Join the Mission

Empower, Innovate, Transform: You Lead Idaho

You Lead Idaho (YLI) is a transformative program designed to equip rural Idaho high school students with entrepreneurial skills, hands-on experience, scholarship, and access to real-world opportunities in business and innovation.

"Kids from small towns often lack the opportunities that their counterparts in larger cities might have. By challenging them and pushing them outside their comfort zones, we create a chance for them to realize, 'I accomplished this; I can succeed in college too,' and build their confidence in the process." -Shelli Shroeder | Counselor at Shoshone High School

2025 YLI Schedule

Applications Close: March 18th, 2026
Winners Announced: March 30th, 2026
High School Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge:
April 15, 2025

You Lead Idaho – 2026 Application Link

Build your team, choose a problem statement, research the challenge, and develop a business solution, all for a chance to win thousands of dollars in scholarship funding! Additional details about preparing your application can be found on the submission form.
Register your Team Here

How You Lead Idaho Works: 

Step 1: Form a Team
  • Teams must have 2-4 students.
  • All team members must attend the same high school. Any grades 9-12 are welcome.

Find a teacher, school counselor, parent, or advisor to serve as your team sponsor. (Your sponsor will simply act as a contact if we need to communicate during the application process.)

Step 2: Choose a Problem Statement

Strong businesses start with real problems. Look around your community and your own life. What feels inefficient, inconvenient, expensive, or ready for improvement? What’s something people often talk about wanting to see changed? If you notice something that could work better, chances are others see it too. That’s your opportunity.

If you’re having trouble deciding, you can also build your idea around one of the following problem statements:

  • Problem 1: Many farms generate byproducts or excess materials that go unused. What profitable ventures could transform agricultural waste into usable products?

Problem 2: What products or services could help individuals or communities in disaster-prone areas proactively protect themselves and their property before a natural disaster occurs?

Step 3: Create a Business Idea

Your solution should be presented as a business idea, similar to what you’d see on Shark Tank. 

On the show, contestants back up their ideas with research about the problem, a plan for how their business will grow, a clear explanation of how they’ll make money, and a strategy for how they’ll reach their customers.

To submit your business idea, your team must complete all of the following:

  1. Create a pitch deck (a slideshow explaining your idea).
  2. Record a 5-7 minute video presentation.
  3. Upload your presentation to a platform that lets you create a shareable link (e.g., YouTube, Google Drive).
  4. Submit all required materials using the You Lead Idaho application form.

Program Overview:

The You Lead Idaho curriculum, developed by the IDLA, offers rural schools and students a free, comprehensive education in entrepreneurship and business creation. Through practical, hands-on experiences, students will learn to develop and successfully launch their own business ventures.
The program culminates in an online pitch competition where teams from participating rural high schools present their business ideas, vying for scholarships, prizes, and a chance to qualify for the HSIEC. Qualifying students will enjoy a fully-funded 2-day Boise immersion experience, competing against urban peers at BSU's High School Idaho Entrepreneurial Challenge for additional awards.

Historical Impact Metrics

182 students graduated from the program
$62,500 in scholarships awarded
$12,500 in prize money awarded to rural high schools
582+ hours of mentorship provided

About You Lead Idaho

Established in 2018 with a mission to empower rural high school students in Idaho, You Lead Idaho (YLI) has become a transformative platform for fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. By providing real-world business challenges, YLI celebrates the spirit of creativity and practical problem-solving that prepares students for future success.

Applications for YLI are opened once a year, allowing a diverse group of students from rural areas to access this exceptional program at no cost. Each participant benefits from a structured program of mentorship provided by Trailhead’s experienced staff and a network of successful business professionals. This mentorship phase is crucial, enabling students to refine their business concepts, enhance their presentation skills, and prepare effectively for the program’s culminating pitch competitions.

Participants in You Lead Idaho continue to receive support from Trailhead after the program concludes, gaining access to our ongoing educational resources and opportunities to further their entrepreneurial ventures. This sustained engagement helps cultivate a generation of young entrepreneurs ready to contribute to and thrive in Idaho’s evolving economic landscape!

YLI 2024 Sponsors + Partners