B.A.L.L. stands for Business, Action, Leadership and Financial Literacy. It is a youth entrepreneurship incubator that does not stop at a business plan. By Week 8 every participant has filed a legal entity, holds a federal EIN, has business banking and payment processing live, and has made a real sale.
The Two01 Basketball Academy Entrepreneurship & Financial Literacy Incubator translates athletic discipline, teamwork, and strategic execution into real-world business ownership. Designed specifically for inner-city youth, this intensive 8-week course guides students through the exact step-by-step process of launching a legal, operating business.
The discipline that gets a player into the gym at 6am is the same discipline that files paperwork on time, prices a product honestly, and shows up for a customer. We simply point it at ownership.
| Program duration | 8 weeks — 4 class days per week |
|---|---|
| Target participants | Inner-city youth, ages 14–21 |
| Weekly rhythm | 4 class days plus a mandatory 30-minute advisor check-in |
| Coursework | Hands-on worksheet completion and action-oriented homework |
| Milestones | Bi-weekly pitch reviews in weeks 2, 4, 6 and 8 |
| Total class days | 32 class days across four phases |
| Graduation | Two01 Demo Day & Pitch Competition before judges and investors |
Not a certificate of attendance. A company. Every graduate finishes the eight weeks with four things that exist in the real world and can be verified by a third party.
Each week draws on all four, because a real business needs all four at once. Money without a legal entity is a hobby. A brand without operations is a promise you cannot keep.
Participants separate personal money from business money, then learn the numbers that decide whether a company survives: startup capital, cost of goods sold, margin, breakeven and a six-month operating budget.
This is where the incubator separates itself. Students choose an entity, file articles of organization with the state, sit in a live session with IRS.gov to obtain a federal EIN, and work through licenses, permits and liability coverage.
Students build a full brand kit — logo, colors, typography — secure professional social handles, and design a 30-day content calendar using grassroots tactics that actually work in their own neighborhoods.
Business checking, card processing through Square, Stripe or PayPal, a one-page storefront that converts, and written standard operating procedures for orders, refunds and customer questions.
The sequence is deliberate. Nothing gets registered before the numbers are sound, and nothing launches before it is legal.
| Phase | Focus | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Foundation · Weeks 1–2 | Mindset, concept selection, market validation and personal financial literacy. |
| Phase 2 | Business Structure · Weeks 3–4 | Budgeting, unit economics, product architecture and the mid-term review. |
| Phase 3 | Operational Setup · Weeks 5–6 | State registration, federal EIN, compliance, brand identity and marketing. |
| Phase 4 | Launch & Pitch · Weeks 7–8 | Banking, merchant processing, storefront launch, Demo Day and graduation. |
Every week runs four instructional days, each with one topic and one action item that moves the business forward.
A 30-minute one-on-one with a course advisor who reviews the week's work, audits the numbers and approves or corrects course.
Nothing is theoretical. Each week produces a completed worksheet that becomes a section of the final business plan.
Homework happens in the real world: interviewing customers, sourcing suppliers, securing handles, making calls.
Select a week to see its objective, all four class days with student action items, the advisor check-in, and the deliverable due at the end of it.
Transition from consumer to producer mindset. Identify personal strengths, passions, and community problems to solve.
| Day | Topic & classroom activity | Student action item |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | The Entrepreneur Mindset: shift from worker to owner. Analyze how athlete discipline connects to business success. | Complete “Personal Strengths & Passion Audit”. |
| Day 2 | Identifying Community Needs: spotting market gaps in urban neighborhoods. Turning everyday pain points into business ideas. | Brainstorm 3 potential business concepts. |
| Day 3 | Defining Your “Why” & Mission: crafting a powerful vision statement and core values for your brand. | Write company vision, mission statement and brand ethos. |
| Day 4 | Feasibility & Concept Selection: evaluating startup costs, competition and feasibility for all 3 ideas. Select the final business idea. | Finalize Business Concept Selection Worksheet. |
Review selected business idea, validate feasibility, and approve core mission statement.
Student submits finalized business idea, problem statement, target audience, and a one-paragraph mission statement.
