On October 8, our 20th annual National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge showcased the business pitching talent of 60 student entrepreneurs from seven U.S. regions. Presented by EY, PayPal, and Zuora, with support from ASA and Santander, the New York City event was a full day of elimination rounds culminating in a high-energy final showdown in front of a cheering audience. We're thankful to everyone who donated, volunteered, attended, watched the livestream or otherwise supported our young innovators' creativity and drive. We hope to see you at NFTE's World Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. Until then, get to know the U.S. champions!

For nearly 40 years, NFTE has championed the belief that all young people, especially those in underserved communities, deserve access to high-quality entrepreneurship education.

We have made much progress toward advancing our cause. NFTE's global reach now spans 39 countries, and our core work remains clear: to equip youth with the entrepreneurial mindset and essential “power skills” like creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability.

On November 7, we'll celebrate Youth Entrepreneurship Day—an initiative launched by NFTE in 2023 to spotlight the promise of entrepreneurial learning. This year, we’re marking the occasion by releasing a groundbreaking global report on the state of entrepreneurship education.

The report offers a compelling narrative of how entrepreneurship is taught around the world and underscores its connection to improved educational and economic outcomes. It issues a clear call to leaders across sectors to invest in scaling this impactful movement. At the heart of this transformation are educators. With more than 700 teachers in our network, NFTE is proud to support professionals who are turning classrooms into dynamic hubs of innovation.

Stay tuned for ways to engage with us on Youth Entrepreneurship Day, celebrate our educators and join NFTE’s call for bold investment in equitable access to entrepreneurship education.

Adrian Bautista and his business partner, Evan Perez from The MET School in Providence, Rhode Island, took top honors at the 2025 NFTE National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. Their winning business, Color Your Life, is an AI-powered coloring book that transforms personal memories into interactive, screen-free experiences. Their innovative concept earned them the national title, a $10,000 prize, and a mentorship session with Daymond John, The People’s Shark and founder and CEO of FUBU, a $6 billion hip-hop apparel company.

Our 2025 national runners-up, Chase Little and Michael Scanlon from Alonso High School in Tampa, impressed judges with MC Marine, a business focused on eco-friendly marine cleaning solutions. Jamie Jimenez from Florence Nightingale Middle School in Los Angeles earned accolades for Soberband, a wearable device designed to support individuals on their sobriety journey. Each runner-up received $2,500 to help grow their ventures and continue their entrepreneurial paths. We extend heartfelt thanks to our final round judges, including leaders from EY, Zuora, Santander, Caravan Consulting, and NFTE alumna Isis Swaby. 

Joshua Mallory from Chicago Hope Academy was awarded the Daniel Treanor Inclusive Innovator Award, supported by the MetLife Foundation. His business idea, Easy Fit, offers accessible dress shirts with magnetic closures for people with upper body mobility challenges. Mallory’s commitment to inclusive design exemplifies the spirit of innovation and impact that NFTE champions. After accepting his award, Joshua stood up from his wheelchair, walked to the microphone and shared this with the audience:

"As you can see, I'm walking. ... This happened a year and a half ago. I've been able to see that through hard work it is possible to do what you put your mind to do. I didn't think that being an entrepreneur would be possible because of my limitations, but here I am today. If there's one thing you learn from me, it's to remember who you are—not because of what circumstances came against you but who you really are deep down." 

Each October 5, World Teachers’ Day highlights how educators are transforming education. At NFTE, we know that behind every successful student is an inspiring teacher. With 722 educators in our network, we provide ongoing training, professional development, and a vibrant community to help them inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. Andrea Cook and Tate Shippen are among the NFTE teachers guiding students from their first pitch to regional and national competitions and beyond.

Tate teaches business and entrepreneurship, as well as mathematics at Ipswich High School in Massachusetts and has 18 years of experience teaching on the North Shore. He uses the NFTE curriculum to encourage students to be creative critical thinkers and guide them as they create small businesses. Many of these student ventures continue beyond the classroom, a testament to Shippen’s encouragement and support. Nominated by NFTE student Bianca Fatu, Tate was honored this fall as a 2025 Boston Red Sox Most Valuable Educator. He was honored at Fenway Park and received a personalized Red Sox jersey.

Andrea is a Career and Technical Education teacher at Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted in Grand Prairie, Texas. With 20 years of teaching experience, including eight with NFTE, she has helped students grow from nervous sixth graders to confident eighth-grade entrepreneurs. Her dedication reflects the transformative journey that begins in the classroom and leads to real-world success. In reflecting on her commitment to student development, Andrea cited 2025 South Regional Champions Kamsi Dukes and Aaira Masood, creators of Child Guardian—a wearable device that sends alerts to teachers in response to issues like bullying. Andrea (pictured above in center) had this to say about coaching her students:

 “First, I let them know, we're here — we've come this far. They're the best in their region, and now being amongst the best in the nation is just the cherry on top. This is the fun part. We've done all our work. Nobody knows this business except for you, so just go out there and own your business and do your best and boss up!” 

This month, we’re proud to shine our corporate spotlight on KKR, whose commitment to NFTE’s mission has made a meaningful impact across our programs. Over the summer, KKR volunteers brought their expertise and enthusiasm to BizCamps in Philadelphia and New England, mentoring young entrepreneurs as they developed and pitched their business ideas. This October, KKR team members continued their engagement as judges at the 2025 NFTE National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, helping to identify and celebrate the next generation of innovative thinkers. Thank you, KKR, for your partnership and continued investment in entrepreneurial education!

Here are five ways to celebrate Youth Entrepreneurship Day on November 7:

The 2025-2026 season of NFTE's World Series of Innovation (WSI) is underway. WSI invites young people to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges and help advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. There are two tracks of competition: Imagination League for innovators ages 5-12 and the Impact League for ages 13-24. Students can enter now for a chance to win prizes! The deadline is December 12. Don't forget to sign up to volunteer.

Calling all NFTE alumni with a business that's ready to launch or scale! NFTE's annual Founders Forum is an opportunity for alumni worldwide to participate in a 10-week virtual incubator designed to support viable startups. The program runs January-March 2026. To further develop your business, learn from mentors, prepare for investment and directly connect with potential investors, reserve your seat by December 12.

The World Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge returns to New York on Nov. 20 with more than 20 NFTE student businesses from around the world competing for top honors. Students will share ideas, learn from each other, and pitch to a panel of VIP judges. You’ll see the top teams bring their best ideas to the stage. RSVP now, but if you can't attend in person, subscribe to our YouTube Channel to watch!

New & Veteran Educators are invited to take these MINDSET MAKERS professional development courses on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET: