The Programs

Two Levels.
One Founder's Path.

The Youth Foundry runs a two semester founder program for young people in Palm Beach County. Students start with IGNITE in the fall and build on it with FORGE in the spring. In Year One, each level is offered separately, so a student can begin wherever they are ready.

Level 1  ·  Fall Semester
IGNITE
14 Weekly Sessions

IGNITE is the entry point into The Youth Foundry. Over fourteen weekly sessions, students take an idea and turn it into a real, investor ready business concept, then put it to the test by pitching at a live competition. They leave with a real network, real skills, and a project they are proud of.

Turn an idea into an investor ready business concept
Learn the fundamentals of building and running a venture
Work with mentors and industry voices along the way
Pitch at a live competition to close the semester
Earn a digital credential and join the founder community
$1,497 per semester

Join the Interest List

Level 2  ·  Spring Semester
FORGE
For IGNITE Graduates

FORGE is the next level for founders who have completed IGNITE. Students take their concept further, sharpen the business behind it, and keep building toward something real and lasting. It is where a first idea grows into a venture with legs.

Build on the concept you started in IGNITE
Go deeper on operations, customers, and growth
Refine your pitch and your business model
Keep building inside a community of founders
Graduate ready for the next step in your journey
$1,497 per semester

Join the Interest List

Fall IGNITE cohort launching 2026  ·  Palm Beach County, FL

How It Works

From Idea to Pitch.

Every Youth Foundry program is application based and built around real outcomes, not participation. Here is the shape of a semester.

Weekly Sessions

One focused session each week across the semester, building skills step by step.

Real Projects

Students work on their own business concept, not a worksheet. The idea is theirs.

Mentors & Community

Founders learn from instructors, mentors, and one another inside a real community.

A Live Pitch

The semester ends with a pitch in front of a real audience and real judges.