NCCU CEED Small Business Expansion Summit

🗓️Date: Saturday, March 22nd, 2025

📍Location: NCCU – Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED)

🎙️Hosted by: NCCU CEED in partnership with Give It To The People

Echo’s presence at the CEED Small Business Expansion Summit affirmed the power of

blending youth innovation with adult entrepreneurship experience. With support from teen

leaders Ari, Ashley, and Kayla, and meaningful engagement with ecosystem partners and adult founders, echo continues to champion a bold, collaborative model where community is the catalyst for sustainable growth.

WHY

Echo participated in the Summit to:

🔸 Expand visibility and relationships within the regional entrepreneurship ecosystem

🔸 Connect with adult entrepreneurs seeking support, collaboration, or mentorship

opportunities

🔸 Showcase echo’s unique For Youth, By Youth (FYBY) and For Entrepreneurs, By Entrepreneurs (FEBE) models

🔸 Strengthen partnerships with fellow ecosystem builders working toward community- rooted economic growth

HOW

🌟 Tabling & Youth Leadership:

Echo was proud to be represented by three of our teen entrepreneurs—Ari, Ashley,

and Kayla—who supported our table and engaged attendees in conversations about

youth innovation, community impact, and the Echo experience. Their leadership brought energy and authenticity to our presence at the event.

🌟 Cross-Generational Engagement:

We intentionally connected with adult entrepreneurs from a variety of industries who

were eager to learn more about echo’s ecosystem. Many expressed interest in

participating in FEBE programs, becoming mentors for youth ventures, or collaborating

on upcoming events.

🌟 Breakout Session Participation:

Echo team members attended sessions on:

🔹 Optimizing Your Current Market

🔹 Financing Your Expansion: These sessions sparked ideas around strengthening offerings for entrepreneurs at different stages of growth.

🌟 Ecosystem Networking:

We reconnected with long-time partners and made new connections with small business lenders, advisors, and educators who were excited to see echo’s continued work in both youth and adult entrepreneurship development.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

🔑 Youth + Adult Engagement = Unique Value:

Echo’s intergenerational approach resonated deeply—especially with business owners seeking ways to pay it forward or bring younger voices into their ventures.

🔑 Echo is Filling a Gap:

There’s a clear desire for programs that provide more than technical assistance— entrepreneurs want community, storytelling, mentorship, and space to grow. Echo’s model is meeting that need.

🔑 Collaboration Opportunities Ahead:

We left the summit with leads on future speaking engagements, mentorship opportunities, and community events with aligned partners like CEED, SBA, and local small business support networks.