Applications for the Class of 2026 are now open!

Group of students and teachers in a classroom or school hallway celebrating, with some holding flowers and smiling.

Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!)

About YEA!

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is the only one of its kind in New York City. YEA!’s mission is to develop and deliver experience-based entrepreneurship programs to young people to:

  • Enable them to transition successfully to adulthood

  • Help them to pursue their dreams by harnessing their creativity and energy

  • Help them transform their ideas into tangible enterprises that create economic and social value for a better world

  • Develop the character of tomorrow’s leaders based on personal principles and values

  • Enable educational institutions and Chambers of Commerce to provide successful and effective entrepreneurship programs for middle and high school students

  • Create a culture of innovation in schools and communities across the nation

  • Foster the entrepreneurial mindset in young people, educators, and community members

YEA! provides a focused introduction to the business world, combining a dynamic, proven curriculum with the experiences of local leaders of industry, community members, educators and entrepreneurs. The goal of all YEA! classes is for each student to successfully launch their own business.

ConEdison logo with blue text and graphic symbol.

The YEA! Program is made possible by Signature Sponsor Con Edison.

Meet Previous YEA! Student Winners

  • 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.

YEA! Class of 2025

Hideki Aizu, Staten Island Academy, 11th Grade

Hideki Aizu, Staten Island Academy, 11th Grade

Binting Chen, Staten Island Technical High School, 11th Grade

Binting Chen, Staten Island Technical High School, 11th Grade

Liam Ferguson, Richmond Prep Charter School, 8th Grade

Liam Ferguson, Richmond Prep Charter School, 8th Grade

Breanna Foster, CSI High School for International Studies, 11th Grade

Breanna Foster, CSI High School for International Studies, 11th Grade

Adam Gertskis, Tottenville High School, 11th Grade

Adam Gertskis, Tottenville High School, 11th Grade

Polina Gomerova, Tottenville High School, 10th Grade

Polina Gomerova, Tottenville High School, 10th Grade

Chen Xi He, Staten Island Technical High School, 11th Grade

Chen Xi He, Staten Island Technical High School, 11th Grade

Anna Lau, Staten Island Technical High School, 10th Grade

Anna Lau, Staten Island Technical High School, 10th Grade

Aidin Marke, Staten Island Technical High School, 11th Grade

Aidin Marke, Staten Island Technical High School, 11th Grade

Marializ Michel Perez, Curtis High School, 12th Grade

Marializ Michel Perez, Curtis High School, 12th Grade

Gabriella Shalmiyev, Staten Island Technical High School, 11th Grade

Gabriella Shalmiyev, Staten Island Technical High School, 11th Grade

Jayden Wu, New Dorp High School, 10th Grade

Jayden Wu, New Dorp High School, 10th Grade

Chloe Yuen, Tottenville High School, 11th Grade

Chloe Yuen, Tottenville High School, 11th Grade

Russell Zhao, CSI High School for International Studies, 10th Grade

Russell Zhao, CSI High School for International Studies, 10th Grade

View footage from our 2024 CEO Roundtable

Courtesy of Community Media of Staten Island

Thanks To Our 2025 Signature Sponsor:

ConEdison logo with blue stylized 'C' and the company name in blue text

With Generous Support From

Political campaign logos for Jessica Scarcella-Spanton for NY State Senate and David Carr for City Council.

Thanks To Our 2025 Scholarship Partners:

Logo for AVID Architecture featuring a hammer, a screwdriver, and a ruler in a circle with advocacy slogans around the edge.
Chick-fil-A logo with red cursive text and a small stylized chicken head in red.
Rab Wilkinson Foundation logo featuring a red crown and black text.
Northfield Bank logo in blue and green colors.
Logo with stylized initials 'L' and 'P' in red and white on a black circle background, with the name 'Lynne Persing' written below.
Logo for PCCS Person Centered Care Services with stylized figures and text

Thanks To Our 2025 Investor Panel Sponsors:

