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

My name is Jessica Cervantes and I am the founder of Popsy Cakes, the 2008 NFTE National award winning company. NFTE changed my life. They didn’t just teach me how to operate my own business, but they taught life skills. I am able to communicate with others and I can even stand and speak in front of an audience, and although I am still terribly nervous, I have conquered my fear of public speaking. NFTE has also in many ways funded my company and my education. I am now a senior at the University of Miami. I am a Microbiology major and hope to attend Med School in the Fall of 2014. My business is thriving, thanks to the help of many, notably Bill Hansen, Craig Edelmen, and Stewart Merkin. Popsy Cakes is now in over 50 locations including Miami International Airport and Bongos in Downtown Disney.  We are now expanding our company, looking for investors, and trying to meet our high demand.

My story began about 6 years ago when I was a junior at John A. Ferguson Senior High School.

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.

Today at 9:00 AM ET (Tuesday, November 27th) the Microsoft Giving Tuesday begins! This is your last chance to Double Your Impact and your gift to NFTE through the generosity of the people at Microsoft. Matches will be made up to $1,000 per donor, per project on the Give For Youth website, and funding is limited. 

By Edgar Ocana, NFTE New England graduate

Tonight President Obama and Governor Romney meet for the first of three scheduled debates this election season.

Learn what both candidates have to say about education and the power of business and entrepreneurship. Links to their positions for both topics are below.

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.

Anthony Carmona, a NFTE grad, spoke Sunday during Mashable's Social Good Summit as part of a Microsoft panel. Watch Anthony, the owner of Anthony Knows Computers, to see what he says about creating a business you love.

Intro by: Sylvia McKinney, NFTE Philadelphia Executive Director

NFTE Philadelphia is busy getting back into the routine of school, but last year’s regional challenge winners are also busy. They’re prepping for next month’s NFTE National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. Both young entrepreneurs who will represent the Philadelphia program office, Raleigh Russell and Dominique Hughes, share their paths to success.