BUILD empowers youth from low-income communities to excel in the classroom, on the job, and beyond by giving them an education in entrepreneurship. By encouraging students to develop their own businesses, BUILD extends traditional education beyond the classroom & provides students with real-world experiences. Intense involvement from the community and an operating youth incubator are central & distinctive components of the program.
We created a 4-year program that propels our students through high school & college. This program has 3 primary components:
Entrepreneurship. Students attend a daily class where they learn business basics, write & pitch their business, and manufacture & sell their products. The real-world application of math, writing & analytical skills motivates students who are otherwise at risk of failing classes and dropping out.
Academic & 21st Century Skill Proficiency. At our Incubator, we implement a rigorous, standards-aligned curriculum that teaches 21st Century skills essential for success in college & the workforce. We provide students with tutoring, test prep, academic planning, and college advising.
Personal Support. 350 Bay Area mentors dedicate 20,000 hrs annually. The lasting relationships students form with mentors and BUILD staff foster a college-going culture and help students recognize their potential.
