Entrepreneurship Education Consortium (EEC) Core Programs to Continue Under Young Entrepreneur Institute Leadership

Entrepreneurship Education Consortium (EEC) is excited to announce the shift of its core programs to operate under the umbrella of Young Entrepreneur Institute (YEI) at University School.

EEC is a network of higher education institutions in Northeast Ohio offering entrepreneurship education and startup opportunities for students and professional development for faculty. 

YEI equips K-12 students with an entrepreneurial mindset and skills for the future by training and supporting educators and offering hands-on experiential learning opportunities for students. ​

A group of visionary leaders from Northeast Ohio campuses saw a need for shared entrepreneurship programming and resources among higher education institutions and founded EEC in 2007.

EEC has served as a key player in the region’s entrepreneurship ecosystem connecting rising entrepreneurs to resources and mentorship as they advance their ideas and ventures.

Over its history, EEC offered students dynamic learning opportunities through Entrepreneurship Immersion Week, Side Hustle, Tech Side Hustle, and Tech Internships.  The stories of many of EEC’s entrepreneurial students are captured in the Dream It, Do It series. EEC developed into an award-winning national model for the integration of university-based entrepreneurship into a regional ecosystem.     
 
Young Entrepreneur Institute at University School was founded in 2006 with the vision that every child should understand and experience entrepreneurship, developing the skills and mindset to thrive in an ever-changing world. YEI’s programs have inspired tens of thousands of children through collaboration among educators and schools to share programs, mentorship, and curriculum.  
 
Over the years, EEC and YEI have collaborated on educational programming and conference offerings for both K-12 and higher education educators. This consolidation of programming is an important step in realizing the longstanding goal of both entities to build pathways from one level of entrepreneurship education to the next and will serve to strengthen the ecosystem and broaden opportunities for students and educators in the future.   
 
Speaking on behalf of YEI, Ilene Frankel, Executive Director, said, “We’re thrilled that Young Entrepreneur Institute can continue EEC’s mission of supporting Northeast Ohio’s collegiate entrepreneurship ecosystem, offering student entrepreneurs access to resources, mentorship, and learning activities. Building the pathway from youth to collegiate entrepreneurship education will strengthen the ecosystem and expand opportunities for students and educators in the future.”

​EEC programs transitioning to YEI include the ideaLabs annual pitch competition and the Learning Lunch Program for faculty and ecosystem builders. Idealabs has engaged hundreds of students in its fifteen-year history and many of the ventures pitched have grown into successful ventures still operating today.   
 
Colette Hart, President of the EEC Board, shared her perspectives, “Over the past 16 years, EEC has played a critical role in bringing together Northeast Ohio universities to advance the higher education entrepreneurial ecosystem and develop tomorrow’s talent. We are excited about the strategic alignment of EEC with YEI and the numerous opportunities that will be afforded under the leadership of YEI.” 
 
The incorporation of EEC programs into YEI will be effective as of August 31, 2024. EEC thanks its funders and partners for their support and encouragement over the years.