Entrepreneurship isn’t just about launching businesses—it’s about equipping people with the mindset and skills to navigate an ever-changing world. That’s exactly what BUILD, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering high school students from under-resourced communities, is doing by integrating entrepreneurship into education.
In a recent episode of How They Scaled It, Betsy Neptune, Executive Director of BUILD Boston, shared how the organization is shaping the future of young entrepreneurs and tackling the challenges of scaling a nonprofit. Here’s what we learned:
The Mission: Helping Students Become CEOs of Their Own Lives
BUILD’s core belief is that entrepreneurship fosters the skills young people need to succeed—not just in business, but in life. Their approach blends business education, skill development, and mentorship to help students develop problem-solving abilities, resilience, and leadership skills.
“Most of our students won’t necessarily become entrepreneurs, but they will use entrepreneurial skills to succeed in any career,” Betsy explained.
By focusing on students in communities where over 50% qualify for free or reduced lunch, BUILD ensures that their programs reach those who may lack access to traditional entrepreneurship education and professional networks.
How BUILD Works: A Hands-On, Scalable Approach
Unlike many afterschool programs, BUILD’s model integrates directly into the school day as an elective course—ensuring accessibility and credit-bearing engagement for students.
- Year 1: Business Ideation – Students learn the fundamentals of problem identification and design thinking, developing real-world solutions. They pitch their ideas in a Shark Tank-style competition for seed funding.
- Year 2: Bringing a Business to Life – Students create, market, and sell their products, learning financial literacy, sales tactics, and marketing strategy.
- Junior & Senior Years: Career Readiness – The focus shifts from product-based entrepreneurship to career development, including internships, networking, and financial management.
A key differentiator? BUILD partners with teachers instead of replacing them, providing professional development and ongoing support to integrate entrepreneurship into the classroom.
The Power of Mentorship: Business Coaches Make the Difference
BUILD’s impact isn’t just about curriculum—it’s about connection. The program enlists business team coaches (mentors from the business world) to guide students throughout the year. These coaches:
- Help students refine their ideas and pitches.
- Offer real-world insights into business and problem-solving.
- Provide networking opportunities that students wouldn’t otherwise have.
“The transformation we see in students from the first time they present to the end of the year is incredible,” Courtney, a BUILD business coach, shared.
BUILD coaches don’t need to prepare ahead of time or be experts in teaching—just show up, listen, and offer guidance. The goal is to expose students to new ways of thinking and professional connections that can open doors down the road.
Scaling a Nonprofit: The Challenges & Strategies
BUILD Boston has grown from six to nine schools, but scaling a nonprofit isn’t as simple as increasing enrollment. Betsy highlighted three major challenges:
- Balancing Depth vs. Breadth – Expanding too quickly could dilute program quality. BUILD prioritizes deep impact in fewer schools over rapid expansion.
- Sustainable Funding – Unlike businesses that scale through revenue growth, nonprofits must align with funders and corporate partners to maintain sustainability. BUILD focuses on creating mutually beneficial partnerships with companies, offering employee engagement and workforce development opportunities in return.
- Volunteer Recruitment – Each school needs dedicated business team coaches, which requires continuous outreach to the business community.
What’s Next for BUILD?
Looking ahead, BUILD is exploring expansion opportunities while doubling down on impact.
- Deepening partnerships with corporations to provide mentorship and funding.
- Exploring fee-for-service models to complement traditional nonprofit funding streams.
- Launching house-party style networking events to spread awareness and build community support.
“We don’t just want to grow in numbers—we want to maintain quality and ensure every student gets the full BUILD experience,” Betsy said.
Want to hear the full conversation?
Listen to Episode 04 of How They Scaled It on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ZvQu0Lwdfp6jWZG3CqP39
How You Can Get Involved
If you’re a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional looking to make an impact, BUILD offers opportunities to mentor, fund, and support the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Want to get involved? Visit BUILD.org to learn more about mentorship, corporate partnerships, and upcoming events.
