Emerging Industries | Startups
Co-founder and chief operating officer
Young Enterprising Society | Milwaukee
Khalif El-Amin co-founded the Young Enterprising Society with his brother in 2012. The organization supports entrepreneurs and provides STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) programming to Milwaukee students. In the decade since its founding, YES has worked with over 4,000 students in eight states through its STEAM program. Its YES Blueprint program, which provides up to $100,000 in seed capital, has helped launch and scale 74 startups since its launch in 2018. In partnership with Molson Coors Beverage Co., YES also produces the Summerfest Tech Pitch Competition, which annually awards cash prizes to entrepreneurs.
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Hobby/passion: “My first love/hobby/passion was basketball. I started playing as early as I can remember and quickly fell in love with the game. As a young boy, I always had a ball with me everywhere I went. I traveled all across the country playing in various AAU tournaments and high school showcases. Through my hard work and dedication, I was co-captain of my high school team, which won back-to-back state championships in 2003 and 2004, and I went on to become an all-conference performer at UW-Stevens Point.”
Career advice: “How you do anything is how you do everything.”
As you enter your office, what would you choose to be your walk-up or theme song: “‘Touch the Sky’ by Kanye West.”
Top of your bucket list: “Tracing back my genealogy and visiting Africa.”