Application Form
YOU’RE READY TO LAUNCH.
Startup Summer Info Session: Saturday, June 3, 2017
Application Deadline: April 28, 2017
Startup Summer Dates: June 12 – August 10, 2017
What is Startup Summer?
The NFTE South Florida Startup Summer program is an intensive, hands-on eight-week program that
supports NFTE graduates who are seeking to launch a venture based on their NFTE business plan. The
summer experience has three major components:
1. Summer Programming: In a two-week entrepreneurship bootcamp, students learn about business
fundamentals and lean startup methodologies while also dissecting their business plans. Students
begin to prototype, conduct market research, and make adjustments to their businesses based on
valuable feedback from classmates and staff. Students gain exposure to the NFTE South Florida
startup ecosystem through a number of guest speakers and field trips to small businesses,
incubators, and leading corporations.
2. Mentorship Guidance: Students receive mentorship from local business/finance professionals
throughout the entire summer experience. After the bootcamp, each student team is paired with
mentors from top business organizations. For six weeks, mentors provide support and insight to
students as they finalize their business plans during evening mentoring sessions.
3. Launched Night & Awards Ceremony: On August 10th the SUS experience culminates as students
pitch their finished businesses to a panel of prominent judges from the business sector. Top teams
participating in this final competition would have worked throughout September and October with their
mentors and NFTE staff to be ready for this experience. Members of the winning team receive cash
prizes and all students are honored at an awards ceremony.
Additional Student Benefits:
 Stipend: Students receive compensation for dedicating their summer to Startup Summer.
 Startup Capital: Each student business receives capital to purchase equipment and materials
needed to launch their product or service.
 Laptop: Each student in the program receives a laptop that is equipped with business software to
use throughout the program.
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To learn more visit www.startupsummersfl.com
Program Schedule BELOW:
Monday
Tuesday
June 2017
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
12
Bootcamp: Week 1
(9:00am-5:00pm)
13
Bootcamp: Week 1
(9:00am-5:00pm)
14
Bootcamp: Week 1
(9:00am-5:00pm)
15
Bootcamp: Week 1
(9:00am-5:00pm)
16
Bootcamp: Week 1
(9:00am-5:00pm)
19
Bootcamp: Week 2
(9:00am-5:00pm)
20
Bootcamp: Week 2
(9:00am-5:00pm)
21
Bootcamp: Week 2
(9:00am-5:00pm)
22
Bootcamp: Week 2
(9:00am-5:00pm)
23
Bootcamp: Week 2
(9:00am-5:00pm)
26
27
Summer Launch
(9:00am-5:00pm)
28
Summer Launch
(12:00pm-3:00pm)
29
Summer Launch
(11:00am-3:00pm)
30
Mentoring Session
(3:00pm-5:00pm)
Monday
Independent
Tuesday
July 2017
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Work
July 3rd -7th
No
Sessions
12
Summer Launch
(12:00pm-3:00pm)
Mentoring Session
(3:00pm-5:00pm)
19
Summer Launch
(12:00pm-3:00pm)
Mentoring Session
(3:00pm-5:00pm)
26
Summer Launch
(12:00pm-3:00pm)
Mentoring Session
(3:00pm-5:00pm)
August 2017
Wednesday
13
Summer Launch
(11:00am-3:00pm)
14
20
Summer Launch
(11:00am-3:00pm)
21
27
Summer Launch
(11:00am-3:00pm)
28
2
3
10
11
Summer Launch
(9:00am-5:00pm)
17
18
Summer Launch
(9:00am-5:00pm)
24
25
Summer Launch
(9:00am-5:00pm)
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Summer Launch
(9:00am-5:00pm)
7
8
Summer Launch
(9:00am-5:00pm)
Summer Launch
(9:00am-3:00pm)
Mentoring Session
(3:00pm-5:00pm)
9
Summer Launch
(9:00am-5:00pm)
Friday
Thursday
4
Summer Launch
(11:00am-3:00pm)
10
11
Summer Launch
(9:00am-5:00pm)
ADVISORY PANEL
(5:00pm-8:00pm)
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Eligibility and Application Process
Applicant Requirements




