Youthpreneur Incubator: Today’s Learner to Tomorrow’s Entrepreneur

K-12 STEAM education

Central LA East LA South LA City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

In 2023, Los Angeles faced a significant challenge with over 55,909 youth aged 16-18 disconnected from school and work, translating to an 5% disconnection rate in the city. This issue is particularly severe among young adults, especially 17-year-olds, and disproportionately affects Black and Latino youth. High disconnection rates are noted in neighborhoods like Watts and Van Nuys, often linked to low educational attainment and limited job opportunities. These disparities exacerbate the racial wealth gap, with Black and Latino families holding only 15–20 cents for every dollar of wealth of white families. Without targeted interventions and access to STEAM education and mentorship, these issues may lead to deeper generational poverty. Programs offering hands-on learning and entrepreneurship training could help these youth succeed and close the wealth gap.

This grant will support the Los Angeles launch of EOT Lab, a national initiative that equips underresourced youth with future-ready skills through entrepreneurship, innovation, and STEAM learning. Launching in January 2026, EOT Lab LA will introduce The Tomorrow Curriculum, a free, open-access program exploring topics like AI, sustainability, and digital collaboration—designed for integration into U.S. school systems.
The flagship offering is the Youthpreneur Incubator, a selective 5-month program that supports up to 10 youth-led ventures from Black, Brown, and immigrant communities. Students follow a “Plan, Build, Grow” framework with expert coaching, labs, and real-world tools. Curriculum modules cover business modeling, AI for startups, financial planning, MVP development, and branding.
The program culminates in Pitch For Ya Life LA in June 2026—a live pitch competition and celebration where the top 3 ventures present to investors and judges for cash grants and mentorship. A Fast Pitch Track allows additional students to participate in a rapid-fire round, expanding access and spotlighting new voices.
This initiative directly addresses youth disconnection, economic inequality, and the racial wealth gap by turning potential into power and preparing young people to lead in the innovation economy.

Our initiative will reduce the number of disconnected opportunity youth in Los Angeles County, starting in South LA, Central LA, and the San Fernando Valley. From October 2025 to October 2026, EOT Lab LA will provide free, future-ready education to youth from Black, Brown, and immigrant communities. Our Tomorrow Curriculum will reach dozens of students with STEAM, AI, and entrepreneurship lessons, while our Youthpreneur Incubator will support up to 10 youth-led businesses with intensive coaching, hands-on labs, and mentorship.

By June 2026, students will showcase their ventures at Pitch For Ya Life LA, where the top three will earn grants, visibility, and access to a growing network of investors and professionals.

In the long term, this work will close racial equity gaps in education and wealth by developing youth as innovators and future job creators. As we expand into more schools and neighborhoods, we aim to build a countywide pipeline of empowered young leaders shaping LA’s future.