Welcome to NFTE's Summer of Innovation

What's Next for NFTE Students?

As we come to the end of another school year, I know many students are thinking about what comes next. At NFTE, we're excited to share our Exploring Careers program, fully launching this fall after a successful pilot! This initiative is designed to help learners discover their passions and potential career paths, starting as early as middle school, to feel more confident about the changing future of work.

Our recent Policy Brief highlights the crucial role of early career exploration in shaping future success. Additionally, by integrating entrepreneurship education into middle school curricula, students not only develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, but also gain financial literacy and a proactive mindset, helping them to be better prepared for whatever their futures hold.

Our newest NFTE graduates might also be thinking about what comes next! The journey doesn’t end here. We encourage all NFTE alumni to register with us to stay informed about upcoming opportunities, resources, and events designed to support their ongoing entrepreneurial journey!

A Volunteer's Decade-Long Journey with NFTE

At the center of NFTE are volunteers who give their time and expertise to coach future business leaders. Today, we're excited to share insights from Judy Stewart, a longtime NFTE volunteer, as she discusses her experiences and the impact of her work with NFTE.

NFTE is her favorite charity and over the past decade, she has witnessed firsthand NFTE’s growth and curriculum modernization and meaningful impact on students.

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From NFTE Student to NFTE Fellow

Rommie Hooper's journey with NFTE began during his high school years, culminating in the 2023 National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in New York last October, where he represented the Capital Region. Now, he's embarking on an exciting new chapter as a NFTE Fellow in the very same region.

"My incredible experience participating in last year's pitch competition inspired me to join the NFTE ecosystem," Rommie shares, his eyes lighting up as he recalls the pivotal moment!

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Celebrating a Summer of Success

As the sun shines bright and the days grow warmer, we have been busy celebrating a summer of success. NFTE officially wrapped up all the Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Challenges across seven U.S. Regions! From Los Angeles to Philadelphia, our May-June regional competitions showcased the entrepreneurial spirit of innovative students.

Among the June regional winners are Lucio Hightower-Rojas with his education-funding tech venture Scholar Brilliance, Joahluis Molina's community-focused That Junk Removal Company, Atman Patel's personalized reading initiative Story Crafters, and Rosalie Delgado's independence-boosting IndependMe app. (Check out the full list of winners and runners-up on our website.)

Now, all eyes are on New York for the grand finale—the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge on October 10. There, our regional finalists will present their business plans and vie for the National Champion title and cash prizes. Stay tuned for updates on these young innovators as they prepare for the national stage!

Advocacy that Advances NFTE's Mission

Thank you to our alumni, teachers, students and volunteers who took time out of their busy schedules to advocate on behalf of NFTE!

This year, NFTE, along with our coalition of entrepreneurship education organizations (NAF, BUILD.org and Virtual Enterprises), began connecting members of Congress with their constituents to discuss the impact of entrepreneurship education on their lives. We are so grateful to our partners and all the advocacy ambassadors who have volunteered their time in this endeavor. Just this month, we’ve met with five member offices from across the country.

If you are interested in helping us with this work, please send an email to policy@nfte.com.

Preparing for AI and the Future of Work

The Education Writers Association recently addressed a crucial question: How can we prepare the next generation for an AI-powered future of work? NFTE believes the answer lies in integrating youth entrepreneurship and AI education in classrooms today!

At NFTE, students use artificial intelligence in business planning to brainstorm ideas and develop AI-based business proposals. Our teachers also employ AI to enhance student assessment and business plan creation efficiency.

At the 2024 Education Writers Association National Seminar in Las Vegas, NFTE sponsored and moderated a panel discussion on this topic. Panelists included a NFTE alumnus, an AI marketing solutions expert, and a NFTE operations manager.

Corporate Spotlight

Congratulations to the 11 NFTE students who recently received the EY EOY Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Scholarship! Each winner received $2,000 to help pay for their postsecondary education. Winners were honored at EY Entrepreneur of the Year galas held across the country. Thank you to EY for this exciting opportunity for our students!

NFTE in the News

KMPV St. Louis: The Future of Entrepreneurship for Teens.
Chicago Tribune: Thornwood High Entrepreneur's Idea for Fighting Procrastination Takes Her to National Arena.
Boston Globe: Want to bridge the wealth gap? Teach entrepreneurship.
The Journal: Student-Created LMS Integration Wins Entrepreneurship Challenge.
TipperaryLive (Ireland): Tipperary students with proud Waterford heritage Stick-It to everyone with national award.
Filmmaking For Good: NFTE Partners with Filmmaking For Good to Teach Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom.
Business 2 Community: Daymond John Net Worth 2024: How ‘The People’s Shark’ Accumulated His Millions