In the world of business, the “pitch” is usually seen as a high-pressure moment where you have to prove you’re perfect. But when Mazzy Eckel, Bear Belle, and I sat down to develop the Art of the Pitch unit for the Young Entrepreneur Academy, we knew we wanted to flip that concept on its head.
By Lord-Vincent Crutcher, Young Adult Advisory Council Member
Key takeaways:
- The pitch isn’t about perfection, but authenticity. The unit teaches entrepreneurs how to turn their experience into competitive advantages.
- The Young Entrepreneur Academy is designed to provide real-world entrepreneurship skills in a free, self-guided resource.
- The Young Entrepreneur Academy features 10 learning units, including branding and marketing, to help you tell the story of your business.
Collaboration with a purpose
Working alongside Mazzy and Bear was one of the most rewarding parts of creating this curriculum. We spent hours deconstructing what it actually means to sell an idea. We realized that for many young entrepreneurs in Washington, especially those who have walked through adversities, the foster care system, justice involvement, or housing instability, sharing a story can feel like a risk.
Together, we built a unit that isn’t about performing for investors. It’s about authenticity.
The trauma-informed edge
We are particularly proud of the trauma-informed lens we brought to this unit. We teach you how to take your lived experience, the challenges you’ve overcome, and the resilience you’ve built and translate that into a competitive business advantage. We show you how to own your story without feeling like you’re being exploited by it.
Who should enroll?
If you have a vision but have been told your background doesn’t fit the business world, this unit was built specifically for you. We’re here to show you that your perspective is exactly what the market is missing.
A massive thank you
A huge shoutout to the Washington State Department of Commerce, Employment Security Department, and the Young Adult Advisory Council for giving us the space to create something so raw and real. To my teammates Mazzy and Bear: thank you for the late nights and the shared vision.
Your story is your power. Learn how to use it through The Young Entrepreneur Academy.
Lord-Vincent is the founder and lead designer of Namaste Collective, a healing-centered learning and systems-change initiative rooted in lived experience, cultural safety, and youth empowerment.
About YEA
The Young Entrepreneur Academy was developed in partnership with the Washington State Department of Commerce, the Washington State Employment Security Department, and the Young Adult Advisory Council.
Provide feedback and get involved
For questions or feedback on YEA or the WIOA Youth Program, please contact the Youth Initiatives Manager at ESDGPWorkforceInitiatives@ESD.WA.GOV.
Visit the Young Entrepreneur Academy (YEA).