Did you know that 20% of Gen Zs see themselves starting a business in their first five years out of college? Gen Zs are enterprising and entrepreneurial, and they’re already taking the small business sector by storm. Twenty-one-year-old Jaylen Bledsoe started Bledsoe Global Group at the age of 13, and his business has since boomed into a multimillion-dollar company.
Have you ever considered starting your own small business? There’s great potential for this next generation of entrepreneurs, and I’m looking forward to empowering them during the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Youth Entrepreneurship Summit at Bowie State University (BSU).
At the summit, Gen Zs will have the opportunity to hear from successful young entrepreneurs like Jaylen who are flourishing in the small business arena. They’ll also learn about SBA resources and participate in an open-mic pitch session. During this exciting pitch session, emerging student entrepreneurs will take the stage for 60 seconds to pitch their concept along with the resources they’re seeking to enhance their product or service.
This innovative summit is also bringing together a youth entrepreneurship panel to examine the state of entrepreneurship among Gen Zs and discuss ways to support them. It’ll also include industry experts from the SBA, BSU Entrepreneurship Academy, the Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and more.
We believe in nurturing aspiring young business owners and bolstering existing Gen Z businesses to ensure our nation leads in entrepreneurship. This new generation of entrepreneurs brings innovative ideas to the table and show immense leadership. We stand ready to support their growth.
I encourage all young entrepreneurs to take advantage of SBA resources. Don’t miss your chance to connect with other aspiring young entrepreneurs and pitch your business idea to experts at today’s event. If you can’t make it, we’re covering portions of the summit live on Instagram using #SBAYES19. You can get expert business guidance from SBA resource partners, such as SCORE, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), or Women’s Business Centers (WBCs).
You can also take advantage of free SBA trainings at your own pace via our Online Learning Center.
If you’re a college student, you can access additional resources through your institution’s business school.
Your ideas as an up-and-coming young entrepreneur have the potential to change the world. Leverage learning, mentorship, and networking opportunities this Global Entrepreneurship Week and year-round to make your entrepreneurial vision a reality.