Last week was nothing short of extraordinary. We welcomed a group of bright and determined young entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners to the Start Smart Young Entrepreneurs Program, a weeklong journey designed to equip them with the tools, mindset, and resources to launch and grow their businesses.
These students—some already running businesses and others just getting started—spent the week learning what it truly takes to be an entrepreneur. Each day brought something powerful.
We kicked off with inspiration and mindset coaching from Eboni Whitby of Rebirth, helping students set their intentions and mentally prepare for the journey ahead. Then, our incredible partners stepped in to pour knowledge into our students:
Peter Bevel of SouthState Bank and Jeff Palmer of First Horizon Bank laid the foundation with lessons on financial literacy and the ethics of doing business.
Joi Travis Law LLC, an attorney and legal expert, guided students through the legal steps of launching a business—registering a name, understanding ownership structures, and conducting due diligence.
Talibah Bayles( TMB Tax & Financial Services Benefit Corporation) made budgeting real and practical, giving our students the tools to manage money effectively, whether they were just starting or scaling up.
Throughout the week, students worked daily on writing their business plans, identifying their value propositions, and learning how to pitch their ideas confidently. Thanks to the daily coaching of Christi Toyer and Keith Cromwell, our young entrepreneurs gained the clarity and confidence to share their stories powerfully.
On Friday, our boot camp culminated in a Pitch Competition—and wow, were we proud!
Brooklyn Young, 6th Grade (Fultondale Middle School), was named our Pitch Perfect Pro for delivering the overall best pitch.
Skylar Townsend, 6th Grade (I3 Academy), earned the Marketing Maestro Market Maestro
Best Understanding of the Target Market award for her compelling branding strategy.
Justin Storey, 12th Grade (Charter School), received the award for Value Visionary –
Best Value Proposition, clearly communicating the unique impact of his business.
This cohort reminded us of something we learned from our very first Start Smart program: students thrive when they have daily mentorship, open lines of communication, and the space to express themselves. With just one week, these students accomplished so much—just imagine what we could do with more time.
We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to do this work, and even more thankful to the young minds who inspire us daily. Here’s to the next generation of CEOs—and to building a future full of bold ideas, purpose-driven businesses, and confident young leaders.
#StartSmartYouth #NextGenCEO #AGGastonBusinessInstitute #YoungEntrepreneurs #BuildItBoldly
