Youth Business USA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that aims to empower underserved young adult entrepreneurs through their digital platform skysthelimit.org. Their platform connects young entrepreneurs seeking support with volunteer business advisors and mentors. It uses machine learning to intelligently match entrepreneurs' needs with advisors. Their pilot program has trained over 700 low-income entrepreneurs, helped create or grow 40 businesses, and generated 60 jobs. They aim to address high youth unemployment and underemployment in the US by providing resources for the over 11 million young adults who want to start businesses.

1. skysthelimit.org is the digital platform of
Youth Business USA, a 501c3 nonprofit
based in Oakland, CA

2. Our vision is that underserved young entrepreneurs
nationwide will have the support they need to
achieve their business dreams.
The Vision
Our mission is to empower underserved young adult
entrepreneurs nationwide by providing them with
the right support, from the right people, at the right
time in their journey.
The Mission

3. The youth unemployment crisis in United States…
• Nearly 45% of young adults aren’t employed full-time.
• 18 to 29 year olds have the highest
underemployment rate since World War II.
• As a result, roughly 19 million are low-income.
-AP, US Census
The Problem
…takes a devastating toll on society.
“America’s unemployed youth will cost an estimated $4.7
trillion over their lifetimes in lost revenue, welfare, crime and
health care expenditures.”
- White House Council
And it’s getting worse.

4. The Opportunity…
Over young adults in the United States want
to start a business, but lack the support and resources to do so.
1
11 million
1. Kauffman/Young Invincibles report, US Census.
Over professionals want to volunteer their
skills to help others succeed.
10 million
…to connect.

5. Young entrepreneurs and
volunteer business
advisors & mentors
create a profile on our
responsive web app at
skysthelimit.org. They
have access to training,
business loans & ongoing
support from our team.
We use a machine learning algorithm on our digital platform to connect our young
entrepreneurs to the right support, from the right people, at the right time.
Our experienced, volunteer business advisors & mentors help our entrepreneurs learn,
build and achieve their business dreams.
How it works
JOIN
Young entrepreneurs can
request support through the
platform. In partnership with
Accenture’s Artificial
Intelligence group, we use
machine learning to
intelligently match the right
business advisors & mentors
with our young
entrepreneurs’ needs.
MATCH
Our young entrepreneurs
prepare, launch and grow
their businesses. They get
the right support, from the
right people, at the right
time in their entrepreneurial
journey. They build new
products and services,
create jobs, get skills and
chase their dreams.
BUILD
www.skysthelimit.org

6. PREPARING TO LAUNCH THE BUSINESS
GROWING THE BUSINESS
Business Modeling Customer Development Branding
STARTING THE BUSINESS
Product/Service
Development
Website Development &
Technology Funding
Marketing & Sales Bookkeeping, Accounting
& Financials Legal & Regulatory
SUSTAINING THE BUSINESS
Building the Team Business Soft Skills Operations & Strategy
Pathway to Business Ownership
Our entrepreneurs receive support from our advisors & mentors in the following areas:

7. Impact from Pilot Program :
low-income young entrepreneurs trained700+
businesses created or grown40+
jobs created60+
Since launch in summer of 2014
completed actionable business plans400+

8. • Ages 18 to 29
• Low-income (HUD)
• 80%+ are people of color
• Nearly 2/3 female
• Also immigrants, formerly
incarcerated or in foster care, LGBTQ,
& other underrepresented groups
• Passionate, motivated
• Small businesses (food, many kinds of
services, clothing)
• Mostly in “Prepare” and “Launch”
stages of business
Our Young
Entrepreneurs
Our Advisors &
Mentors
• Professionals & subject-matter
experts, ranging from local firms to
global corporations (Accenture, Bank
of America, Google, Blockchain, Intuit,
Lyft, etc.)
• Small business owners, tech, encore
careers
• Motivated by having a meaningful
experience & giving back
• Give time on an as-available, as-
needed basis
Profiles of our Members

9. Tyrone and Tiffany, Co-Founders of Circle Up Education
At a young age, Tyrone Botelho was placed in Oakland’s foster care system. He was rotated through 13 different
group homes before he aged out of the system. In high school, he was exposed to the principles of Restorative
Justice, a conflict resolution and community-building practice. Tyrone went on to work his way through college in
low-wage jobs. Years later, he decided to launch a business to help other people experience the transformative
effects of Restorative Justice.
Tyrone and his co-founder Tiffany Hoang, approached Youth Business USA to support them in building Circle Up
Education, an educational consultancy that helps organizations implement Restorative Justice practices.
Through YBUSA, they received coaching in business modeling and planning to help them launch their business.
Then they were connected with a YBUSA mentor, Robin Nasatir, who is the former CEO of a management
consulting firm and a lifelong community volunteer. Robin has provided expert, invaluable guidance to Tyrone and
Tiffany as they have built their company over the past 18 months.
Circle Up Education has secured over $250,000 in contracts and now employs 5 people. Their clients include the
City of Oakland and the Hayward Unified School District.
“Youth Business USA helped make our business dreams become a
profitable reality. We don’t know where we would be without them.”
-Tyrone, Co-Founder
CircleUp Education
Y O U T H B U S I N E S S U S A S U C C E S S S T O R Y

10. Nicolas Cary: Co-Founder and Chairman
Nicolas leads the strategy of Youth Business USA’s platform development at
skysthelimit.org, our Board of Directors, and strategic partnerships. He is
also the co-founder of Blockchain, a financial technology company with over
10 million users of its digital platform. As CEO of Blockchain, he raised $30.5
million in Series A funding, and was named “European Digital Leader of the
Year” in 2015. The World Economic Forum recognized Blockchain as a 2016
Technology Pioneer - previous awardees include Google & AirBnB.
Bo Ghirardelli: Co-Founder and CEO
Bo knows that talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t. He leads
operations, partnerships, outreach, program design, and fundraising for
Youth Business USA. His focus is to meet the needs of our young
entrepreneurs. Bo also founded and built a successful business accelerator
for low-income young adults in Morocco during the Arab Spring, serving
over 1,500 entrepreneurs nationally.
Our Founders

11. Other Initiatives
Our Funders
In partnership with the City of Oakland Mayor’s Office, we began a multi-sector
collaboration in 2016 to prepare, launch, and grow 100 underrepresented young adult
entrepreneurs in Oakland each year.
*plus over 200 individual donors
THE
OAKLAND
FUND

12. bo@ybusa.org | 510-379-8952
ybusa.org | skysthelimit.org
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EIN # 27-4333255