The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) hosted its annual Trade Show last Saturday at the Mesa Mall, where our record class of 15 middle and high school students from across the county officially revealed their products and services to the public.
This marks a significant milestone for students in the program — the culmination of six months of hard work and dedication — from envisioning their business ideas to developing their products and services for launch.
After securing start-up funding from local investors in mid-April, the class has been actively preparing for every element of their business debuts at the Trade Show, transforming their prototypes into market-ready products, solidifying their sales and marketing platforms, and making sure they are ready to network and pitch their businesses to the general public.
The Trade Show was a unique occasion for each CEO to make major strides for their enterprises, whether it was meeting a potential customer or client, making their first sale or connecting with community members as fully formed business owners for the first time.
“This is one of the most energizing events of the year,” said Candace Carnahan, President & CEO of the Grand Junction Chamber. “These young entrepreneurs are creative, motivated, and brave. They’re not just learning about business—they’re doing business.”
With their graduation set for next week, we have no doubt that this is only the beginning of their entrepreneurial journeys, and we are excited to see them join the ranks of previous local graduates of the program as successful members of our business community and future leaders.
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy is a flagship program of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, built on our belief that entrepreneurial thinking starts early—and should be nurtured locally. By giving middle and high school students the tools, mentorship, and resources to launch real businesses, we’re not just building future leaders—we’re strengthening our region’s economy from the ground up.
As the only program of its kind in Colorado, YEA! reflects the Chamber’s long-standing commitment to fostering innovation, self-reliance, and a spirit of possibility in the next generation of Western Slope entrepreneurs.
Throughout the program, students explore the foundational elements of entrepreneurship and gain insights from one-on-one mentorships with local business leaders and private tours of successful business operations. In weekly classes, students participate in comprehensive lessons that take them through the process of starting a real business, including creating business plans, conducting market analysis, managing media campaigns, crafting elevator pitches, obtaining start-up funding and launching their ventures. At each step, students are encouraged to think critically and become more confident in their ideas, developing the necessary skills to become leaders and create meaningful enterprises.
The YEA! program would not be possible without the generous support of local sponsors, volunteer instructors, mentors, and investors who believe in building the next generation of business leaders right here in Mesa County. If you would like to get involved in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, contact Alessandra at alessandra@gjchamber.org.
Start as a Student, Finish as a CEO!
The Grand Junction Young Entrepreneurs Academy is looking for the next class of young entrepreneurs and innovators to begin in January 2026.
To learn more about the Young Entrepreneurs Academy and submit an application, visit:
www.gjchamber.org/yea.
