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YALIEntrepreneurs
Create. Innovate. Prosper.

Entrepreneurship is defined as the capacity and the willingness to develop, organize, and manage a business venture in spite of the risks in order to make a profit. Entrepreneurs have a unique ability to harness creativity and innovation to produce a profit.

With more than 25% of the world’s workforce projected to live in sub-Saharan Africa by 2050, it’s imperative that young African leaders continue to create economic opportunities for themselves and for generations to come.

Maybe, from childhood, you’ve dreamed of the day you’d own your business, maybe you’ve never considered it. Maybe you’re looking for a way to make money and change your community. Each person’s journey to entrepreneurship looks different—but there’s one thing all successful entrepreneurs have in common: determination.

YALIEntrepreneurs is an initiative to help you take your business venture from an idea to a reality. If you’re determined to create, innovate, and prosper, then get started with the YALIEntrepreneurs resources below.

Facilitate a YALILearns session

Use the YALIEntrepreneurs Facilitation Guide to teach others within your community.

Make your decisions seamless

Use the YALIEntrepreneurs Decision Tree to streamline your decisions.

 

Plan your Business's Continuity Plan

Use the YALIEntrepreneur’s SWOT toolkit to decipher your business’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Then, use it to plan how your business will react during an unexpected crisis or downturn.

Fundamentals of Personal Money Management

coins and plant

Fundamentals of Personal Money Management

 

The ability to efficiently and effectively manage your finances and investments by making smart decisions is key to personal and entrepreneurial success. This three-part course is designed to introduce basic money management knowledge to achieve financial goals. It will identify and explain different aspects related to income, savings, investments, credit, debt, and risk management. It will also examine patterns and behaviors regarding money management and how those perceptions influence financial decisions.

Telling Your Entrepreneurial Story
In part one of the Perfecting Your Pitch video vignettes, Nick Chagin will discuss how entrepreneurs need to take advantage of opportunities to share their ideas with others. That starts with developing a compelling pitch.

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What is a Pitch?
In section two, Nick Chagin defines a pitch and explains the differences between a formal pitch and an “elevator” pitch.

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The Importance of Persuasive Language
For part three, Nick Chagin explains why persuasive language, good word choice and confidence are essential to delivering a compelling pitch.

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Telling Your Story Visually
Throughout this section of Perfecting Your Pitch, Nick Chagin takes a look at why slides and other visuals can help you create a more professional pitch and convey the brand identity you want to establish.

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Understanding Your Audience
For the final video in the Perfecting Your Pitch series, Nick Chagin explains why tailoring your pitch to a specific audience is essential.

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The YALIEntrepreneurs Workbooks below are designed to give practical and step-by-step instructions on how to write a business plan, develop a pitch, refine your financial literacy skills, and find your inner entrepreneur.

 

“Brand Better” Workbook

The YALIEntrepreneurs “Brand Better” workbook provides helpful guidance on creating a digital marketing strategy for your business. Download the workbook today to create your business’s digital marketing blueprint.

Download the Brand Better Workbook

“Finding Your Inner Entrepreneur” Workbook

YALIEntrepreneurs “Finding Your Inner Entrepreneur” Workbook  focuses on helping you to uncover your inner entrepreneur by identifying solutions, skills, and interests worth pursuing. Download the workbook and get start refining your business idea today.

 

“Writing Your Business Plan” Workbook

YALIEntrepreneurs “Writing Your Business Plan” Workbook is a step-by-step guide on how to write a strategic business plan. Download the workbook today and get started laying the foundation for your business venture.

“Money Management” Workbook

The YALIEntrepreneurs “Money Management” Workbook is designed to help you learn about budgeting, saving, financial goal setting, and how to apply them to your personal finances.

Educate Your Community

You can organize a YALILearns session, using one of the YALI Network Online Courses or Video Vignettes, to educate your community on entrepreneurship. Visit the YALILearns site at yali.state.gov/learns for a full list of entrepreneurship courses, videos, and facilitation guides to get started

Host a YALILearns session

Take what you’ve learned from YALIEntrepreneurs to uplift others within your community. Use the facilitation guides below to host a YALILearns session and tell us about your successes here.