DTI-6 to nurture In-School Youth entreps, start-ups

In line with the Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) Mentorship Academy, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-6) has launched a program to stimulate and enhance the entrepreneurial mindset among the In-School Youth (ISY).

Dubbed as the YEP: In-School Entrepreneurs Academy (YEP: iSEA), it aims to guide young entrepreneurs to operate their business successfully and assist ISY aspiring as start-ups to translate their ideas into a minimum viable product.

DTI-6 Regional Director Rebecca M. Rascon said that the YEP: iSEA is intended to prepare and harness the skills of the younger generation as future entrepreneurs. “We will hone their skills and encourage them to engage in business,” she added.

Since July 1, the DTI VI provincial offices have started accepting and evaluating qualified youths who may join the program for the five-module mentorship sessions starting August 9.

The five-module course will tackle entrepreneurial mind-setting and business planning, business model canvas, marketing management with digital planning, financial and operational management and how to prepare a powerful business elevator pitch.

The program offers a comprehensive package of interventions and learning opportunities to capacitate the ISY to start and operate their business effectively and successfully and later on connect them with the right network and partners.

It may also be a venue to expand their operations through business matching activities through the Kapatid Mentor Me Money and Market Encounter (KMME-MME) program tie-up of DTI with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) or the GO Negosyo.

DTI-6 targets 40 ISY Mentees enrolled from various universities and senior high schools in the region – Central Philippine University, University of Antique, Aklan State University, Guimaras State College, University of San Agustin, West Visayas State University, University of St. La Salle, Capiz State University – Pilar Campus, College of St. John in Roxas City, and two (2) from the senior high school institutions: Badiangan National High School and Maasin National High School in Iloilo Province.

Each province was given slots for their ISY Mentees – the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras and Negros occidental will each have five mentees while the province of Iloilo will have 15 slots.

The YEP: ISEA was established to initially address some gaps in teaching practical application to entrepreneurs through the five modules which are not captured in an academic set up as identified students coming from the business discipline.

Following the pitching session, a start-up kit/ cash awards will be granted to top student mentees to push their idea into viable projects. The cash can be used to purchase raw materials/supplies or items needed to put up their business.

The following are the awards that will be given to the top three and two finalists for the “The best Business Pitch,” best business audio-visual presentation ad, best promo collaterals (ad flyers), and YEP-iSEA logo making contest.

Investors will also be invited during the final presentation to offer students a bigger opportunity in pursuing their idea into a business. The program commenced this July in time for the SME Week Celebration and will be completed by September 2021.