Conduct competitive research and master personal vs. business financial literacy basics.
| Day | Topic & classroom activity | Student action item |
|---|---|---|
| Day 5 | Competitive Analysis: who else is selling this? Identifying direct and indirect competitors in your city and online. | Complete Competitor Matrix (identify 3 competitors). |
| Day 6 | Customer Surveys & Validation: how to ask potential customers what they actually want and what they will pay for. | Draft 5 survey questions and interview 5 people. |
| Day 7 | Personal Financial Literacy 101: credit vs. debit, bank accounts, credit scores, and separating personal money from business money. | Complete Personal Net Worth & Expense Log. |
| Day 8 | Bi-Weekly Review & Presentation Prep: presenting concept pitch and target market insights to the class. | Prepare a 2-minute elevator pitch slide deck. |
Review market research survey data and personal budgeting goals.
Students present a 2-minute pitch of their validated business concept and target market findings.
Understand business math: startup costs, fixed vs. variable costs, pricing, and profit margins.
| Day | Topic & classroom activity | Student action item |
|---|---|---|
| Day 9 | Startup Capital Assessment: calculating exact costs to start — inventory, registration fees, domain, supplies. | Complete Startup Cost Budget Worksheet. |
| Day 10 | Unit Economics & Pricing Strategy: cost of goods sold, markup, profit margin and competitive pricing. | Calculate cost per unit and final retail price. |
| Day 11 | Breakeven Analysis: how many units or services must be sold each month to cover overhead expenses? | Complete Breakeven Calculation Worksheet. |
| Day 12 | Monthly Operating Budget: planning recurring software, marketing and operational expenses. | Build a 6-month pro forma operating budget. |
Advisor audit of financial numbers, pricing viability, and a profit margin sanity check.
Submitting itemized startup costs, pricing sheet, COGS model, and monthly breakeven sales target.
Define exact product specs or service packages. Conduct the mid-term financial and pitch review.
| Day | Topic & classroom activity | Student action item |
|---|---|---|
| Day 13 | Product Prototype / Service Menu: designing a physical prototype, digital sample, or tiered service packages. | Draft Product Specification / Service Tier Sheet. |
| Day 14 | Supply Chain & Sourcing: finding reliable suppliers, vendors, manufacturers or local partners. | Identify 2 verified suppliers with lead times and pricing. |
| Day 15 | Mid-Term Review Prep: integrating financial budget and product architecture into the formal business plan draft. | Assemble Business Plan Draft (sections 1–4). |
| Day 16 | Bi-Weekly Presentation #2: mid-term budget and product concept review pitch in front of a panel. | Deliver a 4-minute mid-term pitch with slides. |
Review pitch performance, critique budget feasibility, and approve supplier selection.
Formal presentation covering financial budget, product design, pricing and supplier roadmap.
Execute real-world business setup. Select an entity, register the state filing, and apply for an EIN.
| Day | Topic & classroom activity | Student action item |
|---|---|---|
| Day 17 | Business Entities Demystified: sole proprietorship, LLC, S-Corp, non-profit — and why an LLC is ideal for young founders. | Select legal structure and check name availability on the Secretary of State registry. |
| Day 18 | Articles of Organization & State Filing: guided execution of state business registration forms. | Complete state registration documentation. |
| Day 19 | Federal EIN Application: live session registering with IRS.gov to receive a Federal Employer Identification Number. | Obtain official IRS EIN confirmation letter. |
| Day 20 | Licenses, Permits & Business Insurance: navigating local municipal permits, vendor licenses and liability coverage. | Complete Business Compliance Checklist. |
Verify EIN assignment, inspect filed articles, and ensure clean legal documentation.
The student holds an official, legally registered entity with an active EIN number.
Build visual brand identity, social media channels, logo, and marketing strategy.
| Day | Topic & classroom activity | Student action item |
|---|---|---|
| Day 21 | Visual Branding: color psychology, typography and logo creation using Canva or Adobe tools. | Create brand kit — logo, colors, fonts. |
| Day 22 | Digital Footprint & Social Channels: setting up professional business pages on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and Google Business. | Create and secure all social media handles. |
| Day 23 | Marketing Strategies for Inner City Youth: grassroots marketing, influencer outreach, flyer distribution and content creation. | Design 3 promo graphics and a 30-day content calendar. |
| Day 24 | Bi-Weekly Presentation #3: brand identity and marketing strategy pitch. | Present brand kit and content campaign. |
Brand aesthetics review, social media setup check, and marketing message audit.
Complete brand kit, live social media channels, and a 30-day scheduled marketing campaign.
