Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)

Winning the 2024 National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge was just the beginning for Lucio Hightower-Rojas from NFTE’s West region. His business, Scholar Brilliance, is an AI-driven, gamified platform that helps students improve their essays, manage tasks, and track success in the scholarship process. As part of his prize, Lucio received $10,000 in seed capital and a mentorship session with Daymond John, The People’s Shark and the founder and CEO of FUBU, a $6 billion hip-hop apparel company. Earlier this year, Lucio sat down with Daymond for a 45-minute Game Changer session, where they talked about business strategy, branding, and growth. Daymond shared powerful lessons on differentiating your brand, building confidence, and scaling smartly. Lucio left the session with fresh strategies to grow his newest business venture and make a lasting impact on students nationwide. Stay tuned as he takes the next steps in his entrepreneurial journey!

Entrepreneurship is all about thinking bigger, taking risks, and seizing opportunities—and that’s exactly what my Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) colleagues and our NFTE alumni did at the 10X Growth Conference!   Last week, Vanee Brown, NFTE Lead Alumni Associate, and Chris Brignolle, NFTE Sr. Executive Director, Southeast & Regional Support, joined an incredible group of NFTE alumni at 10X Growth Con, Grant Cardone’s premier entrepreneurship event. Over three days, our NFTE team immersed themselves in high-energy talks, powerful networking, and game-changing business strategies.   This opportunity was made possible through our growing relationship with the Grant Cardone Foundation, which has already: -Contributed $12K in Seed Capital Awards to support NFTE Southeast BizCamp -Sponsored the Southeast RYEC with $6K in cash awards & in-kind donations -Donated 10X for Kids books to NFTE students -Extended 10X Kids University access to every registered NFTE alum   Attending 10X Growth Con was transformative for our NFTE alumni, including Rommie Hooper, Indiraliz Gracia Camacho, Layla R., and Ronald King. This experience opened doors to an exciting world of entrepreneurship and pushed our alumni to apply and elevate their entrepreneurial skills.   We're excited to grow this partnership and extend similar opportunities across NFTE regions. Huge thanks to the Grant Cardone Foundation for believing in the next generation of young entrepreneurs!

April is National Volunteer Month, and there's no better time to support the next generation of entrepreneurs with NFTE! We’re looking for professionals to volunteer as coaches or judges as competition season kicks into high gear over the next few weeks. Whether you join us virtually or in-person, your support can make a real difference for NFTE students. Find a volunteer opportunity that fits your schedule and region: volunteer.nfte.com

Make finance fun for your students! Intuit's Hour of Finance™ Challenge is underway. Help them learn budgeting in just one hour this April. Sign up now! https://intuit.me/3XwVwVl #IntuitHoF

Last month, NFTE Mid-Atlantic hosted the Fuel a Future Happy Hour, and what a night it was! More than 60 people joined us to connect, celebrate, and support the power of youth entrepreneurship. We heard moving stories from NFTE alumni that reminded us exactly why this work matters. Guests also had the chance to explore a private viewing of “Interspecies: New Scenarios of Symbiotic Coexistence”— an exhibition by Camilla Alberti, Anastasia Komar, and Bai Yiyi at Swivel Gallery. Huge thanks to everyone who made it all possible. We’re especially grateful to the NFTE New York Metro Advisory Board and to Shawn Leventhal for helping bring this event to life. And thank you to Swivel Gallery and Graham Wilson for hosting us in such a beautiful space. Let’s keep the momentum going!

When Maxine Clark—entrepreneur, philanthropist, and NFTE Midwest & National Advisory Board Member—first met our students in St. Louis back in 2012, something clicked. Their energy, creativity, and drive reminded her of how Build-A-Bear Workshop got its start: with one bold idea sparked by a child’s imagination. Since then, Maxine has been a champion for youth entrepreneurship, helping bring NFTE’s full programming to the region, mentoring young founders, and opening doors across the community. Her impact runs deep—and continues to grow. This Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating Maxine’s lasting contributions to NFTE and the future of entrepreneurship. Read her story: https://lnkd.in/ebFJpcCY.

“Witnessing firsthand the impact one person can make inspired me to volunteer.” — LaToya Rowell, NDCCDP, NFTE National Board Member and VP, National Community Affairs Manager at Comerica Bank. When LaToya Rowell first connected with NFTE in 2020, it was a chance to align her passion for financial education with a mission that creates real change! She saw that change in action at an Innovation Day, when she coached a team of girls who were hesitant to speak up. By the end of the day, they were beaming with confidence—engaged, empowered, and owning their ideas. For LaToya, that’s what entrepreneurship is all about: lifting voices, sparking confidence, and building futures. This Women’s History Month, we’re honored to share LaToya’s story—a story of purpose, power, and belief in the next generation of entrepreneurs. Read more: https://lnkd.in/em_QzpEz!

Make finance fun with Intuit's Hour of Finance™ Challenge. This FREE program encourages students to learn about budgeting in one hour during Financial Literacy Month. Visit intuit.me/4idclgh to learn more. #IntuitHoF

NFTE is looking for professionals to volunteer as coaches or judges over the next few weeks. Whether virtually or in-person, there’s an opportunity for you to make an impact! Find a volunteer slot that fits your schedule by region here: volunteer.nfte.com.

As we gear up for the 2025 Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge series, let’s take a moment to celebrate last year’s champions—featured in our new annual report. The 2023–24 fiscal year was one of breakthroughs for the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). We reached new heights of public awareness, catalyzed critical conversations around policy, garnered significant media attention, and achieved record-breaking fundraising milestones. Check out our interactive 2024 Annual Report for July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024 ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eFQMFkhr.