New Business, Finance, and Entrepreneurship Program

What began as a student-driven initiative to bring more business and entrepreneurship opportunities to Weber has grown into a powerful new academic distinction—one that connects students to the heart of Israel’s start-up culture.

This spring, The Weber School completed its inaugural ELI-NextGen seminar, a collaborative pilot between Weber and Entrepreneurial Leadership Israel (ELI) that brought students face-to-face with the innovative spirit of the “Start-Up Nation” through some of Israel’s most prominent entrepreneurs and business leaders. Modeled after a program for young professionals ages 25-40, ELI-NextGen made its U.S. high school debut at Weber, thanks to the initiative of students Brandon Yoels (’27) and Matthew Grant (’26) and the leadership of Social Studies faculty Melinda Goodwin, who also serves as Weber’s Director of Business, Finance, & Entrepreneurship Programs.

Over the course of 15 sessions, students explored foundational concepts in business development, branding, AI, communication, and leadership through a distinctly Israeli lens. Speakers included Donna Griffit, a global storytelling consultant whose clients have raised over $2 billion; Edo Perry, a ClimateTech founder with past experience at Apple; Danielle Bitoin, CEO of EDI Energy Israel by 28; and Hadas Frank, an AI innovation expert. The seminar culminated in a final showcase of student pitch presentations and project portfolios.

“The impact of ELI-NextGen on our students has been remarkable,” said Goodwin. “They’ve gained real-world business insights, developed confidence in their leadership abilities, and learned to think like innovators. The opportunity to connect with top Israeli entrepreneurs has been inspiring, and we’re excited to continue this partnership.”

ELI serves as the first component of the new Business, Finance, and Entrepreneurship (BFE) Program, featuring an option for an Honors Diploma Distinction, launching in Fall 2025. Modeled after Weber’s one-of-a-kind academic and specialty tracks—including the Daniel Zalik Academy, Sports Science and Management Academy, Lori Kagan Schwarz Global Leadership and Michael Kay Israel Leadership Fellows, and the Weber Writing Project—the new distinction reflects the same student-driven, faculty-guided approach that defines all of Weber’s honors programs. Students in BFE will study and develop advanced skills in entrepreneurship, strategy, marketing, and finance while completing advanced coursework, including AP Business Principles (coming in 2026) and a Capstone project. Like its counterparts, this new program and the Honors Diploma Distinction is designed to develop confident, capable, and ethically informed entrepreneurial, business, and financial leadership prepared to meet the future with insight and purpose.

Senior Jordan Cohen summed it up best: “Before ELI-NextGen, I had no idea how to get started in the tech world. Now I know how to build my personal brand, network, and think like an entrepreneur. I also got to learn from Israeli founders and see how Jewish values can shape leadership and success. It was really inspiring.”

“This program is exactly what Weber students and the current generation of teenagers seek and need: real-world skills, the perfect entrepreneurship toolkit, and leadership development, all while fostering a deeper relationship with Israel and Israelis,” said Head of School Rabbi Ed Harwitz. “We have great confidence that Weber graduates of the BFE program and Honors Distinction track will make a profound impact during high school and, even more so, in college and beyond.”