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Overview

The Youth Business Summit brings together thousands of rising young professionals, budding entrepreneurs, educators, school/district administrators, business leaders and industry professionals from around the world for a one-of-a-kind global convention.

During a dynamic event of business competitions, leadership events, and professional networking, rising talent from middle and high schools around the world display the professional skills and business acumen they have developed by running a Virtual Enterprise company during the school year.

More than 200 exhibitors representing thirteen states and seven countries, including real-world businesses joining VE businesses, will be exhibiting across the two days of the Youth Business Summit.

2025 YBS Pricing Overview & Schedule2025 YBS Event and Registration Overview

300+

Partners and Supporters

7+

Events

6+

Countries

4,000+

Students

160+

Schools

18+

States

For Schools

Competition Details

The 2025 Youth Business Summit features eight competitive opportunities for VE students. Competitions include the National Business Plan Competition, National Finance Competition, National Human Resources Competition, National Marketing Competition, Global Innovation Challenge, Best Booth Competition, Sales Pitch Competition, and Financial Literacy Challenge.

Competition Results

Competition Results will be available after the 2025 Youth Business Summit on the Competition Results page.

Important Note: If your firm has not registered for a booth at YBS 2025, you will need to purchase a Class Pass for participation. Class Passes will be available soon!

For US firms , please refer to the following to register for non-qualifying competitions:

Global Innovation Challenge | Monday, April 7

Event Details

The Global Innovation Challenge will take place on Monday, April 7, 2025 The competition will take place from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.

The Global Innovation Challenge is one of the world’s most unique business-related events for high school students. Students representing different countries work in multinational teams to solve a pressing global issue around climate sustainability. Participants will be randomly assigned to teams on the day of the event and collaborate on a solution to present to a panel of judges. Registration will be open to the first 250 student registrants.

Number of Students per Firm: 2

2025 Global Innovation Challenge Timeline

March 15, 2025 – Event confirmation sent to approved applicants and case study shared with participants for review
April 7, 2025 – Global Innovation Challenge at the Jacob Javits Convention Center
Rubric: Team Materials and Case Study will be sent to participants in March.

Register for Global Innovation Challenge!

Social Media Marketing Challenge | Monday, April 7

Each company is asked to create a social media campaign board that sparks interest in your company, increases awareness of Earth Day, and drives traffic to your e-commerce website. Effective social media advertisements must be very creative and well designed to quickly capture the viewer’s attention. In order for your campaign to make an impact, it should be visual, emotional, and useful. This campaign is your chance to be creative, generate sales, and increase firm interactions. These boards will be displayed during the YBS for judging and do not require a presentation or for your school to be present at the time of judging.

Guidelines:

Your company social media campaign board must include:

  • 3 social media platforms with 1 post on each.
  • A common theme that describes your business, increases community engagement (hashtags) to elevate awareness of Earth Day.
  • Your campaign must be displayed on a foam board that is 20” x 30” (set either horizontally or vertically).
Register Social Media Marketing Challenge!

Financial Literacy Challenge | Tuesday, April 8

The Financial Literacy Challenge (FLC) is a competition that promotes financial education among VE high school students. This annual event provides a platform for students to showcase their understanding and application of key personal financial concepts, including earning income, spending, saving, investing, credit management and risk handling, and also demonstrate problem solving, critical thinking and adaptability.

Go to the Hub → Curriculum → Personal Finance/Financial Literacy Challenge to check out the FLC Overview which includes competition details, a review of the VE Personal Finance Tasks that can be used in preparation for the Challenge activity, and a discussion on how to use FLC prep resources as a classroom activity independent of the Challenge.

Number of Students per Firm: Teams of 2-4 students per firm

This competition is on a first-come, first-served basis and limited to 36 teams nationwide.

Register for FLC!

For international firms, please refer to the following to register for non-qualifying competitions:

Global Innovation Challenge | Monday, April 7

Event Details

The Global Innovation Challenge will take place on Monday, April 7, 2025 The competition will take place from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.

The Global Innovation Challenge is one of the world’s most unique business-related events for high school students. Students representing different countries work in multinational teams to solve a pressing global issue around climate sustainability. Participants will be randomly assigned to teams on the day of the event and collaborate on a solution to present to a panel of judges. Registration will be open to the first 250 student registrants.

Number of Students per Firm: 2

2025 Global Innovation Challenge Timeline

March 15, 2025 – Event confirmation sent to approved applicants and case study shared with participants for review
April 7, 2025 – Global Innovation Challenge at the Jacob Javits Convention Center
Rubric: Team Materials and Case Study will be sent to participants in March.

