Prep Time

More than a dozen budding executives from across Polk County, part of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, recently got to sit in front of five people they aim to be someday: successful business owners.

The young entrepreneurs, at a CEO Roundtable sponsored by the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, came ready to discuss products and services they had developed to launch their own startups. Over the last year, the teens had nurtured ideas, drafted business plans, conducted market research and were now preparing pitches to potential investors. Among their nascent products: an irrigation system, I.D. tag for beverages, drone services, adjustable school uniforms that “grow” and an app to help Boy Scouts.

But none of that matters right now, the panelists told the youngsters.