DEREK J O H S AGE 18
TYLER N I E M I AGE 17
ZOE BUNDY
WEST FARGO HIGH SCHOOL
OAK GROVE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL
DISCOVERY MIDDLE SCHOOL
MENTOR: ADAM KUSLER, IMPLEMENTATION SPECIALISTS
MENTOR: TIFFANIE HONEYMAN, OPGO MARKETING
MENTOR: BETTY GRONNEBERG, UCODEGIRL
THE IDEA: DEV
THE IDEA: RED RIVER AUTO MARKETING
DEV is an affordable computer-building service that focuses on adding customized aspects. In addition, DEV looks to cooperate with local business by including them in the creation process, ensuring the perfect computer for the customer, regardless of purpose.
MY REALITY CHECK I found out very quickly that a business cannot involve a single person. Help from those who have offered has really aided in the process. I’ve learned from new worlds and have made new connections that promise to deliver when DEV becomes a reality. Now that I know it’s not acceptable to handle everything alone, I’m no longer afraid to search for help. This realization alone has driven my inspiration to continue.
Nearly
8,000 students
total have graduated from the YEA! program.
AGE 13
THE IDEA: BRAINY LADIES
Red River Auto Marketing's purpose is fairly simple: We do social media management and marketing for car dealerships. Recently, there has been a push toward social media as a tool for marketing and a huge influx of social media marketers. To set ourselves apart, we focus only on car dealerships.
Brainy Ladies is an e-magazine that focuses on girls interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Brainy Ladies will help a daughter/ niece/special girl get interested in STEM, embrace their inner genius and have fun while doing it. Included with a one year, $15 bi-monthly subscription will be DIY videos, STEM projects and contests.
FAVORITE PART OF YEA!
RISKS/CHALLENGES/FAILURES The biggest challenge for me has been the public-speaking portion of the program. We haven’t done too much of it yet, but a lot of the program is built around public speaking, which is not one of my strong suits. However, we have been working on that through different workshops and other things, so I think, in the future, this won't be as much of an issue.
My favorite YEA! lesson was when we had a speaker come talk to us about our elevator speeches. I learned that I can talk really fast when reading an elevator speech and so can Ivy and Anna! I found that lesson to be important and fun because we got to pitch to our classmates and instructors right after the practice. I also learned that it can be a great learning experience writing about yourself and your business.
Nationally, more than
5,000 businesses
have launched through YEA! FARGOINC.COM
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