Where Ideas
become businesses

+

Strahan Venture Academy empowers teens to turn creative ideas into real businesses through hands-on entrepreneurship, branding, website development, marketing, and business building experiences.

DREAM IT. BUILD IT Own it..

Dream it. Build it. Own it.

BUILD IT. BRAND IT.
SELL IT.

Students gain hands-on experience creating a business, developing their brand, building a website, marketing their products, and learning how to confidently sell their ideas.

FROM IDEA TO ENTREPRENEUR

DREAM IT.
BUILD IT.
OWN IT.

Students leave Strahan Venture Academy with real-world business skills, greater confidence, and the experience of turning an idea into something they can call their own.

THE FUTURE STARTS HERE

Students Will Learn:
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Start a Business

Student learn how to turn an idea into a real business, choose a product or service, and understand the basics of entrepreneurship.

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Build a Brand

Students create a business name, logo, website, marketing materials, and a professional online presence.

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Grow & Sell

Students practice pricing, customer service, marketing, selling , public speaking, and presenting their business with confidence.

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Workshops

Looking for a shorter entrepreneurship experience?

Strahan Venture Academy offers engaging 2-hour, half-day, full-day, and multi-week workshops designed to introduce young people to entrepreneurship, branding, business skills, money management, pitching, and more.

Perfect for schools, nonprofits, libraries, youth organizations, and community programs.

SVA News
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About Carrie Upshur

Carrie Upshur is the Founder & Program Director of Strahan Venture Academy, where she combines her background in technology, entrepreneurship, and education to help young people develop practical skills they can use in the real world.

With a degree in Computer Science from Sullivan University, Carrie brings experience in website development, digital marketing, branding, SEO, and online business. She is also the published author of Google SEO Playbook, reflecting her knowledge of helping businesses build and strengthen their presence online.

Carrie founded Strahan Venture Academy with a simple belief: young people should have opportunities to create, build, and experience entrepreneurship—not just learn about it. Through hands-on workshops and entrepreneurship programs, students are guided through developing business ideas, creating brands, building websites, learning marketing and sales, and presenting their ideas with confidence.

As Founder & Program Director, Carrie develops the Academy's curriculum and educational experiences with an emphasis on creativity, technology, leadership, problem-solving, and practical business skills. Her goal is to give students an environment where they can explore their potential, develop confidence, and discover what they are capable of creating.

Through Strahan Venture Academy, Carrie is working to build partnerships with community organizations and youth-serving programs to make entrepreneurship and technology education accessible to more young people.

Dream it. Build it. Own it.