Advitam IP founder Michele Katz recently led a Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) session on entity formation and intellectual property. It is the fourth consecutive year that Michele has taught the course for YEA!. YEA! is a groundbreaking year-long educational and mentorship program that takes students in grades six through twelve through the process of starting and running a real business. The program is sponsored by the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO Chicago) and hosted by 1871, an incubator and supporter of Chicago’s thriving technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem. The YEA! Chicago program aims to build and inspire future entrepreneurs by bridging business and educational communities with cohorts led by trained instructors and exposing students to guest lecturers, successful entrepreneurs and mentors.YEA! Chicago also hosts pitch competitions for its students’ business plans, in many cases sending students to compete nationally for recognition and scholarship opportunities. The students also participate in trade shows, tour local business’ headquarters and receive guidance on legally registering their companies.
