$50 Startup Global Youth Entrepreneurship Pathway

The $50 Startup includes 8 project based learning labs packed with activities, videos, and online resources in a teacher friendly format. The user friendly nature of the $50 Startup program makes it a perfect solution for educators teaching STEM, the arts, or CTE to incorporate entrepreneurship into the classroom. Our mission is to empower students to become 21st century thinkers by awakening their entrepreneurial spirit, inspiring them to become the architects of their futures, and giving them the confidence to transform their communities.

Students learn business fundamentals and how to use their creativity to solve problems through creation of a business on a $50 budget.

Our youth entrepreneurship class is designed not just to teach learners how to start businesses, but also to prepare them with a range of workforce readiness skills and durable skills that are applicable across many areas of professional and personal life. Here's a list of 18 important skills learners will develop in this course:

1. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Entrepreneurs often face challenges and uncertainties. Learning to assess situations, think critically, and come up with solutions is crucial.
2. Decision Making: Entrepreneurs must make countless decisions, from big-picture strategies to daily operational choices. This hones the ability to analyze options and choose the best path forward.
3. Risk Assessment: Entrepreneurship is inherently risky. Students learn to evaluate risks, understand the trade-offs, and decide when and how to take calculated risks.
4. Communication Skills: Articulating ideas clearly, making compelling pitches to investors or clients, and communicating with team members are all essential.
5. Negotiation Skills: Whether it's securing better terms with suppliers or hammering out partnership agreements, negotiation is a key part of entrepreneurship.
6. Networking: Building and maintaining professional relationships is crucial in business. Students often learn the value of networking and how to do it effectively.
7. Teamwork and Leadership: While entrepreneurship often starts as an individual endeavor, building and leading a team becomes crucial as the business grows.
8. Time Management: Entrepreneurs wear many hats, making it vital to prioritize tasks and manage time efficiently.
9. Adaptability and Flexibility: The business world is dynamic. Entrepreneurs learn to adapt to changing conditions, pivot when necessary, and stay flexible in their approach.
10. Financial Literacy: Basics of budgeting, forecasting, and understanding financial statements are often covered in entrepreneurship courses.
11. Project Management: From planning to execution and monitoring, managing projects is a staple in the entrepreneurial journey.
12. Sales and Marketing: Entrepreneurs need to understand their target market, how to reach potential customers, and how to sell their product or service.
13. Ethical Reasoning and Integrity: Building a sustainable business requires understanding ethical considerations and operating with integrity.
14. Resilience and Perseverance: Not all ventures succeed on the first try. Bouncing back from failures and maintaining determination are critical lessons.
15. Cultural and Global Awareness: As businesses increasingly operate on a global scale, understanding cultural nuances and global market dynamics becomes essential.
16. Innovative Mindset: Entrepreneurship classes often stress the importance of innovation, teaching students to think outside the box and come up with new solutions to old problems.
17. Resourcefulness: Especially in the early stages, entrepreneurs often have to do more with less. This instills a sense of resourcefulness and creativity.
18. Customer-centric Thinking: Understanding customers' needs, preferences, and pain points are fundamental for business success.