When kids get early exposure to entrepreneurship—especially hands-on, social, and sustainable entrepreneurship—it does more than spark creativity. It builds confidence, teaches problem-solving, and shapes how they see the world.
Recent data proves this. A well-designed 2021 program in Amsterdam surveyed about 450 primary school students (ages 9–12) to measure what they learned about launching a business—everything from brainstorming ideas and handling money to taking on sustainability-focused ventures.
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By the end of the program, student knowledge of how to start a business saw a significant increase (Cohen’s d = 0.83).
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Girls and boys closed the confidence gap around entrepreneurial skills—an outcome rarely seen in traditional programs.
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73% of students agreed that companies can help solve big world problems, up from 59% at the start.
The takeaway? Entrepreneurship is not just about making money—it’s about teaching kids to think about profit, people, and the planet.
Turning Data Into Action
At Young CEO Squad, we’re taking these insights and bringing them into U.S. classrooms with workshop kits designed for primary schools. Our programs give students the chance to:
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Run their own real-world business with products like mystery charm packs, reusable straw kits, or sticker packs.
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Learn financial literacy, including budgeting, pricing, and calculating profit.
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Develop creativity and problem-solving skills by marketing and selling products they assemble themselves.
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Work in teams, building communication and leadership skills as they launch their “classroom company.”
Our business-in-a-box workshops make entrepreneurship tangible. Teachers don’t need to be business experts—each kit comes with curriculum-aligned lesson plans, student worksheets, and ready-to-sell products that make it easy to integrate entrepreneurship into any 3rd–6th grade classroom.
A Hypothetical Example
Imagine a 5th-grade class running a Young CEO Squad Mystery Pack Workshop for a week. Students brainstorm marketing ideas, design posters, and create sales pitches. They work together on pricing, packaging, and customer service. At the end of the project, they’ve sold 120 mystery packs, earned money for a class reward, and built lifelong skills in the process—all while having fun.
The Skills Kids Take Away
Data and experience show that entrepreneurship education builds more than just business know-how:
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Confidence to try new ideas and take smart risks.
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Resilience when things don’t go as planned.
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Creativity in solving real-world problems.
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Collaboration and communication that carry into every subject area.
Ready to Bring This to Your School?
Our Young CEO Squad entrepreneurship workshops give students a real CEO experience while keeping learning fun and engaging. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or school leader, we’ll help you empower your students to think like entrepreneurs—and prepare for a future where innovation matters.
Want to chat about how to bring this into classrooms? Let’s connect. YoungCEOSquad.com/educators
Data Source: Hogenstijn, M., & Cuypers, C. (2023). The effects of an education program on social and sustainable entrepreneurship for primary school children. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 5, 100266.
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Visit us for more details:
Young CEO Squad | Elementary School Entrepreneurship Workshops-in-a-Box
https://www.youngceosquad.com/
United States
Empowering 200+ Classrooms with Hands-On Entrepreneurship Workshops
