IDEA Bank Youth Entrepreneurship Academy expands statewide reach – Troy Today

What began as a small, competitive summer camp for six high school students in 2022 has grown into a statewide entrepreneurship experience designed to help Alabama youth develop confidence, creativity and business skills. The Troy University IDEA Bank’s 2026 Youth Entrepreneurship Academy welcomed 22 students in grades six through 12, including students from communities across Alabama. Sponsored by the Regions Foundation as part of its support for TROY Starters, the program offered students both an exploratory entrepreneurship experience and a competitive pitch competition. “The growth of this program is really exciting because it shows us that young people across Alabama are hungry for opportunities to explore entrepreneurship and develop their ideas,” said Lynne George, director of the IDEA Bank. “We want students to leave with more than just a business idea. We want them to leave with confidence, connections and the resources they need to take that idea to the next level.” The academy began in 2022 with a grant from the Wiregrass Resource Conservation & Development Center. That first year, six high school students participated in a program focused primarily on a pitch competition. By 2026, the academy had evolved into a broader program serving middle and high school
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