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This April, City Year San José/Silicon Valley proudly hosted our first-ever Enterprise Challenge regional competition, in partnership with —a global organization dedicated to empowering young people through education, entrepreneurship, and community leadership. The Enterprise Challenge is designed to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs by giving ����ӰԺ the opportunity to develop, pitch, and refine their own business ideas with guidance from mentors and real-world business simulations.

Originally founded as The Prince’s Trust by His Majesty King Charles III, The King’s Trust has supported over a million young people globally, helping them build skills, confidence, and career pathways. The Enterprise Challenge in particular has made a worldwide impact, encouraging ����ӰԺ ages 11–16 to apply creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills to develop innovative business solutions. This year marked an exciting milestone as the program expanded into several U.S. cities—including San José/Silicon Valley—thanks to a growing partnership between The King’s Trust and City Year.

At our regional event, ����ӰԺ from across the Bay Area gathered to present a wide range of creative and impactful business ideas. The entrepreneurial spirit on display was nothing short of inspiring. Team concepts included:

• Sustainable clothing companies focused on reducing environmental waste.
• Recycled jewelry businesses that turned everyday materials into fashionable accessories.
• Social support clubs aimed at fostering mental wellness and community connection among ����ӰԺ.

Each team demonstrated remarkable creativity, teamwork, and passion, supported by their educators and City Year AmeriCorps members who served as mentors throughout the competition.

After a series of impressive presentations, the top honor went to the team from Belle Haven Elementary School in East Palo Alto. Their business, The Sustainable Native Flower Company, showcased a thoughtful approach to environmental stewardship and sustainability. The team will now travel to New York City to represent our region at the National Finals—a tremendous accomplishment and a testament to their hard work and innovation.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of the participating ����ӰԺ. Every team demonstrated outstanding entrepreneurial thinking and brought forward ideas that have the potential to make a real-world impact.

City Year San José/Silicon Valley is proud to be part of a program that not only teaches ����ӰԺ the foundations of business and leadership but also encourages them to believe in their ability to shape the future. We are grateful to The King’s Trust for their partnership and to our dedicated staff, AmeriCorps members, educators, and volunteers who made this inaugural event such a success.

We can’t wait to cheer on Belle Haven Elementary at the National Finals—and to see what big ideas next year’s Enterprise Challenge will bring!