Young Entrepreneurs Club Wraps Up its First Trimester
Written by Jia Wong & Philip Choi, High School Students
This trimester marked the launch of the Young Entrepreneurs Club, where nine middle school students gathered weekly to explore the fundamentals of business and entrepreneurship. Led by high school students Jia Wong and Philip Choi, with Ms. Peterson serving as faculty sponsor, the after-school club created a collaborative environment where students could develop and present their own business ideas.
Throughout the third ASA trimester, middle school students were introduced to key concepts in entrepreneurship, such as identifying customer needs, conducting SWOT analyses, and developing branding and pricing strategies. As the weeks progressed, students worked collaboratively in teams to shape innovative business ideas while strengthening their teamwork and public speaking skills. By the end of the trimester, each group had transformed its initial ideas into a more structured business proposal.
The program concluded with a final pitch competition on May 11, where each team presented their ideas before a panel of judges. The classroom was filled with excitement and anticipation as each team confidently shared its work.
After a competitive round of presentations, Team 1—Yeseong L. (7), Jayden C. (7), and Steven H. (7)—earned first place with their project, LaunchPad, an AI-powered web platform designed to help first-time entrepreneurs build businesses from the ground up.
Their pitch began with a presentation, mapping out a major problem in today's society: many new founders struggle to turn their ideas into successful businesses because they lack experience. To demonstrate their idea, the team went beyond the project requirements by creating a working website to demonstrate the process. They showed how the AI platform asks users a series of simple questions before generating a personalized business plan complete with estimated costs, planning strategies, and practical advice. Their project highlighted how emerging technology can make entrepreneurship more accessible to aspiring business owners around the world.
Beyond the competition, the Young Entrepreneurs Club emphasized the importance of applying creativity and technology to real-world problems. Students were encouraged to identify everyday issues in society and develop creative business ideas that could address them, helping them understand how entrepreneurship can create meaningful change.
The Young Entrepreneurs Club highlights the growing opportunities for middle school students at YISS to participate in meaningful, skill-building activities. By introducing entrepreneurship at an early age, the club provides students build a strong foundation in leadership, collaboration, financial literacy, and problem-solving skills that will benefit them throughout middle school and beyond.
Club leaders Jia Wong and Philip Choi shared their hope that business education will continue to expand in schools, emphasizing the importance of entrepreneurship and financial literacy for younger students.
Special thanks go to Ms. Peterson for hosting the club in her classroom and sponsoring the program after school hours. It fostered a supportive learning environment for students interested in business and entrepreneurship. Additionally, thank you to all nine middle school students who showed up week after week with curiosity and ambition to learn. With plans to continue next trimester, the Young Entrepreneurs Club hopes to welcome even more middle school students interested in exploring the world of business next year.
