High school students from across Mercer County can apply now to join the upcoming cohort of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), a practical business and leadership program run by the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation in partnership with The College of New Jersey (TCNJ).

YEA! guides students step by step as they create and operate their own fully registered businesses or social ventures, with mentoring and insight from some of Mercer County’s most respected business leaders. Throughout the 30-week program, students develop an idea, write a business plan, pitch to a panel of investors for funding, and officially launch their venture.

This year’s schedule includes a behind-the-scenes tour of TerraCycle in Trenton, here students will tour the internationally known recycling company and learn firsthand how founder Tom Szaky turned an idea into a global sustainability powerhouse. This field trip is one of several visits YEA! students make during the year to successful local businesses, providing real-world insight into entrepreneurship and leadership that can’t be learned in a classroom.

“This year’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy students have the opportunity to visit TerraCycle’s global headquarters in Trenton for an inside look at how a mission-driven idea grew into a global company tackling hard-to-recycle waste,” said Eric Ascalon, Global Director of Community Affairs at TerraCycle. “They’ll learn how we turned a college dorm room concept into a business that proves sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. It’s a chance to see how big ideas -- and a commitment to the planet-- can shape the future of business.”  

In addition to visiting companies in a range of industries to see how businesses operate day to day, students work closely with mentors -- including CEOs, attorneys, accountants, and marketing professionals -- who volunteer their expertise to guide them through key decisions.

"The Chamber community is so excited to support our local high school students as they embark on their entrepreneurship journey. So many have remarked that they wish this program had been around when they were in high school," said Chamber President and CEO Hal English. "Mercer County students are high-achievers, and we can't wait to see how they take advantage of this opportunity!"

 

YEA! programs across the country have produced countless success stories, including Rachel Zeitz who went on to graduate from Princeton University while continuing to build the business she founded through YEA! at the age of 13 – Gladiator Lacrosse. Other YEA! entrepreneurs include Asad Muhammad who established Taste of Supreme Bakery, specializing in all-natural baked goods in Rochester, NY; and Brandon Boynton who is now the CEO of MostBeastlyStudios, LLC, the mobile application development suite he developed while a part of YEA!

YEA! is open to motivated students in grades 9 - 12 attending any Mercer County high school. No business idea is required.

To learn more or submit an application, visit: https://www.princetonmercerchamber.org/yea.  Tuition for YEA! is $995 and includes all program materials, field trips, events, and supplies. Scholarships are available for students with demonstrated need, and the YEA! team can assist with transportation challenges as needed.

About the Young Entrepreneurs Academy
Founded in 2004, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy is a national program designed to help students start and run their own businesses while gaining exposure to professional networks. In Mercer County, the program is delivered through the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation in partnership with TCNJ, connecting students directly to the area’s business community.  YEA! Princeton Mercer is underwritten by local businesses and organizations who are dedicated to promoting educational opportunities for Mercer County youth. Sponsors of the program include One Simple Wish, NJM Insurance Group, FirstBank Charitable Foundation, Stark & Stark, and Nottingham Insurance, as of press time. Organizations interested in becoming sponsors should contact Gretchen DiMarco at gretchen@princetonmercer.org.

The Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce is the premier regional business association in Central New Jersey.  A non-profit membership association committed to driving economic development in our region, the Chamber has more than 1100 member organizations and over 16,000 individual contacts. Signature programs of the Chamber include the Central NJ Real Estate Forecast, the NJ Conference for Women, and the Trenton Economic Development Series. Chamber members range from Fortune 500s to Main Street sole-proprietors,  and they include industries like healthcare and pharma; finance, IT, and professional services; manufacturing, retail, and tourism; and higher ed, non-profit, and more. More information about the Chamber can be found at www.princetonmercerchamber.org