Build Youth Entrepreneurship

Video Build Youth Entrepreneurship

Real kids, real businesses, real rural.
Build the culture of entrepreneurship in your community by starting with your young people.
21 minute video
Available to watch immediately

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You've told us that retaining young people is one of your most important challenges.

You ranked it in the Top 5 on our Survey of Rural Challenges: 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021.

Rural kids aren't always deeply involved in their communities.

Kids aren’t always involved in activities or events outside of their school.

Could starting their own business better connect kids to their community?

Young entrepreneurs can boost your local economy.

Maybe you don't have many potential entrepreneurs to start with, or you're a commuter town where the adults tend to leave during the days.

Could school age kids be your source of potential entrepreneurs?

Building youth entrepreneurship could be the answer, except...

What's keeping young people from starting their own businesses? Sometimes, adults are putting unnecessary barriers in front of kids.

Traditional entrepreneurship training isn’t always good for kids.

Classes that aren't practical or hands on: kids have told us about some business classes more focused creating spreadsheets than serving customers.

Some programs are boring, lecture based or designed for adults, not doing what the kids want to do.

Many trendy training programs are focused on building wrong kind of businesses: scalable startups or high-growth enterprise examples. Most of your existing business owners aren't building scalable startups. Why push kids this way?

Too many look to the wrong kind of inspiration: billionaires aren't the best match for rural kids.

Some adults squash young entrepreneurial dreams, even when they're trying to be helpful.

Have you heard adults trying to protect kids from failure or disappointment by stopping them from trying? Adults tell kids “Starting a business is hard.” “That idea will never happen.” “Someone else tried that, and it didn’t work.”

How are kids supposed to learn by doing when those adults keep trying to stop them from trying?

Other adults get carried away with the rules, harshly enforcing permit processes and other regulations.

Sometimes kids can't even get started before the rule-enforcers shut them down.

Popular models like pitch competitions don't help.

Popular models aren't really appropriate for young rural business owners: shark tanks, pitch competitions, judging business plans, grading ideas stifle many potentially great business owners.

They're great at finding kids who are good at pitching ideas or writing plans. But that's not what most rural entrepreneurs do.

How often do your successful local business owners do formal pitches? Or write detailed business plans?
So why are we focusing on these competition for young entrepreneurs?

What works to support young entrepreneurs today?

In this video, you'll examples of successful entrepreneurship education projects, learn how to support your young entrepreneurs, and hear stories of successful business kids in small towns.

Entrepreneurship education that works

Hear 5 successful examples of teaching kids to be entrepreneurs.

You'll discover in school, after school and independent ways of reaching kids.

And we'll point out exactly what makes each example worth your time.

Real kids, real businesses

From storefronts to pumpkin patches, learn from these successful kid entrepreneurs.

Get out of their way

Find out how to support young entrepreneurs. Get the right words to replace old way rules enforcement with new, more supportive environments.

Create more small opportunities for small entrepreneurs.

Build Youth Entrepreneurship - video with Deb Brown and Becky McCray

21 minute video
Available to watch immediately

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Cut down the barriers

Throughout 2022, we're focused on helping you build a fairer, more unified community. With all the forces that feel like they're pulling us apart, we want to help local communities like yours join together better.

When you cut down the barriers to starting a business, you're treating all potential entrepreneurs more fairly.
Expanding economic opportunity to young people is the quickest way to expand economic opportunity to people from across your community.

You can trust SaveYour.Town's Becky McCray and Deb Brown to share practical advice for rural communities.

We are both small town entrepreneurs, and we started young! Deb's first business was a pig, and Becky started her first business in junior high school. Now we listen carefully when kids tell us about their experiences.

We've been trained in traditional economic, workforce and organization development, so we understand that old way thinking. But we didn't stop there. We joined forces in May 2015 to help small towns and rural communities thrive.

We developed the Idea Friendly Method out of our own personal experiences in business, agriculture, entrepreneurship, nonprofits and government.

You can watch on your own and share with others in your community.

This video is perfect for:

Indigenous, First Nations and Native Tribes, governments, youth and economic development organizations
Rural youth organizations like 4-H, FFA
Extension educators, especially youth
Libraries and library organizations
Community development, youth development groups
Community banks, credit unions

Not another tiresome webinar

Short, to the point video

Watch instantly on your schedule: anytime, on demand, starting now

Recorded so you can pause, stop, rewind or watch again immediately

You get personal access to Becky and Deb via message, email and comment. We do answer your questions personally!

Build Youth Entrepreneurship - video with Deb Brown and Becky McCray

21 minute video

Available immediately - no waiting

Buy Now

Is this video recorded so I can watch later?

Yes, the video is recorded, and you'll be able to watch it immediately as soon as you complete your purchase. You are welcome to watch the video more than once, start and stop, or go back and watch again. You're not limited to watching from a single computer or with just one group.

Can I get a copy of the slides?

You get a handout with pictures and links, a transcript plus an audio-only version for listening on the go.

What if I have questions?

You can ask questions two ways: in the comment box or via email. We always answer you personally. You can also share stories or examples you've seen. That helps everyone!

Will the video play on my computer? Or on my phone?

Either one! If you can watch a YouTube video, you can watch this video. That means you can use any device, any screen that can load a web page for you to login. Any PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android phone or tablet, smart TV or TV with a streaming box or stick should work.
You don't need blazing fast internet.

Can I share the video with other people?

Yes! Once you’re registered, you can schedule more than one viewing so you reach as many people as possible. We encourage you to watch on your own or set up an in-person or virtual watch party.

How long should I make a watch party?

For a watch party, schedule 45 -50 minutes. You'll want that extra time to discuss what you watched and to network and talk with each other.

Who should I invite?

Your friends who love to do things with you
Visionaries like yourself
Downtown associations, Main Streets, chambers and economic developers
Positive thinkers and doers
Leaders and regular people
Community foundations and leadership groups
Youth groups, young entrepreneurs
Elected officials from your local municipalities, counties or tribes
Business with a community focus, like banks and utilities
People who care about your town

What people say about SaveYour.Town videos

This video stimulated lots of note-taking and conversation between the business owners gathered at my house. Deb and Becky gave us some new ideas and several excellent examples of known models. I think some of us are thinking of pivoting our summer’s plans after participating in Wednesday’s event. Thanks for a well-thought out presentation!

Jonya Pacey, Minnesota

What a TERRIFIC marketing Video. I had 20 businesses show up to watch and they all left with new ideas and an excitement to get back and start implementing! I’ve already had 5 businesses reach out in less than 2 hours after it ended, that are already putting your ideas into action.

Mandy Walsh, City of Lampasas, Texas

There are always great take-aways from the videos that can be put into place immediately. One of my favorites is changing your store's evening vibe (different music, lighting, etc.) because evening shoppers are not the same as day time shoppers.

Diane Moore, Wheaton, Illinois

Videos by SaveYour.Town are fun way to learn some no-nonsense alternatives to community inertia.

Clark Hoskin, Ontario

Build Youth Entrepreneurship - video with Deb Brown and Becky McCray

21 minute video
Immediate access

Add to Cart