Youth Business Alliance

What Youth Business Alliance does

Youth Business Alliance (YBA) is a California-based 501(c)-style nonprofit founded in 2012 by Los Angeles business leader Mark Stagen. It operates a year-long, four-part curriculum covering soft skills, workforce readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship, delivered directly into partner high schools in the Greater Los Angeles area. The organization's core constituents are high school students in underserved LA neighborhoods; its distribution mechanism is B2B-style school-district and charter-network partnerships through which staff and 275 volunteer industry professionals conduct weekly classroom sessions, mock interviews, resume workshops, behind-the-scenes business field trips, and project-based learning (including a Shark Tank entrepreneurship competition). Specialized sub-programs include the Sports & Business Youth Coalition with Homefield Advantage and the Youth Tax Literacy Program with Haven Neighborhood Services.

YBA's service delivery is labor-intensive and in-person/Zoom-based; there is no proprietary technology platform beyond a volunteer/partner portal. The organization is led day-to-day by Executive Director Betsy Blanchard, supported by a Program Director, Partnership Manager, an Americorps Fellow, and a Volunteer Recruitment VISTA (total staff of five), with governance provided by a Board of Directors chaired by Beth Sestanovich (System1) and drawn from corporate partners.

YBA's revenue model is a hybrid of corporate sponsorship (entry-tier partnerships at $2,950/year, with named banking, real estate, tech, sports, and entertainment sponsors), individual donations (one-time and recurring monthly at $10-$100), and fundraising events (Kickball Tournament + Growth Summit, Spring Soirée, Summer Camp, Volunteer Mixers). The organization disclosed no public financials, but its 2024-25 operating footprint of 21 school partners and 2,400 students served, combined with a stated goal to double school partners by 2030, signals an early-stage scaling nonprofit rather than a mature institution.

Name

Youth Business Alliance

Legal name

Youth Business Alliance

Website

https://youthbizalliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Youth Business Alliance is a Los Angeles nonprofit that delivers a year-long workforce-readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship curriculum to high school students in underserved communities through 21 partner schools and 275 volunteer industry professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Workforce Development Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Child and Youth Services (62411), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Workforce readiness programs
• Youth financial literacy
• Career readiness education
• School partnership programs
• Youth entrepreneurship training

Headquarters

HQ city

Beverly Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners pay sponsorship fees starting at $2,950 for partnership tiers, gaining community visibility, employee engagement opportunities, and access to future talent pipelines.
2. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute via the website with suggested amounts of $10, $25, $50, $100, with options for one-time or recurring monthly donations.
3. Recurring Donations: Monthly recurring donation program allowing donors to set up automatic monthly contributions until cancelled.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Youth Business Alliance delivers a year-long, four-part curriculum to high school students in underserved communities of Greater Los Angeles, covering soft skills, workforce readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. Programs are delivered in partner schools through weekly volunteer guest speakers, behind-the-scenes corporate field trips, mock interviews, resume workshops, and supplemental initiatives such as Youth Tax Literacy and Sports & Business Youth Coalition.

Product overview

Youth Business Alliance operates as a unified nonprofit program offering youth entrepreneurship and workforce development education. The core offering is the YBA Curriculum, a year-long four-part course covering soft skills, workforce readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. This is complemented by three integrated service pillars: the Guest Speaker Program (connecting students with industry professionals weekly), Field Trips (behind-the-scenes business visits), and a Volunteer Portal for managing engagement. Additional specialized programs include the Sports & Business Youth Coalition, Youth Tax Literacy Program (in partnership with Haven Neighborhood Services), and Work-Based Learning career mentoring. YBA also hosts annual events including the Kickball Tournament + Growth Summit, Spring Soirée, Summer Camp, and Volunteer Mixers to support fundraising and community building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• YBA Year-Long Four-Part Curriculum Year-long, four-part course teaching high school students soft skills, workforce readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship skills through classroom instruction at partner schools.
• Guest Speaker Program Connects students weekly with volunteer industry professionals who share their career journeys and professional expertise in partner school classrooms.
• Field Trips Behind-the-scenes visits to local businesses and corporate partner locations, allowing students to observe real-world business operations across various industries.
• Volunteer Portal Online portal where volunteers can register, access the volunteer calendar, browse speaking and engagement opportunities, and manage their participation in YBA programs.
• Youth Tax Literacy Program Tax literacy and preparation program developed with Haven Neighborhood Services that equips students with financial knowledge and IRS-certified tax preparation skills, enabling them to provide free tax assistance at VITA sites serving low- and moderate-income filers in South Los Angeles.
• Sports & Business Youth Coalition (SBYC) Program co-developed with Home Field Advantage that trains high school students to coach K-8 students' sports while providing weekly guest speakers from the sports industry, including ESPN, LA Rams, and SCGA Junior Golf Foundation.
• Work-Based Learning Career mentoring activity where students are matched with adult professionals in small groups to explore potential careers, with mentors sharing insights about the workplace, careers, and postsecondary education.
• YBA Summer Camp Summer program offering hands-on business experiences and mentorship opportunities for students, including behind-the-scenes visits to companies such as Rare Beauty, hosted at venues like USC Marshall School of Business.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,400 students served, 21 school partners, 275 volunteers in 2024-25 school year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