Register for Global Innovation Challenge!

Social Media Marketing Challenge | Monday, April 7

Each company is asked to create a social media campaign board that sparks interest in your company, increases awareness of Earth Day, and drives traffic to your e-commerce website. Effective social media advertisements must be very creative and well designed to quickly capture the viewer’s attention. In order for your campaign to make an impact, it should be visual, emotional, and useful. This campaign is your chance to be creative, generate sales, and increase firm interactions. These boards will be displayed during the YBS for judging and do not require a presentation or for your school to be present at the time of judging.

Guidelines:

Your company social media campaign board must include:

  • 3 social media platforms with 1 post on each.
  • A common theme that describes your business, increases community engagement (hashtags) to elevate awareness of Earth Day.
  • Your campaign must be displayed on a foam board that is 20” x 30” (set either horizontally or vertically).
Register Social Media Marketing Challenge!

Details

Day 1 Class Passes are available for any firm attending only April 7. Day 2 is available for up to 18 attendees per pass based on venue capacity.  Schools who purchased a trade show booth and have more than 18 students attending will need to purchase a Day 2 class pass.

2025 YBS Pricing Overview

Day 1 Class Pass

Day 1 Class Pass includes guest access to Day 1 events and entry into Global Innovation Challenge and Social Media Competition. 
 
If you have qualified for the Business Plan, Human Resources, Marketing, or Finance Competition, please select Day 1 Class Pass – Qualifier Only at checkout (if you have NOT already purchased a trade show booth). Qualifiers in these competitions are guaranteed a Class Pass. 

Day 2 Class Pass

Day 2 Class Pass includes guest access to Day 2 events, International Trade Exhibition, and entry into Financial Literacy Competition (US Only). Schools who purchased a trade show booth and have more than 18 students attending will need to purchase a Day 2 class pass.
Purchase Class Pass

For US firms, please refer to the following:

School Registration and booth selection is now open for all participants. To register, review the Booth and Pricing Overview document and follow the step-by-step instructions below. The deadline for registration is March 1, 2025, but we advise registering soon to secure your booth and electricity selections. 

  1. Sign into the hub by going to hub.veinternational.org 
  2. Click on “Marketplace Tools”
  3. Click on “Event Registration”
  4. Select “2025 Youth Business Summit”
  5. Choose the Firm you want to register with
  6. Click on “Trade Show Registration” 
  7. Once registration is completed, you will receive a confirmation and a quote.

For questions about billing, contact accounting@veinternational.org

YBS Booth Overview and Pricing

For international firms, please refer to the following:

YBS Overview
Registration Link

Are you Traveling By Bus?

VE Facilitators who selected arriving by bus at event registration have to submit a Certificate of Insurance for the bus company to arrive on the Javits Center inner roadway. Additional information may be requested so submit now to secure your slot. Submit this Form by February 15, 2025 to Secure Your Spot.

Submission and approval does not guarantee YBS admission.

Exhibitor Guidelines - Full Packet

Exhibitor Guidelines – Full Packet 

Important Note: Exhibitors must review the Event and Registration Overview and learn the International Trade Exhibition Guidelines. Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in your team being asked to remove prohibited items and potentially lead to disqualification from competitions.

Students must be accompanied by a chaperone or teacher at the venue site at all times. 

 THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE PROHIBITED IN BOOTHS: 

  • NO HELIUM BALLOONS, 
  • NO POPCORN MACHINES, 
  • NO PROPANE-BASED EQUIPMENT, 
  • NO MICROWAVES, 
  • NO COOKING EQUIPMENT OF ANY KIND & NO COOKING IS ALLOWED.

Any food or beverage samples that a firm plans to offer at their booth must be commercially prepackaged. 

Booths

Booth registration is now open for all participants. 

YBS Booth Overview and Pricing

Exhibitor List

The 2025 YBS Exhibitor List will be available in March.

Booth Map with Booth Numbers

The 2025 YBS Booth Map with Numbers will be available in March.

Point of Sale System

The Trade Exhibition Point of Sale System is provided by VEI to firms with a trade show booth to easily process trade exhibition sales payments. This system can be used on a smartphone, iPad/tablet, or laptop with a WiFi or cellular data connection.

Personal Bank Debit Cards for Students

Students can use their personal bank account to make purchases at trade shows. This system can be used to pay throughout the entire exhibition period.

