Junior Entrepreneur Academy
1870 Farm 1224 Old Lystra Road Chapel Hill, NC 27157
Meet David
David Schwartz has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. At just 7 years old, he was selling frogs and rocks at a summer bungalow colony in upstate New York. By 12, he was trading coins at numismatic shows, and during college he launched ventures ranging from chartering buses to selling T-shirts outside Fenway Park.
After graduating, David built a television production company that provided broadcast services to all the major networks, later expanding into real estate development in the Hamptons and creating a portable waste services company. He even made history by being the first to bring pieces of the Berlin Wall to the U.S. only days after it fell.
Not every idea was a success, but each one taught David valuable lessons about creativity, resilience, and the courage to take risks. The Junior Entrepreneur Academy is his way of sharing those lessons with kids—showing them that entrepreneurship isn’t about chasing money, but about building confidence, solving problems, and finding the freedom that comes from turning ideas into opportunities.
At the Junior Entrepreneur Academy, we believe the farm is the perfect first step for sparking creativity and innovation. The 1870 Farm provides endless opportunities for kids to explore ideas that can grow into products, services, and more—all inspired by real resources and experiences. Our workshops are streamlined and flexible, designed so children can take as many as they like to keep developing their ideas or start fresh with new ones. Tailored for kids ages 8–12, these workshops are an engaging way to think like an entrepreneur in a supportive environment. For older students, our weeklong summer programs (ages 9–15) expand the experience by utilizing both the 1870 Farm and UNC Chapel Hill Campus, combining hands-on exploration with the excitement of campus life.
Welcome to the Junior Entrepreneur Academy
The Junior Entrepreneur Academy offers two exciting ways for kids to explore the world of business. Our workshops at 1870 Farm are designed for ages 8–12, where kids use the farm as inspiration to create fun and practical business ideas. For older campers ready to dive deeper, we offer full-week summer camps (including overnight programs) at UNC Chapel Hill, where kids ages 9–15 develop their ideas, build confidence, and present their projects in our lively “Farm Tank” pitch event. Whether it’s a weekend workshop or a week-long adventure, the Junior Entrepreneur Academy makes learning entrepreneurship fun, hands-on, and unforgettable.
