YETI – Youth Entrepreneurs Training Initiative
Y
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T
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YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
TRAINING INITIATIVE
Launch your own business this summer with up to $1,000 in funding, mentorship, and training through YETI — the Young Entrepreneurs Training Initiative by Community Futures Lac La Biche. Whether you're turning a hobby into a hustle or starting from scratch, we’ll help you build something real.
MEET THE 2025 YETI BUSINESSES
The Stalk Market
The Stalk Market brings handcrafted flower baskets, planters, and gifts from Madison’s living room-turned-greenhouse to local markets and customers. With a passion for gardening and an eye for presentation, Madison offers both greenery and thoughtful gifts perfect for any season.
What You’ll Find:
- Eco-friendly single plant bags
- Hanging baskets, floral mixes, and vegetable starters
- Suncatchers and small handmade gifts
- Seasonal favourites: begonias, fuchsias, and succulents
You can private message Madison on The Stalk Market Facebook page to make order inquiries.
About the Owner
Madison is a Grade 11 student with a green thumb and a creative spark. Inspired by her love of gardening and handmade gifts, she started The Stalk Market—a booth-based business selling planters, flower baskets, and eco-friendly items. With help from YETI, Madison is learning how to turn her passion into a summer venture that brings colour and life to her community.
Blissful Beadings
Blissful Beadings is a jewelry brand offering handcrafted bracelets, necklaces, and earrings made with gemstone and lava rock beads. Each piece is designed to bring out a natural, earthy feel—perfect for gifts, friendships, or personal expression.
Maria first launched Blissful Beadings during an entrepreneurship fair at school. Now, with support from YETI, she’s bringing her creations to local markets and events.
What You’ll Find:
- Affordable handmade bracelets, earrings & necklaces
- Created using lava rocks, gemstones, and colorful beads
- Packaged and priced with young customers in mind
You can visit Maria's table at the Lac La Biche Farmers' Market every Friday or contact here for custom orders.
About the Owner
Maria is a Grade 9 student with a creative eye and a passion for beading. What began as a fun hobby quickly grew into a business idea after she showcased her work at a school entrepreneurship fair. Through YETI, she’s learning how to price, promote, and sell her handmade jewelry to a wider audience.
Knechtel 3D Prints
Knechtel 3D Prints creates and sells custom-designed 3D printed products including toys, accessories, and gaming gear. Ian produces everything from multicoloured articulating animals to personalized keychains and headset stands—all made with precision and creativity.
What You’ll Find:
- Multicoloured articulating animal toys
- Personalized keychains
- Controller and headset stands for gamers
- Small and medium collectibles made with professional-grade printers
You can find Ian at his table at the Lac La Biche Farmers' Market every second Friday this summer.
About the Owner
Ian is a Grade 10 student with a love for design and a fascination with 3D printing. What started as a hobby quickly became a business idea. Through YETI, he’s learning how to turn that passion into a professional venture—building real products, talking to customers, and learning the ropes of entrepreneurship.
Cookies of the Round Table
Cookies of the Round Table is a homegrown baking venture delivering one-of-a-kind cookies, brownies, cinnamon buns, and more—right to your door. Jonah bakes and bikes his way around Lac La Biche, offering unique weekly cookie flavours and monthly specials that you won’t find in your average bakery.
What You’ll Find:
- Artisanal cookies (singles and assorted dozens)
- Seasonal baked goods and gift boxes
- Special “cookie of the month” features
- Local delivery by bike in summer, vehicle in winter
About the Owner
Jonah is a Grade 10 student with a passion for baking and an eye for creative flavor combinations. What started as a love for cookies turned into Cookies of the Round Table, a delivery-based business that brings homemade treats to the community. Through YETI, Jonah is learning how to manage orders, market his goods, and grow a brand that’s all his own.
Our Sponsor
Explorer
For big ideas that haven't met the world ...YET!
YETI is an annual locally-focused, high speed business training initiative for senior high-school teens in the Lac La Biche region. With startup cash, resources and guidance from Community Futures Lac La Biche staff, we'll help you turn your business idea into a full-time money-maker over the 8 weeks of summer - and well into the future!
Program Highlights
• $500 startup funding — and up to $1,000 in total awards
• 5 days of hands-on business training
• Access to mentors, check-ins & support
• Real-life business experience (great for jobs, scholarships & applications!)
• Earn high school credit (ask your school)
This isn’t school — it’s the real deal.
Who Is YETI for?
Whether you’re a student, a parent, or a community supporter — YETI has something for you. Here's how you can get involved:
For Students
Hey Future Boss – This Is Your Summer
Ever wanted to make money doing something you actually enjoy? Whether you're into art, food, fashion, gaming, or mowing lawns — YETI helps you turn your idea into a real business. You'll get funding, hands-on training, and mentorship from real entrepreneurs.
No experience needed. Just your passion and a plan.
For Parents or Educators
Empower the Youth in Your Life
YETI gives students the opportunity to develop life-changing skills in financial literacy, communication, time management, and business development — all while earning funding and potential high school credit.
It’s a safe, structured way for youth to grow their confidence and independence in a supported environment.
For Sponsors or Supporters
Help Launch the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
Your support makes this program possible. Sponsors fund the startup grants, workshops, and celebration events that fuel YETI.
