Make Your Own Money. Be Your Own Boss.

Deshun Simmons, Assistant Communication and Development Officer, Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, says it’s easier than ever for young people to start their own business

In recent years, the trend of young people starting their own businesses has been on the rise. With a desire to chart their own course as well as to pursue their own passions and create something they genuinely care about; many young people see entrepreneurship as the avenue to make this a reality.

With today’s technology and how easily it is integrated into our lives, it is easier than ever to turn that idea into a potential business. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Shopify have accelerated the opportunity to start a business. Whether taking online payments or accessing analytics and data on whom to market towards, the tools are there to help. Although these tools are more easily accessible, one must still understand how entrepreneurship works, what it entails, and the mindset that comes with it. Self-paced entrepreneurship courses and local incubators are the learning choice of the younger generation, so schools and businesses must adapt to this type of learning and support however they can.

The Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) hosts a student incubator programme called the Summer Student Entrepreneur Program (SSEP) for eight weeks. SSEP aims to nurture that entrepreneurial spirit within those between the ages of 13 and 22 by combining entrepreneurial education with real-life entrepreneurial experience. Between ten to fifteen students are given two weeks of training, which helps to foster that entrepreneurial mindset and provide the tools and knowledge needed to take their businesses to the next level. After the training workshop, students spend the next six weeks running their businesses and selling their goods and services to the public.

“The SSEP provided me with an exceptional foundation to begin running my business. This was made possible through various workshops and opportunities to market my products to the public”, says Antoine Jones, a 2022 SSEP student and owner of Capsule, an upcycled clothing brand. He continued, “I am very fortunate to have been able to sell a number of my products, placing me as a top earner and I can’t be more grateful to have been a part of the SSEP program.”

Zen Marley Mello, a 2022 SSEP student and owner of Zenimations, an animation company, says, “The programme was an amazing experience for me. Though I have taken entrepreneur courses in the past, SSEP was the first to give me an in-depth look into what it is like to be an entrepreneur, and it was the first big step for me and my business.”

The BEDC also hosts the Rocket Pitch Competition during Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), and within the competition, there is a Youth Pitch category. Youth Pitch is a competition where young people under the age of 18, pitch their business ideas and compete for fantastic cash prizes. The framework of the Youth Pitch presentation is simple, the presenter, or team of presenters, has five minutes to tell the story of their business idea and then respond to questions. The main goal of a Youth Pitch is to illustrate a business opportunity. A pitch must be clear, straightforward, and not overly technical. Those that enter the competition have a chance to win a cash award ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, in addition to a package of startup services that can help them launch their business.

The BEDC was formed to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit, and the SSEP and Rocket Pitch programmes are just two examples of significant pathways to success. We have found that graduates of the SSEP leave with a unique mindset. They can solve problems, invent solutions, and make the world better. For more information on the SSEP, the Rocket Pitch Competition, and the other programs that BEDC offers, visit www.bedc.bm, email: info@bedc.bm or call at 292-5570.

BEarn Money & Win Prizes

Earn your own money by selling your products and services. Compete with your peers! The three participants with the most profit will earn additional 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place financial rewards.

, Be Your Own Boss

Why spend the Summer working on someone else’s dream when you can be building your own! Learn how to be your own boss and build your own business.

Summer Student Entrepreneur Program