NFTE blog

By: Cindy Morand

Credibility is extremely important to the success of any entrepreneur. Individuals do business with people they trust and believe in. So how can a young entrepreneur gain the respect and credibility from customers and future investors?

1. Become an Expert of the Product or Service You are Selling

By Amy Rosen
NFTE President & CEO

I feel a strong sense of optimism as I continue to participate in meetings and events, and talk with people spontaneously in and out of the Congress Centre. A growing group of business and government leaders, social entrepreneurs and journalists are coming to the conclusion that we must act NOW and together to find solutions that offer hope to the growing global army of unemployed youth. Driven by economic interests and/or moral callings, I sense that urgency is suddenly entering the discussion.  Add 75 million current unemployed youth with the 200+ million that today make less than $2.00 per day and suddenly, we are facing a cold reality. 35% of young people under 27 are turning more and more towards hopelessness.

From NFTE Bay Area

Michael Chow and David Bettner, then of Zynga with Friends, headlined a panel discussion on entrepreneurship at NFTE Bay Area’s Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. Michael and David are best known for inventing and releasing Words with Friends, which topped 60 million downloads.

NFTE graduate Anthony Carmona, owner of Anthony Knows Computers, and Amy Rosen, NFTE CEO & President, were interviewed on the Education Nation version of MSNBC's Your Business. They discuss the power of entrepreneurship education and how a young person can balance the demands of running a company even while in school.

Entrepreneurs are known for thinking outside of the box. More and more, they are doing just that when it comes to choosing where to attend graduate school. 

What are some habits that all successful bootstrappers have?

Several successful entrepreneurs responded to this very question, posed by the Young Entrepreneur Council. Each entrepreneur elaborated on how one important trait, practice, or skill has proven beneficial to both themselves and fellow bootstrappers.

Invest Wisely

"One of the biggest mistakes you can make is spending your initial cash infusions on things that don't help create more cash infusions.