Aspiring teen entrepreneurs are invited to spend eight thought-provoking days at BizCamp.

The camp, run by the Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative, returns to full-day, in-person workshops and group activities at Bermuda College with sessions beginning July 4 and July 18.

YEI executive director Joe Mahoney said the goal is to inspire young people to become business-savvy and understand economic self-sufficiency.

“We focus on the development of a foundation of skills and experiences to engage BizCamp participants in observing and understanding business and entrepreneurship while developing skills and building confidence for their future in the global economy,” Mr Mahoney said.

BizCamp is free for any Bermudian teenager, aged 13 to 17, interested in learning how to start and run their own business.

Topics include opportunity recognition, business model design, cost of goods, pricing, industry analysis, target customers, marketing and many other aspects of running a company.

All participants completing a business plan will be awarded YEI entrepreneurship certificates. Nekesha Holdipp, Ministry of Education acting education officer and senior school transformation team member, said: “It would be very beneficial for any M3 students who are entering into the financial and insurance services signature schools to attend BizCamp and receive the YEI entrepreneurship certificate.”

Local entrepreneurs and financing partners will present real-world practices.

Jamillah Lodge, of the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, said BizCamp is a great introduction to entrepreneurship and its requirements.

“The BEDC looks forward to supporting the camp by providing guidance on financing options and the products and services that the BEDC offers that can help them to turn their business idea into reality,” Ms Lodge said.

BizCamp is receiving support from the BEDC, the Centennial Foundation, HSBC, Argus Group, Chubb Charitable Foundation and One Communications.

Electronic applications are available at www.yei.bm, or e-mail BizCamp@yei.bm. Participants will be admitted on a rolling basis until both sessions are full.