The 2003 Teenpreneur Resource Guide. (ready, set, start).

You might be thinking about starting a business or maybe you've already launched a venture, but can't seem to get it going. Perhaps you're a successful entrepreneur who wants to hook up with other young business owners to share ideas and form partnerships. Well, look no further--our Teenpreneur Resource Guide is just what you need. We played around--um, conducted extensive research--on the Internet, scoped out conferences and camps, and spoke to young entrepreneurs across the nation to determine the best programs, Websites, and other resources for young business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Check out our guide for tips on launching your business venture or taking it to the next level. Whether you're looking for mentors, leadership training, help with your business plan, or start-up capital, these organizations can help your handle your business.

BLACK ENTERPRISE's TEENPRENEUR/KIDPRENEUR CONFERENCE

130 Fifth Ave,, New York, NY 10011; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; www.blackenterprise.com

If you're reading this, then you know that BLACK ENTERPRISE has your back. Check out our Teenpreneur page at www.black enterprise.com for business and economic news affecting black youth; links to entrepreneurial and financial-literacy resources; information about jobs, scholarships, and internships; and a virtual campus tour featuring the BLACK ENTERPRISE/ Daystar Top 50 Colleges for African Americans. You can also get information about our annual Kidpreneur & Teenpreneur Conference, a three-day series of sessions for teens and preteens where you can network and work in teams to develop new business ideas. You can also nominate yourself, or someone you know. for the annual BE Kidpreneur Award (see our profiles of the 2003 nominees in this issue).

BUSINESSES UNITED IN INVESTING, LENDING AND DEVELOPMENT

1600 Adams Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; www.build.org

Businesses United in Investing, Lending and Development; (BUILD) provides real-world entrepreneurial experience to young people from low-income communities in the Silicon Valley area of California. Open to high school students from East Palo Alto and East Menlo Park, the first year offers basic training in business and entrepreneurship. In the second yeah BUILD participants receive advanced training and an incubator to help their businesses get off the ground and into the marketplace. Entrepreneurs at the incubator stage obtain seed capital as welt as support from mentors and advisors.

CHILDREN'S ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES ACADEMY INC. (C.E.O.)

1506 Church St., Suite. 3, Nashville, TN 37203; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; www.ceo-academy.org

This entrepreneurial and academic program is for students in grades 3 through 8. The 11-month, faith-based program runs from September through July. Enrollment for the upcoming school year begins in August. CEO. Academy initiatives include the Millionaires in the Making Servant Leadership Program and Camp C.E.O. Camp C.E.O. is a six-week summer camp, held on the campus of a local university, which provides academic enrichment and helps participants start their own businesses, manage money, and develop public-speaking skills. Participants also have the opportunity to compete in national business-plan competitions.

GRANVILLE ACADEMY

1300 Hamilton Ave., 2nd fl., Trenton, NJ 08629; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]

The Granville Academy is a national after-school program for young people, in grades 8 through 12, who want to develop skills in business, finance, science, and engineering. There are academy chapters in several cities, including Trenton, New Jersey; Fairfax, Virginia; Kinston, North Carolina; and Cleveland. Participants are encouraged to attend the Granville Academy National Youth Conference, where they can network with top African American business leaders such as Randall R. Eley, portfolio manager and president of The Edgar Lomax Co., and Warren M. Thompson, CEO of Thompson Hospitality.

INDEPENDENT MEANS INC.

126 Powers Ave, Santa Barbara, CA 93103; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; www.independentmeans.com

"All you women who are independent, throw your hands up at me!" Even though the mission of Independent Means Inc. (IMI) is financial independence for girls, there's plenty of good stuff for entrepreneurial guys, too. But helping the ladies to become DollarDivas is clearly IMI's focus. IMI sponsors a business plan competition as well as Camp Start-Up, an entrepreneurial summer camp for teen girls. Tell your parents and teachers to go to the Website to register for the free e-mail newsletter, Raising Financially Fit Kids.

THE INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP

111 W. College Ave., Appleton, WI 54911; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; www.theeplace.org

The Institute for Entrepreneurship (TIE) offers business assistance to youth-run businesses and school-based businesses. TIE also holds student conferences, including its annual Young Entrepreneur Conference and Business Competition. Best of all, the organization puts its money where its mouth is: TIE offers Young Entrepreneur Venture Grants ranging from $50 to $1,000. You ca n download a grant application from their Website.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT

One Education Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80906; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; www.ja.org

Teens should definitely check out the Student Entrepreneur Center at the Junior Achievement (JA) Website (www.ja.org). They have tools to help you do everything from choosing the business you want to go into, to managing your money, to entering the Student Entrepreneur of the Year contest. JA offers tons of other resources, including a personal finance center for young people who want to learn about free enterprise, finance, and the professional world.

MYOWNBIZ

16059 Woodville Road, Brandywine, MD 20613; phone: [phone]; www.myownbizkit.com

The mission of MyOwnBiz is to teach young people, ages 9 and older, the principles of starting and managing a successful small business. In addition to a six-week entrepreneurial workshop for teens and preteens, students have access to mentors and paid internships, The organization's Business Helping Business Capital Exchange Program helps small and micro businesses get the money, products, and services they need to grow. You can also order the MyOwnBizKit, a business start-up package on CD-ROM, which includes a workbook, business cards, brochures, and other tools for young entrepreneurs.

NAACP REGINALD F. LEWIS YOUTH ENTREPRENEURIAL INSTITUTE

NAACP National Headquarters, 4805 Mt. Hope Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21215; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; www.naacp.org

If you don't know who Reginald F. Lewis is, you definitely need to check yourself. We don't have time to school you now, so be sure to read his autobiography, Why Should White Guys Have All The Fun?: How Reginald F. Lewis Created a Billion-Dollar Business Empire by Reginald E Lewis and Blair Walker (John Wiley & Sons: $22.95). The NAACP Reginald F. Lewis Youth Entrepreneurial Institute (YEI) caters to high school students, ages 14 to 18, who have at least a 2.0 grade point average. The program's mission is to teach the fundamentals of starting a business venture. The program kicks off with a five week summer program, followed by a Saturday Business Institute, which takes place once a month from September through April. Participants are provided with mentors, who are local business people. The second year offers a five week Summer Business Internship Program, where students gain valuable, real-world experience (great stuff for your resume and college applications!).

THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR TEACHING ENTREPRENEURSHIP 

120 Wall St., 29th fl., New York, NY 10005; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; www.nfte.com

The mission of the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) is to teach entrepreneurship to young people from low-income households, There are regional offices in New England, Northern California, New York City, and Washington, D.C. NFTE programs, including intensive summer business camps, are offered by public schools, community organizations, and partner universities across the nation, as well as internationally. Log on to their Website or contact them directly to find a program near you.

YOUNGBIZ

P.O. Box 80411, Atlanta, GA 30366; phone: [phone]: 770-449-1255; www.youngbiz.com

YoungBiz offers a broad array of special events, programs, and camps for young entrepreneurs. Go to their Website and subscribe to YoungBizNet to learn about entrepreneurship online. But YoungBiz's coolest resource is Y&E magazine (http://ye.entre world.org). The site offers quizzes that allow you to rate yourself on decision-making related to legal, money management, and sales issues facing your business, as well as access to Y&E Librar "E." YoungBiz is a valuable resource for any teen entrepreneur.

YOUTH VENTURE

1700 North Moore St., Suite 2000, Arlington, VA 22209; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; www.youthventure.org

Youth Venture (YV) wants to help you create and launch your own business. How? By providing basic materials, training, technical support, media access, start-up funds for your launch, and access to a network of young entrepreneurs. YV offers support, advice, and assistance--without forgetting that it's your business and that you're in charge of what you create. What more could a young entrepreneur ask for?