Arlington, VA - On Thursday, March 31, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. , student entrepreneurs from t he Chamber's  Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!)  program, recently named as an Editor's Pick for Stellar Youth Programs by  Arlington Magazine ,  will take the stage  in the  Reinsch Library Auditorium  at  Marymount University  to present their business plans before a panel of local business leaders and a public audience. 

 

Local students, ages 12-18, representing nine businesses and social movements from the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Arlington Chamber will have five minutes to pitch their business plans to prominent local members of the business community, during the program's annual YEA! Investor Panel Event (think "Shark Tank" meets "The Apprentice"). Based on the appeal and merit of the students' plans and presentations, representatives from companies like Fluor, Graham Holdings, and Vornado/Charles E. Smith will determine the amount of funds to allocate to each business or social movement.

 

The participating investors will also select the one business group that will advance to the Regional Semi-Finals of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy Saunders Scholars National College Scholarship competition, where they will compete for college scholarships, cash prize packages, and the opportunity to attend America's Small Business Summit in Washington, DC courtesy of the United States Chamber of Commerce.

 

"We have been impressed by the creativity and determination of these young people since the start of their program in November,"  said  Kate Bates , President & CEO of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. "Last year's Investor Panel was a huge success, and we are  looking forward to seeing this group present their business ideas to our members."

 

The Investor Panel will be comprised of prominent local business people, including representatives from the following companies: