Entrepreneurship Programs

The JA Entrepreneurship Pathway creates a continuum of progressive learning experiences, each inspiring, preparing, and ultimately enabling students to acquire the mindset and demonstrate the skills needed by successful entrepreneurs. Since most entrepreneurship education is focused in post-secondary, there is a need to invest in a feeder system comprised of middle and high school students who are prime ages for promoting entrepreneurial intentionality and building the necessary skill set. JA has a time-tested approach of engaging teens with entrepreneurial mentors and proven programs. This model sparks enhanced connectivity between schools, businesses, communities, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Students successfully engage with their local entrepreneurial ecosystem and create new businesses. These agents of change will fuel the economic engines in communities across America by generating innovation, prosperity, and jobs, all having a profound and positive impact.

JA Entrepreneurial Academy

$20,000-$30,000 for cohort of 15-20 students

The Entrepreneurial Academy is a unique opportunity that brings urban and suburban high school students together at a corporate site to gain skills in entrepreneurism, leadership, teamwork, ethics and career development. The focus of the 15-week, 30-hour after school program will be the development and launching of an actual business, including securing investors to liquidation, using the “JA Company Program” curriculum. The program has run successfully since its start with The Hartford in 2013. The program has now grown to three sites, The Hartford, Stanley Black & Decker, and Pratt & Whitney partnered with Goodwin University.

Investment Focus: Entrepreneurship, Work Readiness, Career Inspiration, Financial Literacy

Be Entrepreneurial Challenge

$5,000-$10,000 depending on number of students that participate (based on 50-100 students) Designed to fit within the parameters of a school day, students will develop a business plan with the guidance and expertise of their volunteer leaders. In the spirit of competition, students will pitch their draft business plans to a panel of judges. The top teams move on to compete in a final round. Through this program, students develop a mindset that enables opportunity identification, innovation, value creation, and problem solving. They learn the principles, strategies and skills through the experiences of others and apply them to their own lives.

Investment Focus: Entrepreneurship, Work Readiness, Financial Literacy

JA Company Program

$1,000-$10,000 depending on number of students that participate (based on 10-100 students) High school students are empowered to fill a need or solve a problem in their community while developing the practical skills required to conceptualize, capitalize, and manage their own business venture. Community volunteers and mentors provide real-world guidance and experience to the student-led startup.

Investment Focus: Entrepreneurship, Work Readiness, Career Inspiration, Financial Literacy

The Leadership Series – Be a Better Leader

$1,000-$10,000 depending on the number of students that participate (based on 10-100 students) Created for high school junior and seniors across Connecticut with components of leadership and career development incorporated. Each webinar focuses on a different career industry with themes like Careers of the Mind, Careers of the Body, Careers of Service, and Careers of Creativity. This program has been offered both as a live stream as well as a pre-recorded option.

Investment Focus: Entrepreneurship, Work Readiness, Career Inspiration

Louis J. Golden Student Leadership Conference

$5,000-$10,000 depending on number of students that participate (based on 50-100 students) This program is designed to fit within the parameters of a school day and made possible by the generosity of the Louis J. Golden Leadership Fund. Led by Leadership of Greater Hartford, students will receive an introductory crash course to leadership. Students learn strategies and concepts related to conflict resolution, team building, group decision making, personal brand and more. This is a pre-requisite to the Entrepreneurial Academy, Career Connections to Yong Women and Jr. Apprentice.

Investment Focus: Entrepreneurship, Work Readiness, Career Inspiration

In addition to our stand-alone programming, JA has multiple curriculums used by volunteers in K-6 classrooms as part of our JA Day or JA in a Week programs as well as through a series of weekly sessions. Below is a list of these entrepreneurial focused curriculums: