Preparing Our Youth For Furture Success!

BYEE or Black Youth Entrepreneur Expo, is designed to give young black and brown entrepreneurs an opportunity to create, execute, and showcase their own business, product and/or services. These young minds will be showcasing their innovative ideas and selling their products and services. From handmade crafts to innovative solutions, you’ll find a variety of businesses to explore and support.

Brown and Black youth, aged 5 to 18, who possess an entrepreneurial mindset and are eager to generate income.

If you and your child fully embrace the experience, the BYEE will empower participants to: Strengthen their problem-solving abilities Enhance their creativity Improve their communication skills Build self-confidence Foster a sense of responsibility and independence Cultivate perseverance and resilience

All participants are required to complete online registration and submit their registration fee. Please find the registration links below. Non-Heritage Members Register Here Heritage Members Register Here

Yes, up to three (3) young entrepreneurs can be part of a single business. A group of up to three participants should submit one application that includes each child’s information. Each registration form is for one (1) business entity. You may register up to three (3) entrepreneurs per business entity. This year, we have space for only 10 businesses, so we highly recommend siblings join together as a family business or friends collaborate as one enterprise. For example, if you have three children who want to sell three different products, they should register under a shared business name, such as the "Doe Family Company." At their vendor table, they can sell their three products under this single brand—e.g., "Devin's Donuts by Doe Family Co."

Yes. There is a $15 business registration fee for Heritage Members and a $25 business registration for non-Heritage Members. Registration includes: One (1) Rectangle (6x3ft) Table with chairs Entry into the BYEE Entrepreneurs Competition One (1) BYEE Participation certificate for each business member One (1) raffle ticket for each business member for the BYEE giveaways NO REFUNDS (or credits) will be given for any reason. No exceptions. Registrations can be transferred to a friend by emailing us their name and contact information. Each business registration form can include up to 3 children operating under the single business entity. One (1) business entity per registration form. Up to three (3) entrepreneurs per business entity registration.

Yes. Anyone that plans on registering their business for the BYEE will need to pay the appropriate registration fee for their business. Heritage Members receive a discount for their registration, see the Heritage Members Register Page

To encourage all of our young entrepreneurs to strive for excellence, each BYEE participant will automatically be entered into the Expo competition. Throughout the event, judges will evaluate businesses based on criteria such as creativity, product/service quality, table presentation, and sales pitch. The competition offers additional recognition for participants' hard work and dedication. Certificates, awards, and/or trophies will be presented in the following categories: BYEE Participation Certificate Each business member participating in BYEE will receive a certificate of participation. Best Table Presentation Ribbon (Age Groups: 5-7, 8-10, 11-14, 15-18) A ribbon will be awarded to one business member in each age group if their business wins this category. A business with members of mixed ages will be placed in the age group of the oldest member. This award will be based on the following criteria: Does the business attract attention from a distance? Is the business clearly labeled for customers? Is the table organized, with products clearly displayed and restocked as needed? Best Food/Beverage Trophy (All Ages) A trophy will be awarded to one business member if their business wins this category. This award will be based on the following criteria: Does the food's name match its presentation? Is the flavor profile appropriate for the item or beverage? Is the food or beverage properly stored? Best Handmade Item Trophy (All Ages) A trophy will be awarded to one business member if their business wins this category. This award will be based on the following criteria: Is the item an original creation by the entrepreneur? Does the item appear durable and well-made? Does the cost reflect the quality of the item? Most Creative Business Trophy (All Ages) A trophy will be awarded to one business member if their business wins this category. This award will be based on the following criteria: Is the business based on an innovative new product or service, or an expansion of an existing one? Is this business unique to the BYEE (i.e., are there other vendors offering the same thing)? Does the business require a special skill to create the product or service? Most Business Potential Trophy (All Ages) A trophy will be awarded to one business member if their business wins this category. This award will be based on the following criteria: Can the business thrive in other marketplaces such as online/e-commerce or farmer’s markets? Can the business be scaled to hire employees? Does the business have potential to attract startup funding in the future? Voter’s Choice Best Overall Business Trophy (All Ages) A trophy will be awarded to one business member if their business wins this category. This award will be based on the popular vote of event attendees.

