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2026 Youth Entrepreneurship Program and Competition is a program from Ideas By Youth that guides young people aged 14 to 21 through a 9-week entrepreneurial journey focused on identifying global or community issues and developing real business solutions.
Participants research world problems, create innovative ideas, and develop a business concept culminating in a Shark Tank-style pitch competition judged by business professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Cash prizes and national recognition are awarded to top pitches. Cohort 3 began March 2, 2026.
Eligible participants must be aged 14 to 21, be interested in entrepreneurship, have a world issue they care about, and commit to completing the full program. No application deadline is currently listed for future cohorts.
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2026 Youth Entrepreneurship Program & Competition Youth Entrepreneurship Program Cohort 3 Applications Now Open! 9-Week program begins March 2nd, 2026! Turn Your Ideas Into Impact Empowering the Next Generation of Changemakers Are you a young person who is frustrated with certain community or societal issues?
Are you ready to be a part of the change? Join a 9-week entrepreneurial journey where young leaders (ages 14–21) research world issues, design real solutions, and pitch their business ideas for cash prizes and national recognition. Have you ever thought about being an entrepreneur?
Let this 9 week program guide you to: • Dive Deep into a Real World Problem • Create Innovative Change Ideas by Youth invites young innovators to step into a transformative experience unlike any other. Over 9 powerful weeks, participants identify a global or community issue, conduct deep research, and develop a business idea, a product or service, designed to make a real difference.
The program culminates in a Shark Tank–style pitch competition judged by business professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Start your Path to Strengthening your Leadership Abilities. Explore issues that matter — climate change, equity, mental health, economic justice, and Work in teams, collaborate with mentors, and design business solutions that address your chosen issue.
Present your final idea in a live competition with judges and an audience cheering you on. Hands-On, Purpose-Driven Learning Entrepreneurial Training : Learn business planning, prototyping, financial thinking, branding, and communication. Mentorship Network: Receive guidance from industry professionals and community leaders.
Shark Tank–Style Competition: Pitch your idea for a chance to win cash prizes. Visibility & Recognition: Your ideas get seen — and heard — by people who believe in youth innovation. Pitch for Your Chance to Win 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive a cash prize for their business idea!
All winners will also receive 5 m onths of Mentorship with business leaders to implement your business idea. This is your moment to shine, grow, and be celebrated. This mentorship experience ensures that young entrepreneurs are not just pitching ideas — they’re learning how to build, grow, and lead with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
Eligibility Requirements: Curious, motivated, and eager to learn and work with others Ability to join weekly sessions Monday & Wednesday from 6PM-8PM EST for 9 weeks A world issue that you're passionate about changing and why Able to participate in group work and presentations Start up idea must be an idea-stage company To be considered, applicants must: Explain why they are interested in entrepreneurship Identify a world issue they care about Demonstrate commitment to completing the full program Submit a complete online application The Big Pitch: A Showcase of Young Innovation At the end of the program, youth teams step onto the virtual stage to pitch their business ideas before a panel of professionals.
Each team receives 10 minutes to present, supported by their research, business plan, and prototype. Judges evaluate pitches using a detailed scoring rubric to ensure fairness and clarity. This is a confidence-building, high-energy event that spotlights youth brilliance.
Beyond the Pitch: Bringing Ideas to Life Winning teams don't just walk away with a prize--- they step into a 5-month mentorship experience with a business professional, corporate partner or entrepreneurial leader.
Developing business strategy Prototyping and product refinement Branding and marketing guidance Customer discovery and outreach Financial and operational planning Support toward launching or scaling their idea This is where ideas turn into action — and where young entrepreneurs grow into leaders. Joanna Zhu, Youth Entrepreneurship Student “My overall experience was great. I learned a lot of things on how to build a start up.
The mentors are really helpful and give a lot of resources to help us get started. It was great meeting with my partner, collaborating and working on our idea together. I've always been interested in business and entrepreneurship so this opportunity just gives me a feel on how it is to become an entrepreneur.
This is my first project on my entrepreneurship path and it will always inspire me to continue to make more in the future. ” Vedant Mohan, Youth Entrepreneurship Student “I recommend this program to my peers because it helps break down many stereotypes. It would give them a new entrepreneurial perspective on life.
It could become their future career if they are genuinely interested in it. It will teach them to communicate better with others. It can also help them with their presentation skills and apprenticeship by providing advice from mentors.
” Jasotha Keesara, Youth Entrepreneurship Student “This was a beneficial program for me, because usually I have commitment issues, so this really pushed me to, like, be on top of things and make sure that I'm dedicated throughout the entire process. I also gained many valuable personal characteristics, as it taught me perseverance. It taught me self-discipline because I knew I had to work for an hour to achieve it.
