Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)

Today, we’re excited to meet a student from Halogen, our global partners in Singapore! Ashley will be proudly representing her country at the World Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in New York City on November 21, competing alongside top young entrepreneurs from around the world for the title of World Champion. Beyond the competition, all participants will come together for a Day of Learning to strengthen their business ideas and connect with fellow entrepreneurs. Secure your spot now for the World Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge finals: https://lnkd.in/dikH4bRR.?

The world lost one of its greatest minds and biggest hearts on October 20, the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) founder Steve Mariotti. He passed away peacefully at age 71. Those who knew Steve easily recall the passion, energy, intellect, and sports analogies he brought to every conversation. His belief in young people’s potential and his signature A+ enthusiasm left an indelible mark on everyone he met. Steve’s story is one of turning obstacle into opportunity—exactly what NFTE teaches! After leaving Detroit and his corporate career as a Ford Motor Co. analyst, Steve moved to NYC to become an entrepreneur. A few years later he was mugged by youth for the mere $10 in his pocket, a life-altering incident. In 1982, Steve made the bold decision that would not only change his life but the lives of countless young people—he became a special education teacher in the New York City public school system. He realized that all young people have tremendous talent, but those in tough circumstances often don’t know how to use it. By teaching them to run a business, he could ignite their motivation and unlock their potential. Steve founded NFTE in 1987, empowering low-income youth worldwide with the principles of free enterprise, ownership, and wealth-building, while sparking a global movement in entrepreneurship education. He took chances on people, saw potential where others might not, and nurtured that potential into success! Steve taught entrepreneurship to those incarcerated for life, believing they could share their knowledge with their families to break the cycle. And his work with NFTE has impacted over 1.4 million young lives globally, creating a ripple effect of positive change. This lasting impact is captured in the words of 2006 NFTE alumnus Cody C.: "Steve, you and NFTE were and continue to be such an important part of fueling my future! I still remember you inviting me to Beijing to speak about my NFTE experience, … but most of all, I remember you teaching me to be the master of my fate and the captain of my soul." Steve’s books, including "An Entrepreneur's Manifesto" and "The Young Entrepreneur's Guide to Starting and Running a Business," have inspired readers to embrace entrepreneurship. His memoir, "Goodbye Homeboy: How My Students Drove Me Crazy and Inspired a Movement," offers a look at the experiences that shaped his mission. We’ll never forget Steve’s infectious smile, his "Mariotti moments" (impromptu teaching sessions), and his belief in the entrepreneurial mindset as the greatest set of skills everyone should know because “everyone is in business for themselves.” We’ve lost a great leader whose legacy continues to inspire educators, entrepreneurs, and young people to dream big, work hard, and create their own success. For those wishing to honor his memory, the family requests that gifts be made to NFTE's Steve Mariotti Legacy Fund which will support initiatives for NFTE alumni and educators (nfte.com/give).

"I think there is something truly unique about global travel and the opportunity to work with entrepreneurs from all around the world." — Zainabou Thiam, NFTE New England alumna. Earlier this month, the Youth Start – European Entrepreneurship Award brought together young minds from 17 countries in Berlin to celebrate creativity and entrepreneurship. Hosted by NFTE Deutschland e.V. on its 20th anniversary, the event featured nearly 100 young entrepreneurs competing in three categories: Real Market Challenge, Idea Challenge, and We Grow Together. Representing NFTE USA were three NFTE students from the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions: Zainabou Thiam with Sunu Body, Sankalpa Hegde with DesiRoots, and Sasha De Leon Giron with Sonrisas De Leon. Congratulations to Zainabou for securing 2nd place in the Real Market Challenge! From a welcome dinner to an expo at the Symposium for Entrepreneurship Education hosted by the Freie Universit?t Berlin, our young entrepreneurs experienced firsthand the global reach of NFTE. They competed, connected with international peers, and explored Berlin’s rich history, including visiting the Berlin Wall and discovering fun innovations—like a pineapple-cutting machine at a local grocery store!