The program is full-time. A student must be able to commit their summer to the program. This
means that each day a session is held, he/she will be in attendance and on time.
The student must have the intention to launch their NFTE business plan idea.
The student must be able and willing to persevere through challenging situations
(entrepreneurship is not easy!).
Students are expected to make sales and generate revenue while in the program.
Application Process
Applicants will be chosen by the strength and feasibility of their business plan/idea and their motivation
and commitment to being an entrepreneur. There is limited space for this program, so please take your
time to put together a well-thought-out application. The business plan you submit should be based on the
business you intend to start in 2017.
The NFTE selection committee will review all applications and business plans. Selections will be
based on the applicant’s answers to all of the essay questions and the presentation of a viable
business plan. In addition, recommendations and other supporting student documents will be
considered. Applicants who turn in their completed application, recommendations, and supporting
documents will receive a notice of application status by April 28, 2017.
Submitting Your Application
To submit your completed application, please email all student documents (listed in the following
pages) as attachments to [email protected] by the application deadline. Your
recommenders will then do the same with their part of the application. Please note that for your
application to be considered complete you must have submitted all of your materials and your
recommenders must have submitted all of their materials by the application deadline.
If you have any questions about how to submit your application, please email Chris Brignolle at
[email protected] or call 786.333.7023
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Section A – Personal Information
Student’s Full Name: _______________________________________________________
Preferred Name (if different from above): __________________
Current Grade (9th-12th): _______
Date of Birth (Month/Date/Year): ________________________
Gender: Male: □
Female: □
Home Address: ___________________________________________________________
Apt/House # ____________________
City: ___________________________________
State: _____________
Zip Code: ______________________
Home Phone: ________________________
Student’s Email: _________________________________________________________
Student’s Cell Phone: _____________________________________________________
Name of Parent/Guardian: _________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian’s Email: __________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian’s Cell Phone (if different from home phone): ____________________
Name of High School: ___________________________________________________
When did you graduate or expect to graduate from the NFTE program?
Month _____________ Year _______________
NFTE Teacher’s Name: _____________________________________________________
Does the Student Qualify for Free or Reduced-Priced Lunch? Yes _____
No _____
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Section B – Business Information
1. What is the name of your business? ____________________ ___________________
2. Type of Business (please check one):
Retail ________
Service ________
Manufacturing ________
Wholesale ________
3. Are you currently operating your business? (Y/N) __________________________
4. If you answered yes to question 3, approximately how much revenue has your business
generated so far? _______________________________ _________________
5. Your Business Plan: Please attach a copy of your written business plan. You must submit AT
LEAST the following sections of your written business plan to be considered for Startup Summer:
□ Opportunity Recognition, sections 1.1-1.4
□ Market Research, sections 2.1-2.4
□ Business Financials, sections 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, and 3.6
□ Promotion & Sales, section 4.1
Section C – Essay Questions
Please answer the following three essay questions below thoughtfully and thoroughly. Notice that
some questions have more than one component.
1. Describe a situation in which you faced a very difficult challenge in your life and explain how you
overcame this challenge. (250 – 500 words)
2. Tell us a little more about you and your business by answering each component below:
(250- 500 words combined for all parts)
a.)
b.)
c.)
d.)
Why are you passionate about your business idea?
What would you say are the two biggest strengths and weaknesses of your business idea?
Identify at least two long term goals you have for your business
Explain how this program will help you enhance your strengths, improve on your
weaknesses and ultimately assist you in achieving your business goals as a young
entrepreneur?
3. Since Facebook was founded in 2004, the social networking site has grown to over 1 billion
users worldwide. Despite its reputation as a leader in social media, Facebook’s interest among
teenaged users is waning. In fact, according to a new Pew Research Center survey, millions of
young users are dropping Facebook and seeking other social media sites such as Instagram.
Facebook has hired you to better engage their user base between the ages of 13-19. Using
your knowledge of business and ability to conduct outside research, specify at least 2-3
features you would recommend changing or adding to Facebook to address this
challenge. Cite AT LEAST ONE specific source (ex: website, newspaper article, scholarly
journal, etc.) you found in your research to support your reasoning. (250 – 500 words)
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Application Check List
Please review the following checklist to ensure that your application for Startup Summer is complete:

I completed the application form (Sections A-C) and essays.

I included my written business plan.

I have submitted the NFTE teacher recommendation letter or my recommender will submit
the letter by the application deadline.