US Network Bank Card

Cards are only available for non-VE guests and visitors and can be obtained at the registration desk.

Visitor Resources

Please review the Visitor Resources section to book hotel rooms, find tourist discounts to iconic NYC experiences including entertainment, restaurants, landmarks, and other attractions, and explore travel information.

Photographers and videographers will be covering the 2025 Youth Business Summit. Please ensure your school has Photograph and Video Consent Forms filled out and on file.

Media Consent Form

Digital Event Booklet

The 2025 YBS Event Booklet will be available for viewing and downloading prior to the events. Physical booklets will be distributed at all events.

View the 2024 Media Center for photos, videos, and competition results from last year’s Youth Business Summit

2024 YBS Recap

Partnership Opportunities for 2025 YBS

We thank and recognize our partners and sponsors who support our mission to prepare students for fulfilling, financially-secure futures. Through their generous support, we are able to provide all Youth Business Summit participants with a life-changing experience.

View 2025 YBS Sponsorship & Exhibitor Opportunities

Become a Sponsor or Exhibitor

By sponsoring and participating in the diverse range of opportunities, you actively contribute to fulfilling our mission of transforming students’ lives through authentic business experiences, preparing them for successful careers and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Sponsorship & Exhibitor Opportunity Guide
Register as a 2025 YBS Sponsor or Exhibitor

Judging Opportunities

A significant element of VEI’s program is the opportunity for students to meet with and learn from business leaders.  We continuously cultivate a large network of industry professionals and change makers who inspire, empower, and mentor our students as well as guide them in applying business strategies that will help them develop and manage their businesses.

To that end, we invite you to judge in one or more of the 7 competitions that comprise the YBS.  This dynamic two-day event on April 7-8 brings together 4,500 young people from high schools across the U.S. and around the world to compete, attend leadership events, and network with peers and professionals. Judging details will be provided after you register.

2025 YBS Judging Opportunities

The Jacob Javits Convention Center:  Home of the 2025 YBS Trade Exhibition

The Javits Center is more than just a convention center. Named after the legendary and lifelong New Yorker, Senator Jacob K. Javits, this self-sustaining New York icon has become a wildlife sanctuary, a community partner and a nationwide nexus where the latest ideas in business and pop culture converge under one very green roof. With a significant investment in our infrastructure, we have quickly become a leader in sustainability, security and technology, setting a new standard for convention centers throughout the country. We employ thousands of experienced event and construction professionals dedicated to coordinating and constructing events with major brands from around the world, generating waves of economic activity across the region. And with a historic expansion project underway, we‘re preparing to host an even wider variety of events in the years to come, attracting new generations of visitors to Manhattan’s West Side.

VE has arranged blocks of rooms at the following hotels. Students, teachers, and guests have until mid-February to mid-March to utilize the blocks at these hotels otherwise they will be released to the public. Schools are responsible for the payments of all hotel rooms. More hotels will be added to this list as opportunities arise. Please note that each hotel is unique and rooms vary in size. We recommend visiting the website prior to making arrangements.

Hyatt Place NYC Times Square

Hyatt Place New York City / Times Square – Group Rate Ends March 15, 2025

350 West 39th Street
New York, NY 10018

Rates: $229 – $259/night

Booking: 

Even Hotel

Even Hotel – Group Rate Ends March 6,2025

321 W. 35th St
New York, NY 10003

Rates: $199 – $249/night

Booking: 

Voco Hotel

Voco Hotel – Group Rate Ends March 6, 2025

343 W 36th St.
New York, New York 10018

Rates: $259 – $279/night

Booking: 

Distrikt Hotel New York City, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Distrikt Hotel New York City, Tapestry Collection by Hilton – Group Rate Ends February 20, 2025

342 W 40th St
New York, NY 10018

Rates: $229/night

Click here to book.

For event logistics, registration, competitions info, and visitor resources questions email ybs@veinternational.org.

Things To Do

As a proud partner of the NYC & Company, VE would like to share some of the following activities and resources provided by NYC & Co. A complimentary Delegate Discount Pass, the ultimate guide to traveling New York like a local, and NYC & Co’s suggestions for attractions, tickets, restaurants, galleries, and more are available to guide you through the Big Apple. Enjoy!

Make sure to check out https://www.nycgo.com/ for the official guide to NYC!

Attractions

Broadway

Restaurants 

Museums 

Shopping

Tours in NY

Share your Youth Business Summit journey with #2025YBS on social media.