Tucson’s youngest entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to bring their ideas to life this fall.

The Tucson Hispanic Chamber Foundation along with the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management and the Tucson Unified School District have partnered to launch the Young Entrepreneurs Academy.

The program takes students between 11 and 18 years old through the process of launching a business or social movement over the course of a school year.

Students will brainstorm business ideas, write business plans, pitch to investors for startup funding, register their companies with governmental agencies and ultimately launch their own business or social movement.

There will also be an opportunity to compete for college scholarships in regional and national business pitch competitions.

The UA Eller College of Management will support the program with state-of-the-art classroom space while TUSD will award $850 in scholarship funding to offset the $949 tuition to 24 candidates, allowing students in need to attend.

An information session for middle- and high-schoolers as well as parents and educators will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. June 14 at the Eller College of Management, 1130 E. Helen St., Rooms 208 and 208A.

For more information, visit www.tucsonhispanicchamber.org/young-entrepreneurs-academy.html

In addition to seeking student participants, the program is inviting successful business executives and local entrepreneurs from a variety of industries to serve as mentors or guest lecturers.

Large and small businesses can also sign up to serve as field trip hosts.


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Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@tucson.com or 573-4175. On Twitter: @AlexisHuicochea