BUILD

BUILD is an innovative four-year business development program which connects under-resourced high school students with adult mentors and professionals around the Bay Area. Our mission is to provide real-world entrepreneurial experience that empowers youth from backgrounds that are under-represented in college to excel in education, lead in their communities, and succeed professionally.

We were founded in 1999 with 4 students in one location. We now serve over 650 students in two states and three offices: East Palo Alto and Oakland, CA as well as Washington, D.C.

BUSINESS AND COLLEGE MENTORS
Business Mentors provide guidance and facilitate teams of 3-5 students (freshmen) in their efforts to define a business idea, write a business plan, and create an accompanying slide presentation. The year culminates in a business plan competition before a panel of judges drawn from leading Bay Area academic, business, and investment communities.

Incubator Mentors work with a team of 3-5 students (sophomores or juniors) who have completed E1 and are eligible to receive funding to implement their business ideas. College Mentors work with our seniors to complete their college applications, including college selection, personal statement revision, as well as financial aid and scholarship applications.

Time commitment: 1.5 hours per week from 5:30-7:00pm from October - May
Evening of the week: Your choice, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday
Location: Partner schools’ campuses (we are partnered with 4 schools on the Peninsula and 5 schools in Oakland)

Please apply online at www.build.org, or contact Hillary Fernandes at hillary@build.org