:

• Sponsor a youth entrepreneur's business seed fund

• Make a financial contribution

• Donate snacks or operating supplies

• Purchase needed items from our Amazon Wish List

• Volunteer as a mentor

• Serve as a guest speaker

• Connect us with local entrepreneurs and businesses

• Share the program with families who may benefit

Every contribution helps give a young person the opportunity to take an idea and turn it into something real.

Help us give young people the opportunity not just to learn about business, but to build one.

Donate to the Youth Entrepreneurship Program

Follow Thrivival Academy on Facebook

[Download the Youth Entrepreneurship Program Application]