About

The Gwinnett County Public Library presents RISE, the third annual teen entrepreneurship program. RISE helps Gwinnett County teens develop entrepreneurial skills to create economic opportunities. Participants will receive mentorship from industry professionals, develop a small business plan, and pitch their ideas to a panel of local entrepreneurs in a Shark Tank-style competition. Aspiring entrepreneurs are invited to apply.

Application Submissions:

Open: Friday, December 6, 2024
Close: Friday, January 31, 2025

RISE Program Location:

Gwinnett County Public Library
Suwanee Branch
361 Main St, Suwanee, GA 30024

Apply for RISE here!

RISE Dates & Times:

Monday, February 24, 2025, 5 – 7:45 pm
Thursday, February 27, 2025, 5 – 7:45 pm
Monday, March 3, 2025, 5 – 7:45 pm
Thursday, March 6, 2025, 5 – 7:45 pm
Monday, March 10, 2025, 5 – 7:45 pm
Thursday, March 13, 2025, 5 – 7:45 pm

Pitch Presentation & Awards Ceremony:
Saturday, March 22, 2025 – Noon – 3 pm

We’re excited to announce that we will once again be partnering with Stephanie Sokenis from the Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center. We’re currently waiting to confirm the rest of our mentors, stay tuned for more details!

Business Ideas for Teen Entrepreneurs

View over 40 proven business ideas perfect for teens.

Entrepreneurship at the Learning Labs

The Learning Labs are community maker spaces to create, collaborate, and share digital content. Library cardholders 13 years of age and older have access to nine maker spaces across the county to explore entrepreneurial interests. Our technology includes laser printers, digital cameras, podcasting mixers, sewing machines, software, and more. All of this is industry-leading and FREE! Young entrepreneurs can develop their ideas using our maker spaces and then promote their businesses on free sites like Etsy, Fiverr, Instagram, WordPress, and YouTube.

  • 3D Printers

  • Laser Printers

  • Recording studios

  • Digital Cameras

  • Podcasting Mixers

  • Sewing Machines

  • Adobe Creative Cloud Software

  • Cricut Cutters and more!

Access to our Learning Labs is free with a library card. Out-of-county patrons can purchase a full-access library card for $40 a year.