I have submitted the second recommendation letter or my recommender will submit the
letter by the application deadline.
I hereby certify that the information provided below is accurate to the best of my knowledge.
_______________________________________________
Signature
________________
Date
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NFTE Teacher Recommendation
Applicant: This portion of the application is to be completed by your NFTE teacher.
NFTE Teacher: The NFTE Startup Summer program is an intensive eight-week summer program that
supports NFTE graduates who are seeking to launch a venture based on their NFTE business plan or
who are already operating a business. In this program, NFTE graduates learn advanced concepts in
business and entrepreneurship while taking steps necessary to launch and grow their ventures. Students
are expected to make sales and to generate revenue while in the program.
Please answer the following questions to help us understand more about the applicant’s ability to
succeed in the program. You may attach an additional page if necessary.
If you choose to submit your recommendation electronically, please email responses to
[email protected] by April 28, 2017. If you choose to submit your recommendation via fax,
with a cover letter, attn. Chris Brignolle.
If your student is planning to mail in your recommendation with his/her other materials, please place
this recommendation form and any attachments in an envelope. Please sign across the envelope
seal, dating the signature, and return it to the applicant so that s/he may include it with the
completed application.
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PLEASE TYPE OR CLEARLY PRINT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
Name of Applicant: ___________________________________ _____________________________
Name of Recommender: ____________________________________________________________
Phone Number: ________________________
E-mail: _________________________________
1. How would you rate the applicant in the following areas?
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
No Basis for
Judgment
Reliability
Leadership
Professional Maturity
Interpersonal Skills
Quantitative Skills
Communications Skills:
Oral
Communication Skills:
Written
2. What challenges, if any, do you foresee the applicant encountering during the course of the
program?
________________________________________________________ ________________________
_________________________________________________________ _______________________
_________________________________________________________ _______________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why do you feel that this applicant should be accepted to NFTE’s Startup Summer program?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
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4. What do you think are this applicant’s strengths? Please be specific.
____________________________________________________________________ ____________
___________________________________________________________________ _____________
_________________________________________________________________ _______________
__________________________________________________________ ______________________
5. What do you think are this applicant’s weaknesses? Please be specific.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
6. If you wish, please provide any additional information about the applicant that you believe would
be of help in considering his/her application.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
I hereby certify that the information provided below is accurate to the best of my knowledge.
_______________________________________________
Signature
________________
Date
9|Page
NFTE Teacher Recommendation
Applicant: This portion of the application is to be completed by your NFTE teacher.
NFTE Teacher: The NFTE Startup Summer program is an intensive eight-week summer program that
supports NFTE graduates who are seeking to launch a venture based on their NFTE business plan or
who are already operating a business. In this program, NFTE graduates learn advanced concepts in
business and entrepreneurship while taking steps necessary to launch and grow their ventures. Students
are expected to make sales and to generate revenue while in the program.
Please answer the following questions to help us understand more about the applicant’s ability to
succeed in the program. You may attach an additional page if necessary.
If you choose to submit your recommendation electronically, please email responses to
startupsummersfl.com by April 28, 2017. Attn Chris Brignolle.
If your student is planning to mail in your recommendation with his/her other materials, please place
this recommendation form and any attachments in an envelope. Please sign across the envelope
seal, dating the signature, and return it to the applicant s o that s/he may include it with the
completed application.
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PLEASE TYPE OR CLEARLY PRINT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
Name of Applicant: _____________________________________ ___________________________
Name of Recommender: ____________________________________________________________
Phone Number: ________________________
E-mail: _________________________________
1. How would you rate the applicant in the following areas?
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
No Basis for
Judgment
Reliability
Leadership
Professional Maturity
Interpersonal Skills
Quantitative Skills
Communications Skills:
Oral
Communication Skills:
Written
2. What challenges, if any, do you foresee the applicant encountering during the course of the
program?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why do you feel that this applicant should be accepted to NFTE’s Startup Summer program?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
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4. What do you think are this applicant’s strengths? Please be specific.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
5. What do you think are this applicant’s weaknesses? Please be specific.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ __________________
________________________________________________________________________________
6. If you wish, please provide any additional information about the applicant that you believe would
be of help in considering his/her application.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
I hereby certify that the information provided below is accurate to the best of my knowledge.
_______________________________________________
Signature
________________
Date
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