Amazon logo with black text and an orange arrow curved from the letter 'a' to the letter 'z'.
Logo with a grey hand holding a red heart, with text 'The LOIS & RICHARD NICOTRA Foundation' and slogans 'For Staten Island. For the Future.' and 'For our Employees. For our Employees.'
Valpak logo with two green and blue arrows forming a recycling symbol above the company name.
Logo for America's SBDC in New York featuring the text 'AMERICA'S SBDC NEW YORK' with a star above the 'A' in America.
National Grid logo with blue text
The emblem of Staten Island Academy featuring a quill, a tree, a burning torch, and a bowl with a flame, with the words 'LIBERTAS INTEGRITAS DECORA' and the year 1884.
Rotary Club of Staten Island logo with the Rotary International gear emblem and text.
Broadway Stages logo with black background, white uppercase text

Thanks To Our Media Sponsors:

A circular logo with a black background and white text that reads 'Community of Staten Island Media.' The word 'MEDIA' features a film clapperboard icon with rainbow-colored stripes. The logo has a blue and green gradient in the middle, giving a sense of digital media or broadcast.
Logo with the text 'MOVING PICTURES' in dark blue font.

Thanks To Our Food Sponsors:

Logo of Ronnie's Sandwich Shoppe with black text outlined in red.
Chick-fil-A logo with red script and a stylized chicken head icon.
Logo for Moving Pictures with dark blue text, featuring the word 'MOVING' in large letters and 'PICTURES' below in smaller font.
Logo of Paris Baguette Bakery Cafe featuring a navy blue circle with the letters 'P B' in the center and the words 'Paris Baguette Bakery Cafe' around the perimeter.
Sign for Rustic Pizza & Pasteria in red, green, and white colors.
The Starbucks logo featuring a green circle with a white mermaid with flowing hair and a crown.
Logo for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, featuring the text and a globe icon.
Jersey Mike's Sub restaurant logo with red and white text on a blue oval background, outlined in red, stating 'Since 1956 Jersey Mike's Subs'.
Logo for Inforn Promotions with black text on a white background
QDOBA Mexican Eats logo with orange and green text.
Banner promoting Young Entrepreneurs Academy with diverse smiling students and colorful background

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! guides students through the process of fulfilling their very own American dream. By bridging the business and educational communities, students are taught by trained instructors, and are exposed to guest lecturers, successful entrepreneurs, and mentors. Over the course of the program, students:

  • Brainstorm business ideas

  • Write a business plan

  • Interact with business professionals

  • Attend field trips for a behind-the-scenes look at local businesses

  • Pitch their business plan to local investors for startup funding and the opportunity to advance to a national competition.

  • Legally register their businesses

  • Launch and run their own business or social movement

  • Graduate from the program with lifelong leadership and business skills

Calendar 

YEA! 2025 classes will meet from 4:30PM - 7:30PM on Tuesdays from December 2024 – April 2025. Classes are scheduled to take place at the Chamber’s office at 2555 Richmond Ave., Suite 240.

Student Selection Process

Staten Island high school students in grades 9 through 12 from public, catholic, or private schools may apply for acceptance into the YEA! program by completing an online application, which includes short-answer questions and the submission of the applicant’s high school transcript. Applicants must live in New York City. 

Once the completed YEA! application is received, students will be contacted by a member of the SI Chamber staff and invited to attend an interview for potential program admission. Acceptance into the YEA! program is based on all aspects of the completed application as well as the personal interview. Prior business experience is not required, nor is it required to have a business idea prior to the start of class.

Apply

Start as a student, finish as a CEO! High school students in grades 9 through 12 are eligible to apply. This program offers students the chance to:

  • Develop hands-on entrepreneurial experience to launch their own business or social movement

  • Connect with local entrepreneurs

  • Pitch to a panel of investors for startup funding

  • Gain confidence in their ideas, abilities and presentation skills

Applications for the 2024 class are now open. Click here to apply. Please contact Danielle Wiseman at dwiseman@sichamber.com for more application information.

Get Involved

Share your business wisdom with aspiring young entrepreneurs and help them get started on the path to success! We’re seeking expert professionals to volunteer their time as guest speakers, mentors, investors, graphic designers, field trip hosts, business plan reviewers, and more. The time YEA! students spend with adults who encourage their futures is invaluable, and you can play an important role in guiding our future leaders.

If you are interested in getting involved with YEA! and being inspired by your community’s great young minds, please contact Danielle Wiseman at (718) 727-1900 ext. 1001 or e-mail at dwiseman@sichamber.com.

Contact Us 

For more information, please contact Danielle Wiseman at (718) 727-1900 ext. 1001 or e-mail her at dwiseman@sichamber.com.