41 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bank of CaliforniacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor corporate sponsor providing financial support and employee volunteer engagement for YBA programs serving high school students.
• Bank of HopecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting YBA's mission to provide career readiness and financial literacy to underserved students.
• Cathay BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor engaged in YBA's financial literacy education programs for high school students.
• Citizens Business BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing sponsorship and volunteer support for YBA programs.
• Comerica BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor participating in YBA's community investment and student development initiatives.
• Commonwealth Business BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting YBA's financial literacy and career readiness programs.
• Cushman + WakefieldcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing employee volunteers and support for YBA student programs.
• CTBC Bank Corp.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with Board Vice President Robert De Acevedo representing CTBC Bank on YBA's Board of Directors.
• DSA SignageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that hosts YBA students for behind-the-scenes manufacturing floor tours.
• Epic Staffing GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting YBA programs and mission.
• Expand LAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting YBA's youth development initiatives.
• First Citizens BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing financial support for YBA student programs.
• Hanmi BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting YBA's financial literacy education programs.
• Haven Neighborhood ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner collaborating with YBA on the Youth Tax Literacy program, serving low- and moderate-income students across South Los Angeles.
• Homefield AdvantagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization co-hosting the Sports & Business Youth Coalition program at Animo Compton, training high school students to coach K-8 students' sports.
• Honey's KettleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting YBA's community programs.
• MountainminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing support for YBA student initiatives.
• Newmark Merrill CompaniescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting YBA programs and mission.
• Pioneer IndustriesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor engaged with YBA's community investment initiatives.
• Preferred BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with Board Treasurer Eric Gutierrez representing Preferred Bank on YBA's Board of Directors.
• Royal Business BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting YBA's financial literacy and career readiness programs.
• SMBC ManubankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing financial support for YBA programs.
• Study Smart TutorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with Board Member Jack Friedman representing Study Smart Tutors on YBA's Board of Directors.
• System1coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with Board President Beth Sestanovich representing System1 on YBA's Board of Directors.
• True ReligionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting YBA's mission and programs.
• Wescom FinancialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing financial support for YBA student programs.
• ZGF ArchitectsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with Board Member Marisa Keckeisen representing ZGF Architects on YBA's Board of Directors.
• Google Spruce Goose CampusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner hosting YBA students for behind-the-scenes tours of Google facilities.
• NASA JPLminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing YBA students with behind-the-scenes access to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory facilities.
• Snap Inc. (Snapchat)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner hosting YBA students at Snapchat Team Summit for career exposure in technology sector.
• Rare BeautyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner hosting YBA summer camp students for behind-the-scenes look at beauty industry operations.
• USC Marshall School of BusinessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational institution partner hosting YBA Summer Camp sessions in Classroom 202 at their business school facilities.
• ESPNminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports industry partner providing guest speakers for Sports & Business Youth Coalition program.
• LA RamsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports industry partner providing guest speakers for Sports & Business Youth Coalition program.
• SCGA Junior Golf FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports industry partner providing guest speakers for Sports & Business Youth Coalition program.
• Bright Star SchoolscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool partner operating Rise Kohyang High School and Stella Charter High School, receiving YBA curriculum and programming.
• Centinela Valley Union High School DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool district partner including Hawthorne High School, Leuzinger High School, Lawndale High School, and Lloyde High School.
• Green Dot SchoolscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool network partner including Animo City of Champions, Animo Inglewood, Animo Jackie Robinson, Alain LeRoy Locke College Preparatory Academy, Animo Oscar de la Hoya, Animo Pat Brown, Animo Venice, and Animo Watts.
• Long Beach UnifiedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool district partner with Long Beach Polytechnic High School participating in YBA programs.
• Los Angeles Unified School DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor school district partner including Miguel Contreras School of Business + Tourism, Dr. Maya Angelou High School, Manual Arts High School, Nava College Prep High School, Santee Learning Complex, and Gardena High School.
• New Design Charter High SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCharter school partner receiving YBA curriculum and programming services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• iMentor: Youth-mentoring nonprofit pairing high school students with industry professional mentors for college and career readiness — highly comparable model of pairing working professionals with underserved high schoolers.
• Genesys Works: Nonprofit providing workforce-readiness training and corporate internship pathways for high school students from underserved communities; closest direct analogue on corporate talent-pipeline funding model.
• Year Up: Workforce-development nonprofit serving young adults from underserved communities with employer partnerships and career-readiness training — comparable underserved-youth-to-career-pipeline thesis even though it focuses on postsecondary age.
• Junior Achievement: Largest US nonprofit providing K-12 financial literacy, work-readiness and entrepreneurship curriculum in schools — directly comparable in mission, in-school delivery model and corporate-sponsor ecosystem to YBA.
• Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE): Nonprofit delivering youth entrepreneurship and business-skill programs in underserved high schools, very close analogue in target student, curriculum pillars (financial literacy, soft skills, entrepreneurship) and corporate volunteer model.

Regional players

• LA's BEST: LAUSD-affiliated after-school enrichment program serving elementary-age students across the same school system YBA targets — adjacent service offering, audience-adjacent audience and shared school-district relationships.
• Junior Achievement of Southern California: Regional JA affiliate covering the same Southern California geography as YBA and offering near-identical financial-literacy and career-readiness curriculum — direct geographic competitor for school-district partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large, established youth-development nonprofit offering broad programming including career exploration and financial literacy; broader in scope and national in reach than YBA but overlaps on youth workforce-readiness outcomes.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth-mentoring nonprofit pairing adults with young people for sustained relationship-based support — same positive-youth-development framework and volunteer-recruitment model as YBA's speaker/mentor network.
• After-School All-Stars: National nonprofit providing comprehensive after-school programming including career exploration and life skills in underserved middle and high schools — adjacent mission on supplemental in-school youth programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/youthbusinessalliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youth-business-alliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/youthbusinessalliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Youth Business Alliance