The BYEE is designed to empower young entrepreneurs by providing hands-on experience in managing their own business. During the expo, parents are asked to refrain from selling, promoting, or directly interacting with customers. Any parent who violates this rule will result in their child’s disqualification from the competition. Registration & Participation: Children must be between the ages of 5 and 18 and be capable of managing their own booth independently, including set-up, customer interaction, sales, order fulfillment, and payment handling. Parents can assist with the application process but should step back during the expo and allow the child to run their booth on their own. If a child is not able to perform these tasks independently, they should either partner with an older sibling, reduce their offerings, or wait until they are ready. Parent Code of Conduct: Parents are prohibited from engaging with customers, handling food or money, or taking orders. Parents can assist with restocking products and providing supervision but must remain at the venue for the duration of the event. If a young entrepreneur leaves their booth, they must place a “Be Back Soon” sign to notify customers. Selling Rules: Vendors must remain at their designated booth and not walk around to sell products. Loud music, yelling, or bartering is not allowed. Gloves must be worn when handling food. If a product sells out, vendors should display a "Sold Out" sign and continue to enjoy the event—do not break down your booth early. Clean-Up: Participants are responsible for cleaning up their own space and disposing of their trash before leaving. Failure to follow these rules may result in disqualification from the competition.

Awards and trophies will be given for the following categories: BYEE Participation Certificate Each business member participating in BYEE will receive a certificate of participation. Best Table Presentation Ribbon (Age Groups: 5-7, 8-10, 11-14, 15-18) A ribbon will be awarded to one business member in each age group if their business wins this category. A business with members of mixed ages will be placed in the age group of the oldest member. This award will be based on the following criteria: Does the business attract attention from a distance? Is the business clearly labeled for customers? Is the table organized, with products clearly displayed and restocked as needed? Best Food/Beverage Trophy (All Ages) A trophy will be awarded to one business member if their business wins this category. This award will be based on the following criteria: Does the food's name match its presentation? Is the flavor profile appropriate for the item or beverage? Is the food or beverage properly stored? Best Handmade Item Trophy (All Ages) A trophy will be awarded to one business member if their business wins this category. This award will be based on the following criteria: Is the item an original creation by the entrepreneur? Does the item appear durable and well-made? Does the cost reflect the quality of the item? Most Creative Business Trophy (All Ages) A trophy will be awarded to one business member if their business wins this category. This award will be based on the following criteria: Is the business based on an innovative new product or service, or an expansion of an existing one? Is this business unique to the BYEE (i.e., are there other vendors offering the same thing)? Does the business require a special skill to create the product or service? Most Business Potential Trophy (All Ages) A trophy will be awarded to one business member if their business wins this category. This award will be based on the following criteria: Can the business thrive in other marketplaces such as online/e-commerce or farmer’s markets? Can the business be scaled to hire employees? Does the business have potential to attract startup funding in the future? Voter’s Choice Best Overall Business Trophy (All Ages) A trophy will be awarded to one business member if their business wins this category. This award will be based on the popular vote of event attendees.

The application deadline for entrepreneurs is Tuesday, April 22nd. Space is limited so don't delay.

Children are allowed to sell handmade items, store-bought goods, food, games, or services. No raw food is permitted. No animals are allowed, as we do not have the capacity to accommodate them on the campus. No fundraisers are allowed (e.g., Girl Scout or Boy Scout products). No CBD products are permitted. Children may NOT sell items on behalf of their parents. Children must play an active role in the acquisition, creation, or production of the products they are selling.

Healthy business competition can promote innovation. We allow the customers and market forces to run its course when dealing with two of the same kinds of business ideas at the expo. Although we do not restrict multiple businesses that are similar, we will inform the later applicant that another entrepreneur has a similar business. This will allow the later applicant an opportunity to decide if they would like to make any adjustments to their business plan.

Electrical outlets are limited. Vendors may request outlet access during the application process, and assignments will be made based on the order of submission. You will be notified by email in advance if an outlet is available for your booth.

Absolutely! Here are a few helpful resources that will inspire your child to learn more about entrepreneurship and spark their creative business ideas. These resources will guide students through developing creative business concepts, pitching and selling ideas, and understanding the essentials of managing a business. Key topics include budgeting, personal savings, expense tracking, revenue calculation, and crafting a solid business plan. Entrepreneurship Resources: https://kidpreneurs.org/basic-business-terms-kidpreneurs-should-know/ https://kidpreneurs.org/kidpreneurs-business-ideas/ https://www.gohenry.com/us/blog/money-management/the-gohenry-guide-to-entrepreneurship Business Ideas: https://www.signupgenius.com/Business/kid-entrepreneur-ideas.cfm https://wedevs.com/blog/463195/school-market-day-ideas/

Absolutely! Tickets for the BYEE will be available for free registration starting on April 9th. While BYEE admission is FREE, we encourage attendees to bring a little spending money (between $5 and $20) to support our young entrepreneurs and shop their amazing products. Your ticket also grants you free access to the Year End Fun Fest, where the fun continues! While there’s no charge, if you wish to make a donation to help fund next year’s event, you can specify your donation amount at checkout. Every contribution helps make this event even better, no pressure!

Absolutely! The BYEE will conclude just before the Year End Fun Fest begins, so participants won’t miss any of the fun. However, if they wish to keep their business table open, they are welcome to do so as long as they are actively monitoring it.