Westview High School senior teaches business to younger students

Introducing Youth-preneurs

Youth-preneurs is a student-led program founded by 17-year-old Ishana Senthil from Westview High School. The program is meant to equip youth from elementary to middle school to become the next generations of business leaders. Youth-preneurs specifically focus on underrepresented POC communities in PDX by providing hands-on in-person entrepreneurship and pitch-building camps.

Since the start of inception back in the summer of 2023, Youth-preneurs have reached over 250+ students of color in the Portland area, and over 100 in Southern India, helping students unlock their potential and explore the world of business. This is done through interactive in-person and virtual camps which students entirely run. In these camps, lesson plans are created for each 6-day cohort. In each cohort, topics such as basics of entrepreneurship, such as idea development, crafting business plans, and delivering compelling elevator pitches. If students are not able to attend these camps in person, there are options to join virtually where anyone from any part of the world can join.

High School Founder Ishana Senthil was inspired to start Youth-preneurs after recognizing the lack of support and resources for students interested in entrepreneurship in a early age. With the average demographic of business backgrounds being low in America, she wanted to create a program that not only taught kids about basic everyday business skills but also empowered them to believe in their potential. Ishana’s inspiration was her mother as her mother entered the business field with a lack of support as an Indian woman, making it difficult for her to break into the career. “By setting students up in the beginning, they are given the chance to express their creativity and bring it to life with just a few extra pushes and steps. Youth-preneurs is about giving students the confidence to think creatively and take initiative, no matter their starting point,” says Ishana Senthil. By offering free and low-cost programs, Youth-preneurs ensure that financial barriers do not stand in the way of students pursuing their entrepreneurial ambitions.

The program also emphasizes practical, real-world skills. Students learn to analyze market needs, design eco-friendly products, and develop business models that can be implemented in their communities. By focusing on both business theory and hands-on experience, Youth Preneurs helps students gain the confidence to turn their ideas into actionable projects.

One example was a student from Lenox Elementary creating zero waste plant pods and actually implementing it within his school. Participants leave the program with not only business knowledge but also a deeper understanding of how to navigate challenges and seize opportunities.

Parents can contact us via our website, youth-preneurs.com, or by email at youthprenuers@gmail.com.