About US
Building the future
The UpStarts (previously Youth Entreprenuership Clinics – YEC) team is driven by real impact. We embrace new possibilities and challenging projects. Through rigorous research and experimentation, we continuously develop our programs. Creating entrepreneurial opportunities in global rural communities is what we aim for.
We believe in youth empowerment, solving hard problems, and fine execution. We intend to help entrepreneurs to thrive. We nurture youth to develop both cognitive and non-cognitive skills through experiential learning. We incorporate the latest technology carefully designed to work with youth for humans. We are based in the center of the U.S. and have a solid team of specialists and supporters, offering a wide range of disciplines and global perspectives.
Our Program
Our project is launched to address the critical issues of the nation. Our program is different in 6 key ways.
Relevant
Our program is made to address declining rural economy and rural youth flight.
Place-based
Our evidence-based program is built to increase youth’s social connections with local communities.
Research-based
The program is created on a basis of findings from rigorous research and methodology.
Community-driven
Our program is designed for local communities and we support local community leaders to sustain it locally.
Empowering
We employ Youth-Adult Partnership between youth and businesses to create impact in communities.
Multidisciplinary
A proven team of specialists from various areas are leading this project as core members.
Our Partners
Our project is sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture and Rural Futures Institute. We work with various partners including government agencies, community organizations, startups, and corporations.
Sponsors & Partners
Business Partners
Our Team
Meet our talented team who created this evidence-based program that is designed to increase youth retention in your community along with their entrepreneurial intention.
Surin Kim
Associate Professor, UNL
Project Director and Entrepreneurship Specialist
Maria de Guzman
Professor, UNL
Co-Project Director and Youth Development Specialist
Claire Nicholas
Assistant Professor, OU
Research Director and Cultural Anthropologist
Ashu Guru
Technology Consultant
Tech Director and STEAM Learning & Teaching Specialist
Molly Brandt
Extension Educator
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
ANNA KUHLMAN
Marketing & Research Assistant
RItu Jadwani
Research Assistant
Olivia Kennedy
Research Assistant
Tina Shetabi
Research Assistant
Yunqi Wang
Research Assistant
Let’s Start Something new
Say Hello!
We are always on the lookout for talented people to join our growing network. If you share our love for innovation and desire for impact, we would love to hear from you!