In return, you get recognized as a champion for youth, innovation, and economic development right here in the Lac La Biche region.
How YETI Works
Step 1
Come Up With a Business Idea
Have a passion or side hustle in mind? Awesome. Need a spark? Check out our optional Tip Sheet for inspiration.
Step 1
Step 2
Submit your application & business plan
Use our template to tell us about your idea and how you’d run it.
Step 3
Get accepted & receive up to $500 startup funding
Once you're in, we give you the tools and money to get started.
Step 3
Step 4
Join our training workshops
We’ll cover everything you need: Business 101, Marketing, Money, Wellness, and more.
Step 5
Run your business over the summer
You’ll work at least 15 hours a week building and running your business.
Step 5
Step 6
Meet your goals and unlock an extra $500
If you hit your goals, you could double your funding — and maybe win a High Achiever Award!
Why Join YETI?
YETI isn’t just a program — it’s your launchpad.
Here’s what makes it worth your time:
Real Business Experience
Run your own business over the summer and get hands-on experience that most people don’t get until college — or even later.
Earn Up to $1,000
You’ll receive $500 in startup funding and can earn another $500 when you hit your goals. You keep your profits too.
Get High School Credit
Depending on your school, YETI may count toward Work Experience or CTS credits. Ask your teacher or guidance counsellor!
Learn Real Skills
You’ll gain skills in marketing, money management, communication, public speaking, customer service, and confidence.
Get Recognized
Students who complete the program receive a certificate, and top performers are recognized with High Achiever Awards. We’ll even feature your story if you want to be famous!
Meet Other Entrepreneurs
Connect with like-minded students who are also building something awesome. YETI might be where you meet your future business partner or best friend.
Here's What Some of the Past Participants Think About YETI...
The beginning $500 was very generous and more than enough to get us started, the workshops were very informative and helped us learn a lot, and the support was fantastic ; if we emailed someone with a question we would hear back very quickly.
Overall I had an amazing time trying out my business and getting all the input about different aspects of the business, it was a great opportunity and I hope to use the skills I learned in another potential business idea later on down the road!
The program has taught each of us, that entrepreneurship could be a potential that we would like to go into after high school. We really enjoyed managing things on our own and learning to be independent as well. Bringing new ideas and products to the community was also something that sparked this decision.
YETI Curriculum Overview
Learn What It Takes to Launch Your Business
YETI is a hands-on journey through entrepreneurship. Our workshops are built to give you the real-world skills, tools, and confidence you need to start — and grow — your business.
Over five training days, you’ll build a strong foundation in business planning, marketing, money management, and customer connection — all with the support of mentors who’ve been there.
Get ready to turn your big idea into a business that’s truly your own.
Session Timing
All sessions run from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM (local time)
In this session, students will dive into selecting the right business idea by learning how to evaluate different opportunities through customer needs, profitability, and personal alignment. They'll explore the importance of having a strong personal "Why" behind their business, which helps to drive decision-making, storytelling, and brand development. Using the Golden Circle model (Why > How > What), participants will craft the first draft of their mission statement and set the foundation for a meaningful business.
How Do I Get Involved?
Watch Live Day Videos
We have lots of interesting entrepreneur focused videos on YouTube. Recordings from Live Day in 2024 as well as videos from previous years. Watch previous students talk about their YETI experience and where their businesses are now. Learn about how to run a sustainable business. Get a handle on marketing and branding your business. And lots more.
Beam Out the Message
By telling your parents, teachers, or youth organizations about YETI, we'll have the chance to visit your classroom over the next few months to explain the program and talk a little about what entrepreneurship is.
Keep in touch with the latest news by following us on Instagram, share on your own socials, or just ask your teachers to check out this webpage!
Think of an Idea
Maybe you've already got your business idea taking form, maybe you've even started your business already! But, if not, there's time to sift through your ideas and start shaping one ready for the YETI application period in May 2023. Then get those applications in!
Here's a Tip Sheet to get the cogs turning and help develop your idea.
School or Youth Organization?
If you are a teacher or administrator for a senior high school or youth association in our region (see the communities we serve in the footer below) and would like to learn more about YETI, send an email to contact@cfllb.com.
Business or Municipality?
YETI is always on the look out for small business and municipal sponsorships. We have opportunities starting at just $500, and ALL our sponsorship dollars go directly to supporting students.
If you'd like to know more, download our sponsorship package or send an email to contact@cfllb.com. Our sponsorship drive opens each fall for the following summer:
Ready to Get Involved?
Whether you're a student with a big idea, a parent or teacher looking for details, or a local business ready to support — we’d love to connect.
I'm a Student
Start your journey as a teen entrepreneur and apply now.
I'm a Teacher or Parent
Reach out for an info pack or to schedule a classroom visit.
I'm a Sponsor or Community Partner
Join us in supporting the next generation of business leaders.
About YETI
The Young Entrepreneurs Training Initiative (YETI) was launched in 2015 to help teens across Alberta turn big ideas into real-world businesses.
Today, YETI is offered in multiple Community Futures regions — including right here in Lac La Biche.
Want to explore more success stories or see what other YETI programs are doing across the province?
👉 Visit yourYETI.ca
