Hello Polk Scholastic Chess Club Members,

We are excited to share a terrific opportunity for Polk Scholastic Chess in Polk County. The Young Entrepreneurs Academy is a groundbreaking and exciting after-school program that transforms middle and high school students across America into real, confident entrepreneurs. In fact, several Polk Scholastic Chess Club Champions graduated from the 2016-17 YEA! program this past year – Nandan Patel, Pierce Meyer, and Niriham Shah. They are successful teen entrepreneurs. Nandan’s company, Attachables, finds solutions to everyday problems. Nandan intends to continue his business while attending college. Pierce, also, will continue his business called Math Is Reality during his first year at Florida Polytechnic University. Pierce’s business offers online advanced math courses. Niriham continues to grow his business, BusWiz – a bus tracking app, to launch the end of summer before schools begins. - Niriham went on to the YEA finals at Rochester, NY.

Through the year long program, students in grades 6-12 generate business ideas, conduct market research, write business plans, pitch to a panel of investors, secure real funding and launch their very own, fully formed, legally registered companies that they continue running after graduation.

From exciting local business guest lecturers to dynamic field trips to local companies, access to legendary entrepreneurs as mentors and advisers, students learn how to successfully develop, launch and run a real enterprise in a fun, projects-based approach.

Since its inception in 2004 YEA! has graduated more than 6,000 students, who have launched more than 4,000 real businesses in America. The Academy is excited to share this exciting opportunity with the Polk Scholastic Chess Club and their families, and as a special incentive for Polk Scholastic Chess Club, YEA! is waiving the application fee. Apply to YEA! online at yeausa.org, and use the promo-code "YEA2018".

We are looking forward to seeing more Polk Scholastic Chess Club members "start as a student, and graduate as a CEO!"

Warm regards,

Rebecca Fortier

YEA! Polk Program Manager
Director of Programs & Events
Lakeland Chamber of Commerce
rfortier@lakelandchamber.com
www.lakelandchamber.com
(863) 688-8551, x 229