Biz Kids

The night was billed as “Shark Tank” meets “The Apprentice” meets “American Idol.”

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy investor panel events in Sarasota and Lakeland in March and April gave middle school and high school students a chance to present their business plans to area business owers. At stake: a shot to win investment capital and an opportunity to advance to the YEA! Saunders Scholars Competition in Rochester, N.Y., in May. In Rochester, students from across the country will compete to win scholarships and business startup prize packages.

YEA! was founded in 2004 at the University of Rochester. Today, the YEA! program is in 168 communities across the country. The program offers yearlong classes for students on starting and running a business. During the program, students develop business ideas, write business plans, do market research and pitch plans to an investor panel. Chambers of commerce in Lakeland and Sarasota worked closely with the programs.