Youth Entrepreneurship Program| Fundamental Needs

Turning Ideas into Action
Students start by identifying real challenges in their communities — from the lack of teen-friendly spaces to limited access to healthy food or specialized goods. From there, they work in teams to create business solutions that respond to these needs. Over 15 weeks, students learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship: market research, financial literacy, branding, prototyping, and pitching. They don’t just learn about business — they build one.

Learning by Doing
Each class operates like a startup incubator. Students:

Develop business plans and design logos.
Create mock-ups and sell real products at community events.
Receive coaching from local entrepreneurs, guest speakers, and college mentors.
Present their ventures in a public “Shark Tank”-style pitch event, with opportunities for seed funding.

The results speak for themselves: One team proposed a youth-run sober bar and is now prototyping it as a paid summer internship.

Built by Students. Backed by the Community.
Our program began in 2024 at Southwest Open School (SWOS) in Cortez, CO. One student-led team envisioned a community makerspace. By the end of the semester, that dream was already in motion: SWOS acquired a mobile makerspace trailer, equipped with 3D printers funded by a grant from the LOR Foundation.

What’s Next?
In 2025, we're scaling the program:

Cortez Makerspace Expansion: A new permanent facility will give students year-round access to fabrication tools and workspace.
Countywide Reach: Weekly after-school workshops will open the program to students from Montezuma-Cortez, Dolores, homeschool networks, and more.
Navajo Nation Pilot (2026): The program will be adapted for Schools on the Navajo Nation, building on our Oasis Project and vocational training efforts.

Whether it’s a pitch for a small business or a big idea to uplift a community, we believe in students. We believe in their ability to lead, build, and create the future — starting now.

Youth Entrepreneurship Program

Launching a business is one of the most rewarding — and most challenging — things a person can do. At Fundamental Needs, we believe youth are capable of both. Our Youth Entrepreneurship Program gives high school students the tools to become changemakers in their communities.

Get Involved

How you can help

1.   Serve as a champion - actively solicit financial donations from their circle of influence.
2.   Serve as a ﬁnancial investor - invest $1,000 - $5,000 Students pitch to key investors for start up funds at end of 15 week course.
3.   Serve as a class host – allow the class to meet at your business for one quarter. You must have wireless access. (Filled for Spring semester of 2024)
4.   Serve as a mentor - assist a student in the class as they create their business

University of Colorado Boulder

Fort Lewis College

Rain for Rent

First National Bank

LOR Foundation

Partners, Sponsors, and Schools

Develop business plans and design logos.

Create mock-ups and sell real products at community events.

Receive coaching from local entrepreneurs, guest speakers, and college mentors.

Present their ventures in a public “Shark Tank”-style pitch event, with opportunities for seed funding.

Cortez Makerspace Expansion: A new permanent facility will give students year-round access to fabrication tools and workspace.

Countywide Reach: Weekly after-school workshops will open the program to students from Montezuma-Cortez, Dolores, homeschool networks, and more.

Navajo Nation Pilot (2026): The program will be adapted for Schools on the Navajo Nation, building on our Oasis Project and vocational training efforts.