Young Entrepreneurs’ Symposium (YES!) ®
The Young Entrepreneur Symposium (YES) provides young aspiring entrepreneurs from across the globe, ages 18-24, the opportunity to build critical business skills and forge valuable connections. This 8- to 12-day event will be sprinkled with motivating talks by prolific entrepreneurs and world-class professors, problem-solving sessions by high-tech companies; industry visits and networking opportunities.
The first 3-4 days of YES focus on innovation: Students work in teams to brainstorm and generate products and services that are global and innovative, yet realistic. In the second stage, the young entrepreneurs work alongside professors and seasoned professionals to build fundamentally sound business plans. Following a culminating business plan competition, the participants engage the final stage of the event with leadership and collaboration exercises and individual coaching.
12-day YES sample schedule**
Day 1 / Opening / Tour UC Berkeley / Orientation/ Team / stay close to Berkeley
Day 2 / Innovation Workshop / Industry Tour* / Teamwork
Day 3 / Research Lecture / Industry Tour / Teamwork
Day 4 / Product/Service Dev Worshop / Teamwork
Day 5 / Innovation presentation / Shopping
Day 6 / Entrepreneurship Lecture / Tour Stanford / Teamwork / stay close to Stanford
Day 7 / Business Plan Lecture / Teamwork
Day 8 / Business Design workshop / Tour venture capitalist firm / Teamwork
Day 9 / Business Plan competition / Shopping
Day 10 / Collaboration Skills / Teamwork / stay close / San Jose downtown
Day 11 / Leadership Skills / Career development
Day 12 / Panel with young entrepreneurs / Conclusion/Reflection
Optional tours can be arranged.
* Industry visits include world-leading companies such as Google, HP, CISCO, Facebook, Intel, eBay, major venture capitalist firms, and major banks.
**Samples only, might change according to schedule and student background.
Note: YES! can arrange stays in student housing.
The first 3-4 days of YES focus on innovation: Students work in teams to brainstorm and generate products and services that are global and innovative, yet realistic. In the second stage, the young entrepreneurs work alongside professors and seasoned professionals to build fundamentally sound business plans. Following a culminating business plan competition, the participants engage the final stage of the event with leadership and collaboration exercises and individual coaching.
12-day YES sample schedule**
Day 1 / Opening / Tour UC Berkeley / Orientation/ Team / stay close to Berkeley
Day 2 / Innovation Workshop / Industry Tour* / Teamwork
Day 3 / Research Lecture / Industry Tour / Teamwork
Day 4 / Product/Service Dev Worshop / Teamwork
Day 5 / Innovation presentation / Shopping
Day 6 / Entrepreneurship Lecture / Tour Stanford / Teamwork / stay close to Stanford
Day 7 / Business Plan Lecture / Teamwork
Day 8 / Business Design workshop / Tour venture capitalist firm / Teamwork
Day 9 / Business Plan competition / Shopping
Day 10 / Collaboration Skills / Teamwork / stay close / San Jose downtown
Day 11 / Leadership Skills / Career development
Day 12 / Panel with young entrepreneurs / Conclusion/Reflection
Optional tours can be arranged.
* Industry visits include world-leading companies such as Google, HP, CISCO, Facebook, Intel, eBay, major venture capitalist firms, and major banks.
**Samples only, might change according to schedule and student background.
Note: YES! can arrange stays in student housing.
