For Youth, By Youth
Youth entrepreneurship programs
So Far
Certificates awarded
High school interns
Student ventures launched
in scholarships awarded
Summer immersive participants
Undergraduate interns
Partnerships
Stipends for creative entrepreneurs
Explore echo youth programs
Here's just a few of the ways we help youth build entrepreneurial mindset & launch businesses
SHIBOKA: Democracy — Take Two
A call for 13-18 year old Triangle teens to be loud, bold, and heard.
Published | Paid | Showcased
Start a business solving our communities top challenges
Are you ready to lead, create, and innovate?
Teens Tackle is a program designed to build confidence, leadership, and real-world experience in business development for high school students.
Check out our social media to see how our current Future Founders cohort is going!
Future Founders & EBE Showcase
Join us January 31st from 10am-12pm for the Future Founders & EBE Showcase as our cohort pitches the businesses they've spent 12 weeks building.
Awards: $2,500 in prizes for top pitches
What to Expect: Live pitches, Q&A with founders, community celebration
Who Should Attend: Entrepreneurs, mentors, supporters of youth innovation, anyone who believes in the next generation
Become a leader in our organization
Paid internships are available.
“I want people to know that not only does the impact affect Durham, it affects who you are as a person.”
- CJ Williams, YAC Co-Director
Let's collaborate!
We're proud collaborators! Let's co-program; share resources; and build a web of support for our Triangle teens.
For 2026, we will continue to offer shared programming space to local nonprofits at low or no cost.
Reach out to us if you'd like to co-program and share resources.
"I believed that there were only traditional routes to go through, whether that was being a doctor, being a lawyer, or being an engineer, but echo allowed me to see that there was more, and that I could even create my own path in life. Echo opened doors for me if I wanted to walk through them.
As teens, we believe that we have no power in our hands, because we're at such a vulnerable age where we don't really have a lot of resources. But I think echo taught me that even the small differences, like the Teens Tackle Hunger campaign, we do have the power to affect change step by step."
Start your entrepreneurial journey today.
We'll help you grow your business and connect you to a supportive community.