Young Entrepreneurs Program

YEP alums doing great things! Well done Krrish and Pranith!

2024 YEP KC Spotlights! Introducing Nala Chandramohan Hello! My name is Nala Chandramohan, and I will be a senior at Pembroke Hill this fall. This summer, I worked as a research associate intern at Fenaroli & Associates under CEO Karen Fenaroli. Fenaroli & Associates specializes in board placements, C-Suite, and VP executive search assignments in companies throughout the United States. During my internship, I focused on networking, event planning, and research. I assisted with Fenaroli & Associates’ annual Intern Day, where over 100 women interns gathered to listen to a panel of female speakers discuss career paths and achieving success in the professional world. I also met with 25 CEOs across the Kansas City metropolitan area, from sectors such as education to real estate, to discuss their career journeys and how they have built their reputations on both a local and national level. I learned so much about the working world and had the opportunity to engage with many valuable mentors throughout my internship. I was constantly presented with exciting new tasks and was able to collaborate with an amazing cohort of interns. I am confident that the skills and knowledge I gained from YEP and my internship will be invaluable in the future. I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences and network YEP has granted me. It has been very inspiring to be surrounded by a phenomenal group of high schoolers with entrepreneurial aspirations. This summer has been fantastic—I can’t thank YEP enough!

2024 YEP KC Spotlights! Introducing Eddy Jiang This is an eagerly and long-awaited reveal, but it’s time to unveil the intern behind these posts. Hello! My name is Eddy Jiang, and I recently graduated from Blue Valley High School. In the fall, I will be attending Stanford University to study economics, computer science, and English. This summer, I have been working with Erin Jenkins at the Young Entrepreneurs Program, where I am responsible for designing marketing materials, managing our social media platforms, maintaining our CRM (customer relationship management) database, writing blog posts, and updating our website. I was also matched with Super Dispatch, an all-in-one auto transport platform for carriers, shippers, and brokers to streamline and automate vehicle deliveries from end to end. At Super Dispatch, I have been working with John Solka, CPA in the finance and accounting team to call and collect updated payment information from customers whose subscription payments failed during dunning. I am currently working with Brittany S. in the analytics team to use SQL and Tableau to automate queries of customer data, visualize trends, and generate cost-benefit analyses of billing calls. Working in both finance and analytics has allowed me to apply my interests in economics and computer science toward creative solutions for present business needs. At both Super Dispatch and YEP KC, I have learned invaluable skills, gained real-world experience, and built lifelong networks with peers, mentors, and leaders in myriad different industries. I am incredibly thankful to be a part of YEP, and I am especially grateful for the opportunity to engage with local, high-growth companies and learn from enterprising leaders at various site visits. Although my path forward has yet to be forged, I know the skills and networks I have gained will provide a strong foundation for me to thrive wherever I go. Thank you, YEP KC!

2024 YEP KC Spotlights! Introducing Jack Lambert Hello! My name is Jack Lambert, and I am a rising senior at Pembroke Hill. This summer, I am a marketing intern at C2FO, a fintech company that specializes in providing working capital for businesses to increase their cash flow. At C2FO, I am working under the head of the marketing department, Vishnu Sundaram. As an intern, I have managed and merged accounts for the sales department, researched patterns in our email systems, and reported my findings to the rest of the team. I have also learned from the SRM (supplier relationship management) team how to make sales calls and increase company outreach. This experience has greatly broadened my understanding of marketing and sales and taught me skills that I will continue to build upon. YEP KC has provided me with real-world working experience, an entire network of people to connect with, and an opportunity to better my knowledge in marketing and sales. Furthermore, YEP has given me the opportunity to connect with KC-based entrepreneurs weekly through site visits. These visits have not only allowed me to ask successful leaders questions, but also given me the chance to learn more about local businesses. In college, I plan on majoring in business, and I have no doubt that I will use the skills I have learned from YEP!

2024 YEP KC Spotlights! Introducing Aadi Parida Hello! My name is Aadi Parida, and I am a rising senior at Blue Valley Northwest. I plan to major in business and minor in economics for my undergraduate studies. This summer, I have the privilege of interning at Tractics - Construction Management Platform as a marketing intern under Travis Williams. Tractics is a construction management company that is revolutionizing heavy and civil construction through innovative technology, empowering professionals to efficiently deliver exceptional projects. My role involves raising awareness about Tractics’ cutting-edge asset management software, which helps customers enhance efficiency and reduce expenses, ultimately increasing their revenue. Additionally, I am continually learning about the inner workings of a business and aspire to apply this knowledge to my startups now and in the future. Overall, I am extremely grateful for this incredible opportunity and excited to explore the experiences that await me.

