<![CDATA[Many countries facing challenges in creating employment opportunities for young people view the development of youth entrepreneurs as an important economic strategy and have introduced programs to assist aspiring young entrepreneurs in starting businesses. While formal education is a key element of most initiatives, opportunities for active experiential learning and real start-up experience are frequently lacking. This paper presents a case study of the Ontario Government’s SummerCo Program, designed to bridge this gap. Since 2001, it has funded over 6,000 student start-ups. Students aged 15-29, receive funding and support to start and run a business for the summer. The program has provided data from participant end-of-program questionnaires for the years 2006-2014, some 4,562 responses, along with published reports and other material. This paper examines the types of businesses established, business performance, participants’ feedback, and the overall program impact. Participants reported high levels of program satisfaction. 99% would recommend the Program to others and 85% felt they had achieved all their objectives for taking the program. Student participants have a much lower rate of unemployment, post-graduation. Finally, the program generated significant economic value.]]>
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