Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!)
About YEA!
Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is New York City’s only program of its kind, empowering high school students to turn their ideas into real businesses.
Through a proven, hands-on curriculum and mentorship from local entrepreneurs, educators, business leaders, and community partners, YEA! helps students build confidence, character, and an entrepreneurial mindset. Every class has one clear goal: for each student to successfully launch a business of their own.
Made Possible by Major Sponsors
YEA! Class of 2026
Ayana Afrin, Junior, CSI High School for International Studies
Crystal Chen, Junior, Tottenville High School
Thomas DeStefano, Sophomore, Tottenville High School
Amelia Erenburg, Senior, Notre Dame Academy High School
Lorina Fazliu, Sophomore, New Dorp High School
Victoria Figliolia, Freshman, Staten Island Technical High School
Maxim Hakim, Sophomore, Tottenville High School
Sam Iselevich, Sophomore, Staten Island Technical High School
Alexander Kagan, Senior, Monsignor Farrell High School
Mehakdeep Kang, Junior, Moore Catholic High School
Victor Khobot, Sophomore, Staten Island Technical High School
Zuhaila Kaid, Sophomore, Susan E. Wagner High School
Shawn Kolesnikov, Junior, Staten Island Academy
Ivy Li, Junior, Tottenville High School
Sade Lind, Senior, Curtis High School
Elizabeth Liu, Junior, CSI High School for International Studies
Lilianna Pagan, Junior, Moore Catholic High School
Sofia Rakova, Sophomore, Staten Island Technical High School
Nicolas Ramos, Senior, Curtis High School
Trevor Wilcken, Junior, Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School
Rami Rifi, Junior, Staten Island Academy
Polina Zilber, Senior, Staten Island Technical High School
Meet Previous YEA! Student Winners
-
![]()
2026 Winner: Rami Rifi
Grand Prize Winner & Saunders Scholar Semi-Finalist — Rami Rifi, Staten Island Academy, earned top honors for his nonprofit venture Play Passion Project. A 501(c)(3) organization founded in January 2025, Play Passion Project collects and distributes footwear to individuals in need, addressing a critical gap in the charitable footwear and youth empowerment space that Rifi identified through personal experience and research.
-
![Group of students and teachers posing for a photo in a school hallway or classroom, with history or project posters on the wall behind them.]()
2025 Winner Places First Nationally
In May 2025, Anna Lau, CEO and Founder of Snugshi, won the Young Entrepreneurs Academy national competition, taking home a $5,500 cash prize, a $30,000 scholarship to the Rochester Institute of Technology, a full tuition scholarship to the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship, and the title of America’s Next Top Young Entrepreneur. Click here to read more.
-
![A young woman with long black hair, glasses, and a small necklace, wearing a black blazer over a white top, standing against a plain white wall.]()
2025 Winner: Anna Lau
Anna Lau, a sophomore at Staten Island Technical High School, took the first place spot and earned a $1,500 investment for her business, Snugshi. Snugshi creates heat-able, weighted, and portable stuffed animals that are rechargeable for on-the-go pain management. Click here to read more.
-
![A young woman with shoulder-length brown hair and fair skin, wearing a blue argyle sweater over a white collared shirt, standing against a plain light gray wall, smiling softly at the camera.]()
2024 Winner: Katherine Antonov
New Dorp High School Freshman Katherine Antonov, whose business Kathos creates homemade granola bars, won first place in the 2024 Investor Panel. Read more here.
-
![Young man in a suit standing next to a screen displaying awards from the Saunders Scholars national competition, including semi-finalist recognition for Noah Rozin in the age group Ace of Ages.]()
2023 Winner: Noah Rozin
Noah Rozin, a Grade 9 student at Staten Island Technical High School, pitched “Ace of Ages,” a historical and educational board game that aims to integrate fun into modern-day learning. Rozin received $2,200 to invest in his new business. Click here to read more.
-
![A young man wearing glasses and a black t-shirt with a gold shield logo and the words Privacy Savior standing in front of a sign for the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. There is a white door to his left.]()
2022 Winner: Youwei (Anthony) Zhen
Staten Island Technical High School sophomore Youwei (Anthony) Zhen, who pitched his business PrivacySavior, was the winner of the 2022 Investor Panel. Click here to read more.
-
![A woman wearing glasses and a face mask holding a mask in front of a presentation slide and a TV screen. The slide displays logos and text including M-Tech, ClearSmiles, and the name Emilee Jospey with the date July 30, 2020.]()
2020 Winner: Emilee Jospey
Curtis High School’s Emilee Jospey, who pitched her business M Tech ClearSmiles, was the winner at the 2020 Investor Panel. Click here to read more.
Thanks To Our 2026 Signature Sponsors:
With Generous Support From
Thanks To Our 2026 Scholarship Partners:
Thanks To Our 2026 Investor Panel Sponsors:
Thanks To Our Food Sponsors:
The YEA! Committee:
Eileen Corigliano, Stefanie DeMario-Germerhausen, Fran Reali, Josh Rivera, Mike Sanicola, Rosemarie Scampas, David Sorkin, and Ed Wiseman
Interested in Sponsoring?
Becoming a YEA! sponsor has many benefits, including extensive promotion in the Chamber’s newsletters, website and social media outlets. Sponsorship can also help your business or organization achieve its own strategic goals:
Scholarship Partner Sponsorship: $2,000
One student scholarship in your organization’s name
The opportunity to be a student mentor or a panelist at the CEO Roundtable Event
Exposure and your company logo on Staten Island YEA! materials and the Chamber’s website
Public Recognition of your support as a Scholarship Partner at the YEA! Investor Panel Event and YEA! Graduation
Benefits of Investor Panel Sponsorship: $1,500
An exclusive judging seat at the YEA! Investor Panel event – similar to TV’s “Shark Tank” show
Public recognition of your support at the YEA! Investor Panel event
Exposure and your company logo on Staten Island YEA! materials and the Chamber’s website
Don’t Just Take a Job - Make a Job!
YEA! helps high school students turn big ideas into real businesses. Through hands-on classes, mentorship, field trips, and investor pitch opportunities, students learn how to brainstorm ideas, write a business plan, register their business, and launch a company or social movement.
Program Schedule
YEA! 2026 classes meet Tuesdays from 4:30PM - 7:30PM, December 2025 through April 2026, at the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, 2555 Richmond Ave., Suite 240.
Who Can Apply
NYC high school students in grades 9-12 may apply. Students from public, Catholic, and private schools are welcome. No business experience or existing business idea is required.
Applicants complete an online application, submit a high school transcript, and may be invited for an interview with Chamber staff.
Apply
Start as a student, finish as a CEO. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Click here to apply.