YOUNG BILLIONAIRES CLUB
YOUNG BILLIONAIRES CLUB
The Young Billionaires Club (YBC) is a year-round entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and career readiness program designed for youth and young adults ages 12–25. Operated by The Sanders Hand, YBC equips participants with practical skills, mentorship, and real-world experiences that prepare them to launch businesses, explore career pathways, and build long-term financial stability.
YBC is offered through in-school and after-school TEA-recognized CTSO chapters as well as through the YBC Online Campus, providing flexible access for students across Texas.
Proud Member of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)
Program Structure: Year-Round Model
Fall Semester – Program Launch & Skills Development (Aug–Dec)
✪ Focus: Foundational learning, leadership development, and chapter operations.
✪ School-Based CTSO Chapters: Hosted at middle schools, high schools, and partner institutions statewide. Students engage in TEA-aligned coursework focused on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and leadership.
✪ After-School & Community Programs: Operate in partnership with local schools and community centers, giving students flexible access to YBC programming beyond regular class hours.
✪ Independent/Online Students: Participate virtually through the YBC Online Campus, which offers live virtual workshops, mentorship, and the same TEA-aligned coursework used in classrooms.
Spring Semester – Competition Season (Jan–Apr)
✪ Focus: Real-world application through regional and statewide CTSO competitions.
✪ Students compete in entrepreneurship pitch contests, financial literacy challenges, and leadership events judged by business and community leaders.
✪ Winners receive seed funding, mentorship, and business development support.
✪ After-school and Online Campus students may compete in community-based competitions, ensuring equal access for youth without a formal YBC chapter.
Summer – Experiential Learning & Market Activation (Jun–Aug)
✪ Focus: Hands-on entrepreneurship and community engagement.
✪ YBC Summer Program: Offers intensive workshops, mentorship sessions, and real-world learning experiences.
✪ YBC Vendor Market: Open to graduates of the Online Campus and after-school programs who have completed their coursework. These students showcase and sell their products/services in professional market environments, directly contributing to local economic growth.
Eligibility & Pathways
✪ Enrol through a school-based CTSO chapter, after-school program, or the YBC Online Campus.
✪ Complete TEA-aligned entrepreneurship and financial literacy coursework.
✪ Compete in CTSO or community-based events and progress to Vendor Market participation.
Key Program Benefits
✪ Statewide reach and year-round engagement for ages 12–25.
✪ TEA-approved curriculum ensuring credibility and alignment with Texas standards.
✪ Flexible participation options — in-school, after-school, or online.
✪ Hands-on experience through competitions, mentorship, and vendor markets.
✪ Strong community and corporate partnerships with organizations like Gulf Capital Bank, TDECU, and the Texas Education Agency supporting youth economic mobility.
Program Statistics
Youth Disconnection: Roughly 1 in 5 (20%) youth from the lowest-income families become disconnected from school and work in early adulthood, a rate eight times higher than their peers from the highest-income families (~2.5%).
Risk Behaviours: Youth from low-income families continue to engage in higher rates of adolescent risk behaviours, driven by structural factors like under-resourced neighbourhoods, school environments, and chronic economic stress.
Poverty Rate - Houston: Approximately 1 in 5 (19.6%) Houston residents’ lives in poverty, with child poverty even higher at over 26%.
Poverty Rate - Texas vs. Houston: The statewide poverty rate is 14.0%, meaning Houston's poverty rate remains significantly higher—about 40% above the Texas average.