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    Youth Entrepreneurship

    Youth from across Greater Baltimore gain real-world business knowledge, develop an entrepreneurial mindset and build confidence through workshops and mentorship tailored for aspiring leaders.

    The StarTUp team addressing a room of students
    Tony Covington, former NFL player and founder of I Am Underdog, speaks to high school students.
    Students completing a team project
    A TU student leads a workshop with middle school students.
    An attentive audience
    Leari Jones, StarTUp programming and business specialist, lead a youth entrepreneurship programming session.
    Students completing a workshop
    Local high school students are paired with entrerepreneurs during a recent workshop.

    The StarTUp partners with schools and community organizations across Greater Baltimore to build and deliver entrepreneurship programs that help young people develop entrepreneurial skills, engaging more than 300 youth annually.

    Our youth entrepreneurship programs go beyond teaching tools and technology. Through curated hands-on workshops, students engage in purposeful learning, creative problem-solving and real-world skill development. Participants leave with greater confidence, a stronger sense of agency, and the skills to pursue their passions, whether in the workforce or as future entrepreneurs.

    Youth entrepreneurship program offerings

    The StarTUp offers customizable one-day workshops for schools and organizations serving local middle and high school students. Our hands-on workshops explore:

    • Design thinking
    • Creative problem-solving
    • Community entrepreneurship
    • Brand development

    Each workshop is tailored to the goals and interests of each group, allowing schools and organizations to mix and match experiences. Workshops can include:

    • Campus tours
    • Conversations with TU colleges
    • Panel discussions with student and community entrepreneurs

    Interested in scheduling a workshop for your class? Reach out. We’re happy to help.

    Email Us

    Program history

    The StarTUp initially partnered with Cristo Rey Jesuit High School as a Corporate Internship Partner, providing a dynamic three-week program that integrated academic theory with real-world insights. The program leveraged a non-traditional approach to teaching entrepreneurship, serving as a steppingstone to launch their innovation journey. Over 150 Cristo Rey students were exposed to entrepreneurship with many building lasting bonds with TU faculty and staff.  

    During the 2025–2026 academic year youth entrepreneurship programming expanded to serve schools and organizations across Greater Baltimore. We’ve hosted students from: 

    • Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women 
    • Dulaney High School 
    • Dundalk High School 
    • Hereford High School 
    • The Historic Cherry Hill Elementary/Middle School 
    • Katherine Johnson Global Academy 
    • Loch Raven High School 
    • Towson High School 
    • Woodlawn High School 
    • The YMCA of Central Maryland 

     

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