November is National Entrepreneurship Month, an opportunity to recognize the dreamers who dare to build something from nothing. It’s a time to celebrate innovation, resilience, and the belief that, given the right tools, anyone can turn a dream into a lasting business.
A new generation of entrepreneurs is emerging across the country. Recent survey data shows that 37% of Gen Z want to start a side hustle, and 26% of young adults already have a side hustle.1
Gen Z students are dreaming big, designing new products and creating innovative solutions, all before they even graduate high school. They’re starting everything from neighborhood businesses serving the local community to tech companies with customers around the world.
An Internship on Wheels
Sometimes all a student needs is a little push in the right direction to put inspiration in motion. That’s where Intuit steps in — helping young entrepreneurs gain the real-world skills and confidence they need to launch their ideas.
The Intuit Food Truck Program is a free program that gives students the chance to experience what it takes to start a business. By providing fully-equipped food trucks, entrepreneurial finance curriculum, and real-world tools like QuickBooks and Mailchimp, the Intuit Food Truck Program allows students to learn by doing and turn creativity and collaboration into lifelong entrepreneurial confidence.
Giovani, a senior at Polytechnic High School in Los Angeles and Intuit Food Truck program participant, is an example of what can happen when students are given not just encouragement, but real responsibility. With his recent hands-on experience running the Poly Prime food truck, he’s no longer just dreaming of owning a restaurant one day — he’s got the roadmap needed to get there.
“At Intuit, we’ve spent decades helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into action, and now we’re helping students do the same,” said Dave Zasada, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at Intuit. “Because when young people gain the confidence to believe in their dreams, the possibilities are endless.”
Driving Real-World Impact
Since launching, the Intuit Food Truck program has impacted nearly 10,000 students across nine districts in cities including Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver, Lynchburg, Nashville, Reno, and San Diego, and is expected to impact another 10,000 students this school year with the addition of new food trucks near Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, and Milwaukee. Each truck serves as a moving classroom where participants put what they learn directly into action and discover what it really means to run a business.
The results have been overwhelmingly positive with educators:2
- 100% believe that the program improved student confidence
- 95% observed more initiative and self-reliance in their students
- 92% report significant growth in students’ job-readiness skills
- 81% saw a stronger grasp of key entrepreneurial-finance concepts
One educator, Senior Director of CCTE Dr. Rick Cooke says, “Our students are learning valuable skills on how to enter the workforce career ready. My heart is full watching how proud they are of what they’ve accomplished through the program.”
Now, the Intuit Food Truck Program is expanding. Districts can apply for a new fully-equipped food truck or rebranding and program support if they already own and operate a food truck. A mobile food cart option is also available for schools that prefer a smaller, more adaptable mode. This expansion means more schools and students taking part, so we can continue to reach aspiring entrepreneurs across the country.
The Intuit for Education Mission
The Intuit Food Truck Program is just one example of how Intuit for Education is empowering students through this free financial literacy and entrepreneurship initiative — helping them build the real-world skills needed to become the most financially prepared, capable, and confident generation yet.
Students can also access top-tier entrepreneurial curriculum (aligned to national standards) that features a robust suite of engaging simulations, calculators and interactive games. Enabling them to learn everything from financial planning to fundraising strategies and how to value their business.
The ultimate way to grasp the impact, though, is to hear it from the students themselves — like Giovani:
“It’s not just about cooking or selling. It’s about learning how to take an idea and make it real. I never thought I’d feel this confident about my future.”
1 Source: Intuit Prosperity Index | Methodology – In April 2025, Intuit commissioned an online survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers ages 18-25 (Gen Z) via Pollfish. Young Adults are defined as women and men ages 18-25 and are Gen Z.
2 Source: The Intuit Food Truck Program 2025 Report | Efficacy Research – At Intuit for Education, we’re dedicated to more than just teaching—we’re committed to proving our programs work. Our efficacy research shows how our initiatives, like the “Measuring financial literacy, capability and confidence in High school” report, are actively shaping students’ financial futures.