Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Entrepreneur Academy (TEA) is a premier startup accelerator and training program for young innovators. We guide students through the entire process of launching a business—from brainstorming an initial idea to building a financial model and pitching to investors.

TEA is specifically designed for driven, curious middle school and high school students who want to explore the worlds of business, technology, and innovation.

Unlike traditional business classes, TEA bridges local mentorship with massive global opportunities and elite real-world access. Silicon Valley & Elite Corporate Tours: We take students behind the scenes at tech and business giants. Some past tours include SpaceX, Google, NVIDIA, Netflix, and Qualcomm. Real Executive Mentors: Students are menotred and coached directly by real-world CEOs, venture capitalists, and corporate professionals. Global Network: Our students gain access to a worldwide network of young entrepreneurs and international business chapters.

Our comprehensive curriculum covers the exact step-by-step lifecycle of a modern startup. Key Topics: Ideation and market validation, human-centered design thinking, rapid prototyping, startup math and financial modeling, fundraising, and masterclass public speaking. The Finale: The program concludes with a "Shark Tank-style" internal pitch competition judged by real entrepreneurs and corporate professionals with the winning team advancing to represent the San Diego chapter in the Global Competition.

Enrollment is highly competitive and requires an online application. Parents or students can apply directly through our website by clicking the "Apply Now" button on the homepage.

As a non-profit organization, our impact relies entirely on our passionate community. You can support our mission in three primary ways: Get Involved: Apply to become a mentor, guest speaker, or volunteer coach. Corporate Partnerships: Open internship doors, host a corporate tour at your company, or sponsor a student team. Donate: Financial contributions directly fund student startup resources, cash prizes, and program operations.

The TYE Global Final Competition is an annual, world-class event that brings together winning teams from student entrepreneurship chapters across the globe. The Journey: Our student teams compete internally first. The single winning team from our San Diego chapter earns the honor of traveling to represent us on the global stage. The Stakes: Teams pitch their startups to international judges and venture capitalists for cash and non cash prizes, prestige, and global investor exposure.