Future Founders
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Future Founders® believes every youth can become an entrepreneur. We immerse youth in experiences that inspire and empower them to create their own opportunity.
Future Founders® is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that believes every youth can become an entrepreneur. We believe this leads to a generation more determined, hopeful and equipped as they engage the future. Since 2005, our programs have served over 35,000 youth. Join us as we empower the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs.
👋 Meet Aleisha Reado, part of Startup Bootcamp 2026.
Aleisha is founder of REDEAUX, a cut and sewn apparel brand that specializes in genderless, versatile streetwear inspired by music.
Aleisha is a long-time member of the Future Founders community, having participated in our youth programs when she was in high school.
Be sure to support Aleisha’s company and follow along as we continue introducing the founders of Startup Bootcamp 2026.
07/27/2026
🚀 BOARD NEWS: We're thrilled to announce that Gaurav Doshi, Senior Director of Strategy at Motorola Solutions, has joined the Future Founders Board of Directors.
Gaurav brings more than 25 years of experience in engineering, strategy, and business leadership to this new role, along with a decade of nonprofit board experience. His appointment deepens a relationship that dates to the beginning of Future Founders. The Motorola Solutions Foundation is the organization’s founding sponsor and has supported its work from the start.
Gaurav’s experience building businesses, shaping growth strategies, and supporting mission-driven organizations will be an incredible asset to Future Founders, and we look forward to learning from his experience as we continue empowering tens of thousands of young entrepreneurs nationwide.
“Future Founders gives young people the tools, mindset, and confidence to shape their own path,” said Wesley (Barden) Touhy, Executive Director of Motorola Solutions Foundation. “Having supported this mission from day one, the Motorola Solutions Foundation is thrilled to have Gaurav join the board. He brings deep operational insight and a genuine passion for coaching emerging talent; he’ll make a lasting impact on these rising leaders and the organization.”
LINK (ADD TO LINK IN BIO): https://www.futurefounders.com/news-article/future-founders-appoints-motorola-solutions-strategy-leader-gaurav-doshi-to-its-board-of-directors/
For many young adults, the challenges of managing money and navigating everyday life are deeply connected.
As a finalist in the Future Founders Apprenticeship Pitch Day powered by the Chicago Housing Authority, Shalisa Life shared her vision for Lif Learning, a business designed to address the intersection of money trauma and the life skills many people never learn at home or in school.
Through education, wellness, and practical resources, she is building tools for people navigating life without a blueprint.
With new resources launching this summer and a growing vision for impact, Shalisa is turning a personal insight into a solution that can help others feel more informed, confident, and supported.
07/08/2026
🚀 BIG NEWS: Meet the 22 entrepreneurs advancing to Phase Two of Future Founders’ 2026 Startup Bootcamp - Part 2
Startup Bootcamp is Future Founders’ premier accelerator for early-stage entrepreneurs, helping founders transform promising ideas into businesses with real momentum. This year’s cohort is tackling challenges across industries with creativity, ambition, and a clear commitment to solving problems that matter. We’re excited to support them as they sharpen their ideas, accelerate their growth, and build what comes next.
Startup Bootcamp plays a powerful role in bridging the gap between learning about entrepreneurship and building, growing, and scaling a venture. One founder advancing to Phase Two first joined Future Founders as a paid high school intern through our Be Your Own Boss program. Meanwhile, five members of the 2026 Fellowship previously participated in Startup Bootcamp. Together, these journeys are a powerful reflection of what we are building: a community where young entrepreneurs can find new opportunities, deepen their skills, and continue growing alongside Future Founders at every stage of their journey.
A huge shoutout to our talented Head of Platform Strategy Chris Van Etten for leading Startup Bootcamp and helping these entrepreneurs turn promising ideas into businesses with real momentum!
Startup Bootcamp is made possible through the generous support of Keywell Foundation,
Nasdaq Foundation, The Richard L. Duchossois Foundation, Summer Oaks Fund, Itzkowich Family, and The John E. & Jeanne T. Hughes Foundation.
Congratulations to our 2026 Phase Two founders! Meet the full cohort through the link in our bio.