Set up business bank accounts, digital payment processing, and the final website launch.
| Day | Topic & classroom activity | Student action item |
|---|---|---|
| Day 25 | Business Banking & Merchant Accounts: opening business checking and setting up Square, Stripe or PayPal for payment collection. | Set up merchant processing account to accept cards. |
| Day 26 | Website & Landing Page Builder: building a simple, high-converting one-page website or digital storefront. | Build and publish landing page or web store. |
| Day 27 | Customer Service & Operating Procedures: handling orders, refunds, customer queries and business ethics. | Draft Standard Operating Guidelines (SOP). |
| Day 28 | Final Business Plan Integration: compiling financial model, legal docs, marketing plan and operations into the final document. | Finalize master business plan document. |
Verify payment gateway functionality, test the web store, and conduct a final review of the written business plan.
Active payment processing system, published website or landing page, and a complete 10-page master business plan.
Conduct live sales, present the business plan at the Two01 Pitch Competition, and officially graduate.
| Day | Topic & classroom activity | Student action item |
|---|---|---|
| Day 29 | Pitch Rehearsal & Public Speaking: storytelling, voice projection, body language and slide deck polishing. | Practice 5-minute pitch with advisor feedback. |
| Day 30 | Soft Launch & First Sale Drive: executing live outreach, social media announcement, and securing real revenue. | Execute soft launch and collect first customer orders. |
| Day 31 | Final Business Plan Binding & Portfolio Audit: assembling legal certificates, EIN, bank proof and bound plans. | Submit final bound business plan and business proof. |
| Day 32 | Two01 Demo Day & Pitch Competition: live pitch event before community leaders, judges and investors. Seed funding awarded. | Deliver pitch and participate in the Demo Day showcase. |
Post-pitch evaluation, seed grant disbursement check, and a 90-day post-program mentorship plan.
The student graduates with an active registered business, live sales, a bound business plan, and pitch competition completion certificate.
Public speaking is not a bonus skill here. Every second week ends in front of an audience, and the final week ends in front of judges and investors.
| Week | Milestone | Title | What is presented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 2 | Presentation #1 | Elevator Pitch & Market Research Summary | A 2-minute pitch of the validated business concept and target market findings. |
| Week 4 | Presentation #2 | Mid-Term Pitch & Prototype Showcase | A 4-minute panel pitch covering financial budget, product design, pricing and supplier roadmap. |
| Week 6 | Presentation #3 | Brand Identity Kit & Digital Marketing Engine | Presentation of the complete brand kit, live social channels and 30-day campaign. |
| Week 8 | Demo Day | Two01 Pitch Competition | A live pitch before community leaders, judges and investors, with seed funding awarded. |
Every class day produces a completed worksheet, and the worksheets stack into the final business plan. Three of them do most of the heavy lifting.
| Requirement | Status | Confirmation / ID |
|---|---|---|
| Business entity name search | Pending / complete | Approved name |
| State registration / LLC filing | Pending / complete | Entity ID number |
| Federal EIN (IRS) | Pending / complete | EIN number |
| Logo & brand kit created | Pending / complete | Brand colors |
| Social handles secured | Pending / complete | Handle |
| Expense item, per unit | What it covers | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Raw materials / direct cost | Per product or service unit | $ ______ |
| Packaging & shipping / delivery | Per unit fulfilled | $ ______ |
| Transaction / merchant fee (~3%) | Card processing cost | $ ______ |
| Total cost of goods sold (COGS) | Sum of the three lines above | $ ______ |
| Target retail price to customer | What the customer pays | $ ______ |
| Net profit per unit | Retail price minus COGS | $ ______ |
Before Demo Day, a course advisor verifies each of the five requirements below. All five must be signed for a participant to graduate and receive the incubator certificate.
| Requirement | Advisor verification | Date completed |
|---|---|---|
| 1. State business entity / registration active | Advisor signature | Date |
| 2. Federal EIN received | Advisor signature | Date |
| 3. Merchant account / banking connected | Advisor signature | Date |
| 4. Written business plan submitted | Advisor signature | Date |
| 5. Live Demo Day pitch delivered | Advisor signature | Date |
A parent or guardian should complete this application with the participant. It takes about five minutes. We review every application and reply within three business days with cohort dates and next steps.
We partner with schools, churches, workforce programs and community organizations to run cohorts, and we welcome advisors — accountants, attorneys, bankers and founders — who can sit in on the weekly check-ins.
Cohort dates, scholarships and family questions before you apply.
Schools, workforce programs, sponsors and Demo Day judges.