Young Founders House
Business · Money · Entrepreneurship
Where children learn how money works, how business is built, and how to make, sell, earn and give.
Join the waitlistWhat happens inside Young Founders House.
See the term dates for when the club runs
LEARN
How money works, what profit means, and why it matters.
MAKE AND SELL
Children create real products and sell them at the Young Founders Market.
GIVE AND INVEST
Children decide how to use a portion of their earnings to help others, and invest the rest.
Where your child builds their first business.
THE FOUR JARS
Every child learns to split every pound they earn 4 ways: Spend, Save, Give, Invest. It is a habit they start at 8.
THE STARTUP LOAN
Every child pitches at home for a startup loan and signs a real loan agreement. They use it to build their product, sell at the Young Founders Market, and repay from their first profits.
THE YOUNG FOUNDERS MARKET
At each market, parents, friends and locals come to Patch to buy. Children set up their stalls, sell to real customers, repay their loan, and walk away with their own profit in their hands.
FOUR MARKETS A YEAR
Young Founders House runs four Young Founders Markets across the school year. Your child keeps trading, earning and building from one market to the next.
THE COMMUNITY FUND
Every founder sets aside a portion of their profit at each market, and the children decide together where the money goes.
Reviews
What parents say
Young Founders House has been a great experience for Georgie. It introduced her to completely new concepts, and she loved learning how money works and how to turn investments into profits. A wonderful, unexpected bonus was seeing her teamwork and friendships grow. Georgie took part in two markets this term and made over £100 after costs, she was thrilled to see her hard work pay off.
A really lovely club that helps children build confidence, speak more clearly and believe in themselves a bit more each week.
I love how practical the Young Founders House club is. The children were not just sitting and being told about money or business. They were thinking, planning, making decisions and learning by doing. My child really enjoyed it, and I could see how proud she was of what she had created.
The children's market was brilliant. It gave the children a real chance to sell, speak to people, manage money and feel proud of themselves.
I highly recommend Young Founders Club. It's a fantastic opportunity for children to learn about business, develop creative ideas and gain practical skills! The program helps build confidence and turn ideas into reality.
My daughter was very nervous about speaking in front of others, even in a small group. Since joining the club, I've noticed such a lovely change in her. She is speaking more clearly, joining in more, and she seems much more comfortable sharing her ideas. It has been really nice to see her confidence grow in a gentle, natural way.
Questions parents ask
What do the children actually do?
They learn how money works by earning it. Children build small real ventures, spot a problem, make a product, price it, pitch it and sell it, and along the way learn the money skills that last: cost against price, profit against loss, and how to split their earnings across the 4 jars: give, spend, save, invest.
Is it real money?
Yes, and that is the point. Children agree a small startup loan with you at home, pay it back from their takings, and keep their profit. The club teaches them to handle it well, and 10% of profit goes to a community fund the children donate together.
When does it run?
Thursdays, 4 to 5pm in term time at Patch, 42 York Street, Twickenham, plus a stall at each Young Founders Market, 4 times a year, free for club members.
Does my child need a business idea already?
No. Finding the idea is the first thing we do together, and there is help with every step from idea to stall.
What does it cost?
Membership is £65 a month for 1 club, with reduced rates across 2, 3 or all 4 clubs. Market stalls are included.
Do I need to be at the market?
Yes. A parent or carer stays with their child at the market, always. It is a firm rule, and it is also a lovely afternoon.
What ages is it for?
Young Founders House is for children aged 8 to 12. No business knowledge is needed to start.
Who runs it, and are they DBS checked?
Yes. Orgesa Meli, who founded and leads Configur Academy, is the designated safeguarding lead and holds an enhanced DBS check. Our practice follows the Department for Education's guidance for out-of-school settings, and the full safeguarding statement is on this site.
How do I sign up?
Through this website. Choose your child's clubs and follow the steps on the join page. If the club is currently full, join the waitlist and we will be in touch as soon as a place opens.
Join Young Founders House
Choose your child's clubs and set up your monthly membership. You pay one simple amount each month, the same every month across the year.
This club is currently full.
Membership can be cancelled at any time with 30 days' notice.
Membership is paid monthly, the same amount every month, spread evenly across the year.
Your child earns real profit at every Young Founders Market. Some children may earn more than their monthly fee in a single market day.