Youth Entrepreneurship Partnership Project
About this Program
The YEPP is the Youth Entrepreneurship Partnership Project presented by SCHC and partners, Ryerson Enactus Group, Northpine Foundation, Peerage Capital, and Shopify.
Students in the Greater Toronto Area complete a 12-week program that provides them with an opportunity to work on their business idea with exclusive access to Shopify services while receiving one on one mentorship to help create a business plan and have their business idea come to fruition.
What makes this program unique?
Students are given the ability to bring their business vision into reality while gaining free mentorship and numerous transferable skills learned that could be used for future careers. In addition, winners of the Youth Venture Competition can earn award dollars to help support the growth of their business. Please read the following blog post as one former participant shares how this program has helped her launch her business.
What to expect?
Once the 12-week program is over the youth will present their business idea/plan to a panel of judges with business seed fund awards for the top presentations and plans. The winners of the competition (Youth Venture Competition) will move on to a free trial of Shopify where they will receive further mentorship to transfer their business on the Shopify platform to create an e-commerce platform for themselves.
Keep an eye out on our social media channels for announcements for when we will be restarting this YEPP program. To get a glimpse of the YEPP program see these three videos below that share highlights from the prior competitions.
Currently, the program is virtual but may have on site program following all COVID-19 precautions. The weekly workshops take place on Tuesdays from 5-6pm and students are expected to meet with their mentors outside of workshop for 1 hour once a week. Read from a mentor’s perspective.