Future Founders

Future Founders Future Founders® believes every youth can become an entrepreneur. We immerse youth in experiences that inspire and empower them to create their own opportunity.

Future Founders® is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that believes every youth can become an entrepreneur. We believe this leads to a generation more determined, hopeful and equipped as they engage the future. Since 2005, our programs have served over 35,000 youth. Join us as we empower the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs.

08/07/2026

A great gift is more than an item. 🎁

It’s something that makes people feel seen, celebrated, and remembered. That’s the idea behind Dream Lab Celebrations, Ananda Jacobs’ business focused on customized gifts and decorations that help create meaningful moments.

Inspired by a desire to give people more thoughtful and memorable experiences, Ananda is building a one-stop shop for personalized products.

Through the Future Founders Apprenticeship powered by the Chicago Housing Authority, Ananda learned one of entrepreneurship’s most important lessons: start your business and keep going, even when challenges arise.

With a website launch on the horizon and plans to grow her presence online, she’s continuing to turn that lesson into action.

Discover 👉🏼 Nanda Nandaa
Chicago Housing Authority

We’re excited to announce that Future Founders is partnering with , , and for New Pathways: Chicago! Taking place Oct...
08/04/2026

We’re excited to announce that Future Founders is partnering with , , and for New Pathways: Chicago!

Taking place October 6-7, From Expression to Enterprise will bring educators, entrepreneurs and community leaders together to explore an important question: What happens when creative expression and entrepreneurial thinking are treated as foundational skills?

Join us as we explore how Chicago’s schools, creative communities and entrepreneurial ecosystem are building new pathways to opportunity for young people.

Learn more and register through the link in our bio.

08/03/2026

👋 Meet Aleisha Reado, part of Startup Bootcamp 2026.

Aleisha is founder of REDEAUX, a cut and sewn apparel brand that specializes in genderless, versatile streetwear inspired by music.

Aleisha is a long-time member of the Future Founders community, having participated in our youth programs when she was in high school.

Be sure to support Aleisha’s company and follow along as we continue introducing the founders of Startup Bootcamp 2026.

🚀 BOARD NEWS: We're thrilled to announce that Gaurav Doshi, Senior Director of Strategy at Motorola Solutions, has joine...
07/27/2026

🚀 BOARD NEWS: We're thrilled to announce that Gaurav Doshi, Senior Director of Strategy at Motorola Solutions, has joined the Future Founders Board of Directors.

Gaurav brings more than 25 years of experience in engineering, strategy, and business leadership to this new role, along with a decade of nonprofit board experience. His appointment deepens a relationship that dates to the beginning of Future Founders. The Motorola Solutions Foundation is the organization’s founding sponsor and has supported its work from the start.

Gaurav’s experience building businesses, shaping growth strategies, and supporting mission-driven organizations will be an incredible asset to Future Founders, and we look forward to learning from his experience as we continue empowering tens of thousands of young entrepreneurs nationwide.

“Future Founders gives young people the tools, mindset, and confidence to shape their own path,” said Wesley (Barden) Touhy, Executive Director of Motorola Solutions Foundation. “Having supported this mission from day one, the Motorola Solutions Foundation is thrilled to have Gaurav join the board. He brings deep operational insight and a genuine passion for coaching emerging talent; he’ll make a lasting impact on these rising leaders and the organization.”

LINK (ADD TO LINK IN BIO): https://www.futurefounders.com/news-article/future-founders-appoints-motorola-solutions-strategy-leader-gaurav-doshi-to-its-board-of-directors/





07/23/2026

For many young adults, the challenges of managing money and navigating everyday life are deeply connected.

As a finalist in the Future Founders Apprenticeship Pitch Day powered by the Chicago Housing Authority, Shalisa Life shared her vision for Lif Learning, a business designed to address the intersection of money trauma and the life skills many people never learn at home or in school.

Through education, wellness, and practical resources, she is building tools for people navigating life without a blueprint.

With new resources launching this summer and a growing vision for impact, Shalisa is turning a personal insight into a solution that can help others feel more informed, confident, and supported.

🚀 BIG NEWS: Meet the 22 entrepreneurs advancing to Phase Two of Future Founders’ 2026 Startup Bootcamp - Part 2Startup B...
07/08/2026

🚀 BIG NEWS: Meet the 22 entrepreneurs advancing to Phase Two of Future Founders’ 2026 Startup Bootcamp - Part 2

Startup Bootcamp is Future Founders’ premier accelerator for early-stage entrepreneurs, helping founders transform promising ideas into businesses with real momentum. This year’s cohort is tackling challenges across industries with creativity, ambition, and a clear commitment to solving problems that matter. We’re excited to support them as they sharpen their ideas, accelerate their growth, and build what comes next.