2024 YEP KC Spotlights! Introducing Remy Witt Hello! My name is Remy Witt. This fall, I will be a senior at Shawnee Mission South. After high school, I intend to major in business with an entrepreneurship focus. This summer, I interned under Chad Feather, VP of Client Success, at Daupler, a response software company for utilities, public works, and other service organizations. Daupler’s response management system, Daupler RMS, provides unparalleled communication, automation, and data management capabilities. It is currently used by more than 200 municipalities and private organizations of all sizes across North America. During my time at Daupler, I have worked mostly in the Client Success Department, aiming to ensure that clients are satisfied with Daupler’s software and will continue to use it over time. In this role, I learned a lot about how a business maintains positive relations. One of my main tasks was a support ticket trend analysis. After organizing and analyzing client support tickets using my own unique approach, I identified and documented trends in order to aid Daupler’s team in prioritizing client requests. I also performed tasks for the marketing department. In this department, I was tasked with identifying prospective clients and documenting that service organization’s important information in our system. This work assists Daupler’s sales team in finding clients that are best suited for Daupler’s software. This project helped me learn how businesses find and attract their target clientele. I am very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of YEP KC. The internship, site visits, and alumni have all helped me develop my knowledge of business, entrepreneurship, and networking. I will continue to apply the knowledge I’ve gained this summer in my life and future business endeavors.

2024 YEP KC Spotlights! Introducing Caroline Deacon Hello! My name is Caroline Deacon, and I’m a rising senior at Notre Dame de Sion High School. This summer, I’ve had the opportunity to work in the UMKC Innovation Center with both KCSourceLink and the Missouri SBDC at UMKC. KCSourceLink helps entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners connect with the resources they need to lead their business to success. The SBDC (Small Business Development Center) provides small businesses with resources such as consulting, training sessions, and events to kickstart or grow their company. During my time with both of these organizations, I have been working primarily with marketing, from clientele success stories to social media appeal to Global Entrepreneurship Week coming in the fall. I am so incredibly grateful for this opportunity and all those I have connected with along the way. It has been amazing to see the inner workings of entrepreneurship and the often overlooked hardships of starting your own business. Through this internship, I have been constantly surrounded by entrepreneurs who have experienced success, failure, and the difficulties many face within the small business community. This experience has given me further insight into the complex and fascinating world of entrepreneurship. Outside of YEP, I am passionate about photography, film, and videography, and hope to continue developing my skills in the future. I am so grateful to YEP KC for this opportunity, and all of the people I have met who have made this experience so incredible.

2024 YEP KC Spotlights! Introducing Sarah Jiang Hello! My name is Sarah Jiang, and I am a rising senior at Blue Valley West High School. This summer, I am interning at C2FO, a Leawood-based fintech focusing on working capital solutions to provide accessible, fast, low-cost capital for businesses across the globe. At C2FO, I have been primarily working with Jessie (Lueck) Fields, MSOD and the Talent Development and Engagement Team within the Human Resources Department. My main projects have included analyzing pay grades, compiling training material, and planning C2FO Olympic activities. Through the internship, I’ve learned about engagement strategies for company-wide events and the global role of HR within an organization. Working in HR has been an exceptional opportunity to apply my interests in education to a corporate setting. YEP has truly been a phenomenal opportunity; the program has connected me with other incredible high school students and local Kansas City entrepreneurs who excel in diverse fields ranging from industrial design to sports marketing. The numerous skills I’ve gained through the program have provided me with a strong foundation for my future education and career, and I could not be more grateful!

2024 YEP KC Spotlights! Introducing Medha Goli Hello! My name is Medha Goli, and I am a rising senior at Blue Valley West High School. I am currently exploring potential college majors, and I am particularly interested in majoring in mathematics, computer science, or finance. This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to work at FSC, Inc. as a project management and data science intern. FSC is a consulting engineering firm located in Overland Park, Kansas, and its goal is to provide consulting in various disciplines, such as fire protection, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and more. My role has been to incorporate a new project management system for the whole firm to increase collaboration within each team and better organize tasks and delegations. I also created a database using Microsoft Access and SQL for the PBS (Preferred Building Solutions) Department to aid them in generating real-time reports on demand, as per their business needs. I am very thankful for all the guidance that was given to me by CEO Sonia Garapaty and Emma Sauer throughout my time at FSC. I’m extremely thankful for this opportunity YEP KC has provided me. It has granted me incredible networking opportunities and helped me gain professional knowledge of the business world!

2024 YEP KC Spotlights! Introducing Varun Rastogi Hello! My name is Varun Rastogi, and I am a rising senior at Blue Valley High School. This summer, I am thrilled to be interning with the loans and underwriting team at AltCap, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to providing accessible capital to entrepreneurs and communities. In my role, I am responsible for gathering and evaluating data to detect patterns in loan delinquencies, ensuring alignment of loan documentation, and completing detailed post-closing checks. This experience has enhanced my abilities in data analysis and broadened my understanding of the lending process and financial documentation. I am also grateful for the opportunity to engage with Kansas City-based companies and learn valuable lessons from driven leaders through YEP KC site visits. These experiences have solidified my interest in pursuing a degree in business, finance, or economics, with the ultimate goal of contributing to community development in the KC metro area. I am grateful to YEP KC for the invaluable opportunity to participate this summer. I am eager to see what the future holds and am committed to leveraging my skills and knowledge for the betterment of our community.