The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is an exciting year long class that transforms middle and hig
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a groundbreaking and exciting year long class that transforms middle and high school students into real, confident entrepreneurs. Throughout the class, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors, and actually launch and run their own real, legal, fully formed companies and socia
05/15/2017
At the Chamber's 13th Annual Pinnacle Business Awards Gala on Friday, our Saunders Scholars Finalists received trophies and recognition in front of the 600 attendees! Congrats once again to John D. Cobb and Alexander Yarkhan and their non-profit, RefugeeLikeMe.
05/08/2017
Congratulations to John D. and Alexander for representing Knoxville at the Saunders Scholars Competition this past weekend! Also, be sure to check them out on WBIR Channel 10 today at about 5:20 p.m. for a feature about our program!
04/24/2017
Wanting to hear Courtney Jones's amazing commencement speech again? It's now available on the Chamber's YouTube channel!
YEA! 2107 Graduation Commencement Speaker: Courtney Jones, MomSource Network Our second class of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy graduated from the program April 18 after 30 weeks of learning the ins and outs of business. Special than...
04/19/2017
Our second class of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy graduated from the program last night after 30 weeks of learning the ins and outs of business. Special thanks to Courtney Jones from MomSource Network for serving as commencement speaker.
This program would not be possible without our sponsors: Pilot Flying J, Haslam College of Business - UT, Clayton Bank And Trust, Arconic Foundation, and WATE 6 On Your Side!
04/18/2017
Looking sharp, Alexander and John D.!
Alexander YarKhan and John David Cobb are the founders of RefugeeLikeMe from the YEA Knoxville Chamber class and 2017 Saunders Semi-Finalists!
Alexander and John are on their way to Rochester, New York for the competition thanks to our official airline partner Southwest Airlines!
04/18/2017
These outstanding young entrepreneurs will be graduating from our program this evening at Haslam College of Business - UT! Since October, they have accomplished so much, and we look forward to seeing their many successes of the future! Congrats to the class of 2017!
04/12/2017
Our students had a great time last night at our final class and Media Meet & Greet! Special thanks to Tom Ballard (PYA and
Teknovation.biz), Cortney Roark (Knoxville News Sentinel), Sara Mitchell, and Don Dare (WATE 6 On Your Side) for speaking with our students about gaining media coverage as young entrepreneurs and business owners.
04/05/2017
Class last night was one for the books! Our students got to hear from Heather Fawver from Visit Knoxville about the organization and why . Then, they took a business field trip to Rala: Regional and Local Artisans' new location in the Old City where they heard from owner Nanci Solomon. It was a great night for our young entrepreneurs!
04/04/2017
Did you miss our CEO Roundtable last week? Check out this video to see what Courtney Jernigan (Knoxville Graphic House); Mel Evans (Insurefit RM); and Jim Rooney (PureMagic Carwash) had to say to our budding entrepreneurs!
2017 YEA! CEO Roundtable Courtney Jernigan (Knoxville Graphic House); Mel Evans (Insurefit RM); and Jim Rooney (PureMagic Carwash) speak to our Young Entrepreneurs Academy students a...
03/29/2017
Last night, our students had the opportunity to hear from Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett about his entrepreneurial spirit, as well as Courtney Jernigan (Knoxville Graphic House); Mel Evans (Insurefit RM); and Jim Rooney (PureMagic Carwash) in a CEO Roundtable event. Thanks so much to these four individuals for providing great insight into the world of starting a business!
02/27/2017
Our young entrepreneurs did a fantastic job last week pitching their businesses and nonprofits to a panel of local investors. Check out this video to see each of the pitches!
YEA! Investor Panel 2017 Students pitched their ideas to a panel of local investors to secure real startup funding!
02/23/2017
Be sure to check out this great coverage of Tuesday's Investor Panel and each of our students' business ideas!
Every team secures some funding during "YEA! Investor Pitch Night" By Tom Ballard, Chief Alliance Officer, PYA They were all inspirational – both the ideas they presented, which clearly reflected their passions, and the glimpse they provided on the future of entrepreneurship in this region. And, more than two and one-half hours after the first pitch started