Startup Bootcamp plays a powerful role in bridging the gap between learning about entrepreneurship and building, growing, and scaling a venture. One founder advancing to Phase Two first joined Future Founders as a paid high school intern through our Be Your Own Boss program. Meanwhile, five members of the 2026 Fellowship previously participated in Startup Bootcamp. Together, these journeys are a powerful reflection of what we are building: a community where young entrepreneurs can find new opportunities, deepen their skills, and continue growing alongside Future Founders at every stage of their journey.

A huge shoutout to our talented Head of Platform Strategy Chris Van Etten for leading Startup Bootcamp and helping these entrepreneurs turn promising ideas into businesses with real momentum!

Startup Bootcamp is made possible through the generous support of Keywell Foundation,
Nasdaq Foundation, The Richard L. Duchossois Foundation, Summer Oaks Fund, Itzkowich Family, and The John E. & Jeanne T. Hughes Foundation.

Congratulations to our 2026 Phase Two founders! Meet the full cohort through the link in our bio.

🚀 BIG NEWS: Meet the 22 entrepreneurs advancing to Phase Two of Future Founders’ 2026 Startup Bootcamp - Part 1Startup B...
07/08/2026

🚀 BIG NEWS: Meet the 22 entrepreneurs advancing to Phase Two of Future Founders’ 2026 Startup Bootcamp - Part 1

Startup Bootcamp is Future Founders’ premier accelerator for early-stage entrepreneurs, helping founders transform promising ideas into businesses with real momentum. This year’s cohort is tackling challenges across industries with creativity, ambition, and a clear commitment to solving problems that matter. We’re excited to support them as they sharpen their ideas, accelerate their growth, and build what comes next.

Startup Bootcamp plays a powerful role in bridging the gap between learning about entrepreneurship and building, growing, and scaling a venture. One founder advancing to Phase Two first joined Future Founders as a paid high school intern through our Be Your Own Boss program. Meanwhile, five members of the 2026 Fellowship previously participated in Startup Bootcamp. Together, these journeys are a powerful reflection of what we are building: a community where young entrepreneurs can find new opportunities, deepen their skills, and continue growing alongside Future Founders at every stage of their journey.

A huge shoutout to our talented Head of Platform Strategy Chris Van Etten for leading Startup Bootcamp and helping these entrepreneurs turn promising ideas into businesses with real momentum!

Startup Bootcamp is made possible through the generous support of Keywell Foundation,
Nasdaq Foundation, The Richard L. Duchossois Foundation, Summer Oaks Fund, Itzkowich Family, and The John E. & Jeanne T. Hughes Foundation.

Congratulations to our 2026 Phase Two founders! Meet the full cohort through the link in our bio.

Some founders build products. Others build communities. After participating in Future Founders' Startup Bootcamp and th...
07/06/2026

Some founders build products. Others build communities.

After participating in Future Founders' Startup Bootcamp and the Fellowship, Taylor Morrison has continued to build spaces where people learn from one another, grow together, and become more confident in their craft. Her latest venture is a reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t just about what you create. It’s about the opportunities you create for others.

Read Taylor’s story at the link in our bio.

06/26/2026

Entrepreneurship is about more than building a business. It’s about building confidence, community, and a sense of belonging.

Through the Future Founders Apprenticeship, young adults ages 18–24 are given the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship in an environment that is supportive, accessible, and inclusive.

Future Founders Program Director Sam Schryer shares that participants gain foundational business skills, connect with mentors and peers, and develop the confidence to pursue their ideas long after the program ends.

As Pitch Day demonstrated, the impact extends far beyond the competition itself. While participants are presenting their businesses, they are also celebrating one another’s growth, accomplishments, and shared journey.

At its core, Future Founders is about creating a space where young people feel valued, supported, and empowered to see themselves as entrepreneurs.

06/25/2026

Fashion can be more than what you wear. It can be a reflection of who you are.

As a finalist in the Future Founders Apprenticeship Pitch Day, Sylvanna LeBlanc shared the vision behind SvenRi LeBlanc, a clothing brand centered on intentionality, confidence, and self-expression. Built around the belief that people should not only feel great in their clothes but recognize their own greatness, the brand aims to create a deeper connection between style and identity.

Throughout the Apprenticeship powered by the Chicago Housing Authority, Sylvanna refined her business by digging deeper into customer discovery and identifying the problem she wanted to solve. That process helped strengthen the foundation of SvenRi LeBlanc and clarify the purpose behind the brand.

Inspired by the community of entrepreneurs around her, she is already looking ahead to what's next, including plans for a fashion show that will bring new designs, creativity, and engagement to life.

For Sylvanna, SvenRi LeBlanc is ultimately about creating something people can connect with in their own way and making space for them to see themselves in the story.

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