PIKO Youth Entrepreneurship Scholarship Fund
Your Big Idea Deserves
a Big Start
We're investing in the next generation of leaders who will build stronger businesses, stronger communities, and a brighter future for us all.
The PIKO Youth Entrepreneurship Scholarship Fund awards microgrants of $250–$2,500 to middle and high school business and entrepreneurship clubs — giving student-led teams the resources to compete, create, and grow.
Applications Open Fall 2026
Real Students. Real Impact.
In 2025, the PIKO Youth Entrepreneurship Scholarship Fund awarded $5,000 in grants to business clubs across four schools nationwide, reaching more than 500 students. These aren't just funds — they're fuel for the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Are you a DECA, FBLA, or BPA advisor? Nominate your club for funding and give your students a real-world head start.
Turning Bright Ideas into Bold Ventures
Program Overview
What It Is: The PIKO Youth Entrepreneurship Scholarship Fund is a microgrant program created to remove financial barriers for young, aspiring business leaders. We are a forward-thinking, multi-generational organization dedicated to fostering innovation from the ground up.
Who It’s For: This fund is for motivated middle and high school business clubs ready to turn their ambitious ideas into real-world projects.
Why It Matters: We believe that by strengthening small businesses, we strengthen our communities, which in turn strengthens the future for our children. This fund provides the resources student-led clubs need to develop skills, gain experience, and start building their legacy today.
Innovation starts here — turning ideas into action one project at a time.
Is Your Club Eligible?
This fund is open to officially recognized student business clubs at accredited middle and high schools across the United States. Eligible clubs include:
- DECA
- FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
- BPA (Business Professionals of America)
- School-specific entrepreneurship clubs
If your club is school-approved and ready to put funding to work, you qualify to apply.
Behind every thriving venture is a solid financial foundation.
Funding Opportunities: Microgrants that Make a Major Impact
Grants range from $250 to $2,500 and are designed to cover the real costs of running and growing a student-led venture. Funds can be used for:
- Competition registration fees
- Project supplies and materials
- Marketing for a club-run business
- Guest speaker fees
- Startup costs for a new venture
HOW TO APPLY
Getting started is simple.
When applications open in Fall 2026, here's how it works:
1. Review the Guidelines: Make sure your club and project meet the eligibility requirements.
2. Complete the Application: Tell us about your club, your project, and how you plan to use the funds to make an impact.
3. Submit Your Vision: Finalize your application and submit it before the deadline.
Important Dates to Remember
- Applications Open: Fall 2026
- Applications Due: November 20,2026
- Awards Announced: By Dec. 18, 2026
PIKO is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening small businesses from the inside out. Our mission is to reduce chaos and accelerate growth for visionary entrepreneurs, creating a positive ripple effect that builds stronger communities and generational wealth. By supporting today's students, we are investing in a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come.
Don't miss it — join the waitlist to be notified the moment applications open.
Who’s Behind the Scholarship Fund
Kalani Ho-Nikaido, CHCP - Executive Director
Kalani Ho-Nikaido leads PIKO Legacy Foundation with a simple belief: young people don't need to wait until adulthood to start building something real. A Certified High Performance Coach with more than two decades of financial leadership experience, Kalani has spent her career helping entrepreneurs turn ambitious ideas into thriving ventures — from her early days at the Waldorf-Astoria to leadership roles at Hoʻaloha Nā ʻEhā, Ltd. and Maui Land & Pineapple Co., Inc.
Through PIKO, she's channeled that expertise into the next generation, creating the Youth Entrepreneurship Scholarship Fund to remove the financial barriers that keep student-led business clubs from competing, creating, and growing. Under her leadership, PIKO has awarded microgrants to student teams across the country — giving young entrepreneurs the resources and confidence to build their legacy today.
