Young Entrepreneurs Academy

* As seen in the May 2025 edition of the Bagpiper. Written by Valentina Macias ’27.

Just last year, Iris Hua was a hopeful freshman with a simple idea, and this year, with the help and support of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA), she has achieved her lifelong dream of launching her shower karaoke business “Shower Okey Speaker” and headed to the national competition in Rochester, NY earlier this month where she competed for college scholarships and national recognition.

For many high school students, the idea of starting a business seems like a distant dream. However, YEA is making that dream a reality for Saint Andrew’s students like Hua by providing an intensive program that takes students through the process of developing a business idea, creating a business plan, and even pitching for funding.

For students like Hua and others like senior Enrique Galindo Alvarez, YEA has been a transformative experience, providing them with the tools, mentorship, and confidence to pursue their dreams in the business world.

Senior Enrique Galindo Alvarez joined YEA because of his passion for business. Throughout the program, he developed an idea for a watch strap business.

“I had an idea to create a better watch strap that doesn’t come off. [YEA] helped me find the financials, how much I could sell it for, do market research, and then I started building it,” Galindo Alvarez said.

He credits his mentor from Morgan Stanley, who had a lot of insight and helped him with financials, manufacturing, and market research.

For sophomore Iris Hua, YEA was an opportunity to explore her passion for entrepreneurship.

“For me, I'm really into business, and I want to major in business in college, especially in the entrepreneurship area,” she said.

One of the biggest lessons she learned was that “you need to really know how the business world works to make it,” Hua said.

This tedious process of launching a business was possible due to YEA’s mentorship program, which supported Hua’s Shower Karaoke business.

YEA is part of a national and international program that gives students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to learn firsthand what it takes to start and run a business. The program is designed to guide students from the early stages of ideation all the way to launching a real business.

“The whole program is geared towards helping them take an idea and be able to launch it,” said YEA representative Sherese Grow.

With structured mentorship, networking opportunities, and hands-on experience, students leave the program with more than just an idea; they leave with a plan and, in many cases, with real funding.

One of the unique aspects of YEA is the mentorship component in which students are paired with experienced professionals who help guide them through the process of redefining their ideas, conducting market research, and creating financial plans.

In addition to mentorship, students have the opportunity to participate in a CEO roundtable, where they can ask questions and learn from local business leaders here in Boca Raton.

Sometimes students think entrepreneurship is easier than what they see, and then some realize, “Yeah, this is the route I want to go,” said Grow.

Beyond the program, YEA continues to support students in their entrepreneurial journeys. Through networking events, funding opportunities, and connections with local businesses, students have the resources to continue growing their businesses even after they complete the program.

Some students go on to participate in business expos and competitions, further developing their ideas and gaining real-world experience, such as Iris Hua, at nationals. The program also helps students set up official registrations, EIN numbers, and bank accounts, ensuring that their businesses are not just theoretical but fully operational.

For students considering YEA, Galindo Alvarez offers this advice: “Even if you don’t have an idea, you should try the program. It gives you so much insight into business and entrepreneurship.”