LA Urban League’s BizCamp 2026 Sends Nearly 50 Teen Entrepreneurs to the Pitch Stage

Nearly 40 Los Angeles students, ages 13 to 18, took the stage on Friday, July 10, to pitch original business plans as part of BizCamp 2026, a free youth entrepreneurship program hosted by the Los Angeles Urban League (Los Angeles, CA) in partnership with NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship).

Over three weeks, participants worked through the fundamentals of entrepreneurship — from market research and pricing to financial literacy and public pitching — building original business concepts that reflect their own interests and communities. This year’s ventures include a website design studio, a youth volleyball coaching service, an AI-powered sticker tracking app, a seafood food truck, a custom phone case line, and an original technology product, among others.

“BizCamp is about more than a pitch on competition day — it’s three weeks of watching young people find their voice. Every one of these students walked in with an idea and a little doubt, and they’re walking out with a business plan, a pitch deck, and the confidence to stand in front of strangers and sell their vision. That transformation is why we do this work.” Ms. Rhonda Holbert, BizCamp Director

“Entrepreneurship isn’t about age. It’s about action. And young people are some of the boldest action-takers I’ve ever seen.” Ms. Crystal Mitchell, Teacher/Co-Director

BizCamp is offered at no cost to participating families and is designed to build confidence, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial skill in LA-area youth — skills organizers say extend well beyond the summer program itself.

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