Then, everyone would say that good things are hard and never easy. But I think it was really worth it. ” Join now- Because Your Voice Has Power Entrepreneurship is more than business — it’s about believing in your potential, your creativity, and your ability to spark change.
1. Leadership and communication skills 2. Real-world problem-solving tools 3.
Confidence in their voice and vision 4. A community of peers and mentors who uplift them 5. A powerful experience they can use for college, career, and life Apply to Join the 2026 Youth Entrepreneurship Program Want to learn more about us?
Visit our website at www. ideasbyyouth. org Apply to the 9-week program Carmen Mejia, Student Participant “Ever since this program, our business, TLC artistry, has established a clear-cut budget and business plan for our first 6 months.
This includes project ideas, wholesale distributors and prototypes. ” Jada Williams, Student Participant “ Entrepreneurship program taught me time management, problem solving and communication. It supports you through a process that might be hard and really help you, which is what a lot of kids my age need right now.
” Robert Landau Founder of The Guardian Project "I have witnessed the critical importance of providing students with opportunities to solve authentic problems and develop agency over their own learning. Ideas by Youth does this exceptionally well." Program will take place from March 2nd through May 7th!
Apply by February 25th! Get started today before this once in a lifetime opportunity expires.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Young people aged 14-21 who are interested in entrepreneurship, can identify a world issue they care about, and demonstrate a commitment to completing the full program. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Funding amounts vary based on project scope and sponsor guidance. Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
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Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
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Note: Each funding opportunity description is a synopsis of information in the Federal Register application notice. For specific information about eligibility, please see the official application notice. The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html. Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information. Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector, strengthen the role of small business in meeting Federal research or research and development (R/R&D) needs, increase the commercial application of the U.S. Department of Education (Department) supported research results, and improve the return on investment from federally funded research for economic and social benefits to the Nation. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133S-1. If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must use the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at http://www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us. You may access the electronic grant application for the SBIR Program at: http://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g. , search for 84.133, not 84.133S). The telephone number for the Grants.gov Helpdesk is 1-800-518-4726 or e-mail: support@grants.gov. Funding Opportunity Number: ED-GRANTS-090908-001. Assistance Listing: 84.133. Funding Instrument: G. Category: ED. Award Amount: Up to $75K per award.
The National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program (NLG-L) supports projects that address critical needs of the library and archives fields and have the potential to advance practice and strengthen library and archival services for the American public. Successful proposals will generate results such as new models, tools, research findings, services, practices, and/or alliances that can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend and leverage the benefits of federal investment. Applications to IMLS should both advance knowledge and understanding and ensure that the federal investment made generates benefits to society. Specifically, the goals for this program are to generate projects of far-reaching impact that: • Build the workforce and institutional capacity for managing the national information infrastructure and serving the information and education needs of the public. • Build the capacity of libraries and archives to lead and contribute to efforts that improve community well-being and strengthen civic engagement. • Improve the ability of libraries and archives to provide broad access to and use of information and collections with emphasis on collaboration to avoid duplication and maximize reach. • Strengthen the ability of libraries to provide services to affected communities in the event of an emergency or disaster. • Strengthen the ability of libraries, archives, and museums to work collaboratively for the benefit of the communities they serve. Throughout its work, IMLS places importance on diversity, equity, and inclusion. This may be reflected in an IMLS-funded project in a wide range of ways, including efforts to serve individuals of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; individuals with disabilities; individuals with limited functional literacy or information skills; individuals having difficulty using a library or museum; and underserved urban and rural communities, including children from families with incomes below the poverty line. Application Process: The application process for the NLG-L program has two phases; applicants must begin by applying for Phase I. For Phase I, all applicants must submit Preliminary Proposals by the September 20th deadline listed for this Notice of Funding Opportunity. For Phase II, only selected applicants will be invited to submit Full Proposals, and only those Invited Full Proposals will be considered for funding. Invited Full Proposals will be due March 20, 2024. Funding Opportunity Number: NLG-LIBRARIES-FY24. Assistance Listing: 45.312. Funding Instrument: G. Category: AR,HU. Award Amount: $50K – $1M per award.
The California Department of Education (CDE) Early Education Division is making approximately .7 million available to expand California State Preschool Program (CSPP) services statewide, appropriated under the 2021 Budget Act. Eligible applicants are local educational agencies (LEAs), including school districts, county offices of education, community college districts, and direct-funded charter schools—both current CSPP contractors and new applicants. Funding supports full-day/full-year or part-day/part-year preschool services for income-eligible children beginning in FY 2024–25. Awards are allocated by county based on Local Planning Council priority areas and application scores, with redistribution provisions if county allocations are underutilized.