Every Youth Can Become an Entrepreneur
Our programs have served over 47,000 youth
Today’s Careers Require 21st Century Skills
96% of students leave our programs better connected and prepared
The Startup Ecosystem Thrives with Diversity
We seed diverse founders at 7x the national rate
Young Founders Drive Massive Impact
Our founders have created $374 million in revenue and 1,980 jobs
Through Future Founders’ collection of middle school, high school, and 18- to 30-year-old programming, we have reached an astonishing 47,000 young entrepreneurs. We empower this group of underserved, ambitious youth with confidence, leadership development, vital career skills, and so much more. Our efforts prepare them to succeed in the careers of tomorrow, be it for a large corporation or a business they launch themselves.
And the best part? We’re just getting started…
Entrepreneurship education plays a powerful role in youth development as its framework supports key aspects of student success: professional skill-building, social and emotional core competencies, and career exposure. Our middle and high school work, in partnership with incredible Chicago schools, is proven to equip students with the skills and mindset they need to succeed in the future.
In fact, an incredible 96% of students leave our in-school programs and camps feeling more connected to and knowledgeable about the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Chicago.
In a study of 1,454 Silicon Valley companies conducted by the Center for Employment Equity, it was discovered that African American and Latinx employees make up less than 13% of the startup and tech ecosystem, even though they represent over 30% of the available workforce. Future Founders aims to reverse this trend and give everyone a seat at the table.
This starts at the very beginning with the middle and high schools we choose to serve, and continues all the way through our 18- to 30-year-old initiatives, where diverse entrepreneurs comprise anywhere from 60-80% of our individual cohorts, 7x the national represented rate.
Future Founders believes that young entrepreneurs can have a massive impact because we’ve seen it firsthand.
Founders in our Fellowship and Startup Bootcamp programs have generated $374 million in revenue, raised $299 million in capital, and have created 1,980 jobs in the process.
To learn more about the impact these founders are creating, be sure to read the Future Founders 2021-22 Annual Report.
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