During the final round of the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, we were honored to have Nadia Campbell-Mitchell as our Master of Ceremonies at The Times Center! Nadia, a 2004 NFTE alumna, began her entrepreneurial journey at the young age of 11 when she founded The Victorian Hands Foundation. Her career has earned her multiple awards for entrepreneurship and community service. Today, she’s a certified Reiki Master Teacher, Life Coach, and Meditation Guide, and was voted Best Reiki Practitioner on Long Island in 2022! Thank you, Nadia, for empowering the next generation of young entrepreneurs!

The October 10 National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in New York City was unforgettable! We're grateful to our dedicated judges who evaluated the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals. Their expertise and insights were crucial in selecting the winner from among over 40 NFTE students representing regions across the country. A huge thank you to everyone who made this event possible, especially our judges and timer/tabulators! #NFTEChallenge #volunteers

Last week, we had an amazing turnout of professionals volunteering as judges and coaches for the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge! Now, we're gearing up for something even bigger—the World Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in November, where NFTE students from around the globe will compete in New York City for the title of World Champion. We need your expertise! Join us as a Judge or Timer/Tabulator to play a crucial role in determining which student business offers the most innovative solution to real-world problems and demonstrates a strong entrepreneurial mindset. Learn more and sign up at https://lnkd.in/es_iK-Gm.

Who will take home the gold at the 2024 NFTE World Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge? The 3rd annual World Challenge is coming to New York City! Young entrepreneurs from around the globe will compete in a business plan competition, participate in a Day of Learning, and connect with like-minded peers. ?? November 21, 2024 ?? New York Stock Exchange Save your seat now for the final round of business pitch competition and medal ceremony at https://lnkd.in/e46CMAcN.

Join NFTE in celebrating Youth Entrepreneurship Day on November 15th! Nadia Campbell-Mitchell – entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, and NFTE alumna – shared the impact of your support at our recent NFTE National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, where she was Master of Ceremonies: “I was just like these young people on stage today. I had an idea and a passion, and NFTE gave me the encouragement, opportunity, and network I needed to take my idea to the next level. You can be a part of fueling a future full of leaders like me, and leaders like all of these inspiring and talented NFTE students and alumni. Join NFTE on November 15th as we celebrate Youth Entrepreneurship Day. Pledge to take action on this day to support the next generation of diverse leaders and entrepreneurs and to help change the life of a young person forever.” Go to nfte.com/fuelafuture to find out how you can help. We truly believe that if we can ignite youth success, we can change the world!

Big congratulations to Lucio Hightower-Rojas, the winner of the 2024 National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge! Yesterday, in the middle of Times Square, this high-stakes competition featured over 40 of the nation’s top young entrepreneurs, and after three rounds of pitching, Lucio’s AI-driven platform, Scholar Brilliance, emerged victorious! His platform helps students improve their essays, manage tasks, and track success in the scholarship application process. Lucio, a student with the Los Angeles Urban League, takes home $10,000 and a 45-minute mentorship session with Daymond John, the CEO of FUBU The Collection, LLC and star of Shark Tank ABC! Let’s also give a huge round of applause to our runners-up: ?? Solonia Allen from California with her business, Almnd Mlk ?? Jessica Kahn from Cooper City High School in Florida with her business, DocBox We’re proud of all the talented young entrepreneurs who competed in this year’s challenge, presented by the Citi Foundation and EY, with additional support from PayPal and Santander Bank, N.A., and the aspiring entrepreneurs’ travel sponsored in part by the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation.

The stage is set for NFTE's National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge finals! Our top three student entrepreneurs will pitch their innovative business ideas to a panel of seven VIP judges. This is your chance to witness young entrepreneurial talent in action. Join us LIVE on October 10 at 6:50 pm ET as we broadcast the final pitches on NFTE's YouTube ?? https://lnkd.in/eUsdB2kE Who will take home the National Champion title? Tune in to find out!