Empowering the next generation of young entrepreneurs in South Florida, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), a leading non-profit organization that teaches at-risk young people to think like entrepreneurs and enables them to find their own path to success, will host the annual Ignite Entrepreneurship Launch Benefit on May 2nd, at the Palm Court in the Miami Design District, to kick off the Ignite Entrepreneurship series of events presented in conjunction with eMerge Americas, a five-day technology conference in Miami that connects the best and brightest from the startup and funding ecosystems. All proceeds will support more than 3,500 young entrepreneurs throughout Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

The event will gather more than 300 local entrepreneurs and business leaders as well as eMerge Americas attendees to celebrate and support South Florida’s young entrepreneurs.

Igniting innovation and entrepreneurship, NFTE’s event will feature a Spirited Startup cocktail reception allowing guests to sample the best of the region’s craft spirits, beers, wines and cocktails. They will also have the opportunity to bid on a chance to spend time with the region’s top entrepreneurs through the unique Hour with an Entrepreneur Auction. Nancy Dahlberg, the highly respected entrepreneurship writer for the Miami Herald, will receive the Entrepreneurial Spirit award from NFTE. In addition, guests will dance the night away while enjoying a locally-sourced tasting menu. All proceeds will benefit low-income youth enrolled in NFTE South Florida.

NFTE will also feature five student businesses that have qualified to compete in the May 4th Youth BizPlan Challenge, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at eMerge Americas. These finalists will be chosen at a semifinal competition taking place 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on April 22nd, at Miami Dade College’s Idea Center at the Wolfson Campus. They come from some of South Florida’s lowest-income communities and have completed a year-long entrepreneurship program, culminating in the completion of a unique business plan.

Since 1987, NFTE staff and teachers have been empowering young people not only to start businesses and create jobs, but also to be opportunity-focused, flexible employees ready to fill existing jobs and succeed in life.

By providing entrepreneurship education programs relevant to the real world, NFTE empowers students to own their educations in and out of the classroom and to find their own path to success. Hundreds of thousands of students have discovered opportunity all around them through entrepreneurship via thousands of certified educators worldwide.

NFTE supports active programs in 18 U.S. states and 10 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.nfte.com.