07/08/2026
🚀 BIG NEWS: Meet the 22 entrepreneurs advancing to Phase Two of Future Founders’ 2026 Startup Bootcamp - Part 1
Startup Bootcamp is Future Founders’ premier accelerator for early-stage entrepreneurs, helping founders transform promising ideas into businesses with real momentum. This year’s cohort is tackling challenges across industries with creativity, ambition, and a clear commitment to solving problems that matter. We’re excited to support them as they sharpen their ideas, accelerate their growth, and build what comes next.
Startup Bootcamp plays a powerful role in bridging the gap between learning about entrepreneurship and building, growing, and scaling a venture. One founder advancing to Phase Two first joined Future Founders as a paid high school intern through our Be Your Own Boss program. Meanwhile, five members of the 2026 Fellowship previously participated in Startup Bootcamp. Together, these journeys are a powerful reflection of what we are building: a community where young entrepreneurs can find new opportunities, deepen their skills, and continue growing alongside Future Founders at every stage of their journey.
A huge shoutout to our talented Head of Platform Strategy Chris Van Etten for leading Startup Bootcamp and helping these entrepreneurs turn promising ideas into businesses with real momentum!
Startup Bootcamp is made possible through the generous support of Keywell Foundation,
Nasdaq Foundation, The Richard L. Duchossois Foundation, Summer Oaks Fund, Itzkowich Family, and The John E. & Jeanne T. Hughes Foundation.
Congratulations to our 2026 Phase Two founders! Meet the full cohort through the link in our bio.
07/06/2026
Some founders build products. Others build communities.
After participating in Future Founders' Startup Bootcamp and the Fellowship, Taylor Morrison has continued to build spaces where people learn from one another, grow together, and become more confident in their craft. Her latest venture is a reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t just about what you create. It’s about the opportunities you create for others.
Read Taylor’s story at the link in our bio.
Entrepreneurship is about more than building a business. It’s about building confidence, community, and a sense of belonging.
Through the Future Founders Apprenticeship, young adults ages 18–24 are given the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship in an environment that is supportive, accessible, and inclusive.
Future Founders Program Director Sam Schryer shares that participants gain foundational business skills, connect with mentors and peers, and develop the confidence to pursue their ideas long after the program ends.
As Pitch Day demonstrated, the impact extends far beyond the competition itself. While participants are presenting their businesses, they are also celebrating one another’s growth, accomplishments, and shared journey.
At its core, Future Founders is about creating a space where young people feel valued, supported, and empowered to see themselves as entrepreneurs.
Fashion can be more than what you wear. It can be a reflection of who you are.
As a finalist in the Future Founders Apprenticeship Pitch Day, Sylvanna LeBlanc shared the vision behind SvenRi LeBlanc, a clothing brand centered on intentionality, confidence, and self-expression. Built around the belief that people should not only feel great in their clothes but recognize their own greatness, the brand aims to create a deeper connection between style and identity.
Throughout the Apprenticeship powered by the Chicago Housing Authority, Sylvanna refined her business by digging deeper into customer discovery and identifying the problem she wanted to solve. That process helped strengthen the foundation of SvenRi LeBlanc and clarify the purpose behind the brand.
Inspired by the community of entrepreneurs around her, she is already looking ahead to what's next, including plans for a fashion show that will bring new designs, creativity, and engagement to life.
For Sylvanna, SvenRi LeBlanc is ultimately about creating something people can connect with in their own way and making space for them to see themselves in the story.
06/22/2026
Look around a Future Founders event and you’ll see leadership everywhere.
It’s in the participant presenting an idea for the first time. The peer offering encouragement. The young entrepreneur stepping outside their comfort zone to start a conversation.
These moments may seem small, but they add up.
Because leadership isn’t something that appears overnight. It’s built one action, one decision, and one opportunity at a time.
For George Wilkins, entrepreneurship is about creating convenience, accessibility, and community all in one place.
As the founder of George’s Grooming Lounge, he’s working to solve a common challenge in the beauty and grooming industry: having to visit multiple locations for different services. His vision is a one-stop destination where clients can access barbering, braiding, and loctician services under one roof.
Participating in the Future Founders Apprenticeship powered by the Chicago Housing Authority helped George sharpen his professional skills and strengthen his commitment to growing the business.
With plans to pursue funding and eventually open a storefront in downtown Chicago, he’s focused on turning that vision into reality.
One thing George wants people to know about his business is simple: everyone is welcome. George’s Grooming Lounge is built to serve people from all backgrounds, styles, and walks of life.
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