Teen Entrepreneurs at GVSU

A group of budding teenage entrepreneurs will gather on Grand Valley State University’s Pew Grand Rapids Campus this week to hone their business skills.

The Teen Entrepreneur Summer Academy is sponsored by GVSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and runs June 28-29. The intention of the event is to promote small business growth among young entrepreneurs and help keep viable startups here in West Michigan. The academy is targeted at Kent and Ottawa county high school students who have shown an interest in business ownership and have displayed a passion for the development of a dynamic business concept.

Participants include 16 area teens representing eight area high schools from Kent and Ottawa counties: Grand Rapids Public’s Ottawa Hills and City High; Cedar Springs, Wyoming Rogers, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Byron Center, Zeeland East and Holland.

Working in teams, students will become aware of the importance of networking, target market research and financial planning. Students will also be introduced to the wealth of resources available in the West Michigan area to assist young entrepreneurs with the growth, management, marketing and sustainability of future business endeavors. The academy climaxes with a pitch competition in the Loosemore Auditorium in the DeVos Center in Grand Rapids from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on Friday, June 29. An award ceremony follows immediately.