MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Empowering the next generation of young entrepreneurs in South Florida, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), a leading non-profit organization that teaches at-risk young people to think like entrepreneurs and enables them to find their own path to success, will host the annual Ignite Entrepreneurship Launch Benefit on May 2nd, at the Palm Court in the Miami Design District.
World-renowned tennis player and entrepreneur Venus Williams will be participating in the benefit’s “Hour with an Entrepreneur Online Auction,” where guests will have the opportunity to bid on a chance to meet with the region’s top entrepreneurs, including Williams.
Williams, CEO and founder of V Starr Interiors and EleVen by Venus, will donate an hour of her time to meet with a winning bidder to discuss any start-up plans or business goals they may have. The auction goes live April 21st and will end May 5th. The public can visit www.charitybuzz.com/support/NFTE to place their bids on Williams or any of the other participant entrepreneurs.
NFTE’s Ignite Entrepreneurship Launch Benefit will kick off the Ignite Entrepreneurship series of events presented in conjunction with eMerge Americas, a five-day technology conference in Miami that connects the best and brightest from the startup and funding ecosystems. All proceeds will support more than 3,500 young entrepreneurs throughout Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
The event will gather more than 300 local entrepreneurs and business leaders as well as eMerge Americas attendees to celebrate and support South Florida’s young entrepreneurs, and feature a Spirited Startup cocktail reception allowing guests to sample the best of the region’s craft spirits, beers, wines and cocktails.
Nancy Dahlberg, the highly respected entrepreneurship writer for the Miami Herald, will receive the Entrepreneurial Spirit award from NFTE, and Jaret Davis, the Co-Managing Shareholder of international law firm Greenberg Traurig’s Miami office, will be honored with the Entrepreneurial Catalyst Award. In addition, guests will dance the night away while enjoying a locally-sourced tasting menu. All proceeds will benefit low-income youth enrolled in NFTE South Florida.
NFTE will also feature five student businesses that have qualified to compete in the May 4th Youth BizPlan Challenge, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at eMerge Americas. These finalists will be chosen at a semifinal competition taking place 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on April 22nd, at Miami Dade College’s Idea Center at the Wolfson Campus. They come from some of South Florida’s lowest-income communities and have completed a year-long entrepreneurship program, culminating in the completion of a unique business plan.
By providing entrepreneurship education programs relevant to the real world, NFTE empowers students to own their educations in and out of the classroom and to find their own path to success. Hundreds of thousands of students have discovered opportunity all around them through entrepreneurship via thousands of certified educators worldwide.
About Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship:
Since 1987, the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) has taught and inspired more than 500,000 young people to pursue educational opportunities, start their own businesses, and succeed in life. By providing entrepreneurship education programs relevant to the real world, NFTE empowers students to own their education and future success. NFTE has programs run through 17 U.S. program offices and in 10 countries. To learn more visit www.nfte.com.
