In 1987, Bronx-area high-school teacher Steve Mariotti called on his own entrepreneurial background and his desire to reach at-risk youth to found an entrepreneurial program for low-income students. The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE--pronounced "nifty"), which began as a program for improving academic skills in students at risk of dropping out of school, has since become a leading force in providing young people from 11 to 18 years with practical, relevant business knowledge that consistently translates into improved academic success as well.
NFTE's entrepreneurial curriculum walks students through the actual process of forming a business plan, applying for a business license and opening a business checking account. The foundation's rigorous "mini MBA program," as it is called, requires 100 hours of entrepreneurial training, including lectures, field trips and talks with actual business owners.
At the end of this training period, students emerge from the program with knowledge of proper business practices such as keeping accurate business records; more importantly, NFTE program participants graduate as true entrepreneurs, fluent in the marketplace and ready to fully participate productively in society. Graduates have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs in a wide range of fields, from catering to retail clothing operation to music production and management, from jewelry design to graphic design. Graduates who choose not to continue their business practices still benefit from the sense of personal empowerment and the translation of "street smarts" to academic and business savvy provided by the program.
Now in its sixteenth year, NFTE supports entrepreneur curriculum research and development, provides public education forums, and partners with teachers by offering training and continuing education opportunities. The Foundation also partners with universities and schools, as well as with corporations such as Microsoft. NFTE has established programs across the country and in nations such as Belgium, India and Argentina.
For more information about NFTE, contact the Foundation's Web site.
