Calista Yun didn't just bake her way to the national stage, she pivoted, persevered, and perfected her recipe for success. The Mira Costa High School rising senior and CEO of TuffCookieCo secured third place at the 2026 Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) National Competition on June 12 in Frisco, Texas.

Her journey to the podium wasn't a straight line. In fact, it started with a completely different product. 

"I started with cottage cheese ice cream and did that for probably the first nine weeks," Yun admitted. "Then I realized there are so many regulations with listeria because of dairy, and keeping stuff cold…so I just switched over to Tough Cookie because it's what I already had."

That "already had" business was a passion project born in her Manhattan Beach kitchen when she was just 13. A self-described foodie with a love for baking, Yun saw an opportunity to create treats for horses—whose dietary options are extremely limited—as a heartfelt way to show how much she values her equine companions.

Yun creates custom, celebratory treats for horses through TuffCookieCo.com. She told national judges that "when you give a treat to an animal, both of your brains release oxytocin, the same 'love hormone' that bonds a mother to her child. For horse owners, that bond is essential, because you're trusting a 1,200-pound animal with your safety."

However, perfecting those treats required some tough love at home. "My mom would say she wasn't going to allow me to sell them unless they actually looked decent," Yun laughed.

Yun discovered the Young Entrepreneurs Academy at exactly the right moment. As a junior scrolling through her school's Google Classroom, she came across the program listing. "It showed up and I thought, this sounds literally perfect for what I'm already doing."

The program turned out to be a rigorous commitment: a 24-week curriculum running from October through May, with weekly Wednesday evening classes from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. "It was quite rigorous—you could only miss seven hours max, because if you missed more than that, you wouldn't qualify for any money at the end when you pitch," she explained. "Honestly, it was a very fast-paced program. It did not feel like three hours every week for 24 weeks."

The finals stage was intimidating. "For the finals, no speech cards whatsoever. It was in front of a big crowd—probably 200 or maybe 300 people. I'm not really big on public speaking…but I was talking about something I'm passionate about, so it's the best kind of challenge."

The competition was fierce. First place went to 12-year-old William Frederick of Philadelphia with his business Scent-Pop—a keychain featuring calming scents. Second place was awarded to Reanna Bhuyan Patel from Princeton-Mercer County, NJ, for Mentora, a mentorship app connecting college professors and students. Yun admitted, "I was on the cusp, thinking, am I making top three or am I going to get knocked out?"

She made the cut, earning a $20,000 scholarship to Rochester Institute of Technology, a full tuition scholarship to the Golisano Institute of Business & Entrepreneurship, and a $1,000 cash prize.

"All I can say is that placing in the top 3 at YEA Nationals is such a surreal experience and an incredible honor," Yun said. "To have TuffCookieCo grow from a hobby to a nationally recognized business is something I never imagined. However, it also excites and motivates me for what comes next, both for this business and for future ventures."

And she already has her sights set on expansion. Yun is currently in talks with a Korean dog food brand to add new product lines. She also dreams of streamlining her kitchen operations with a food printer to "help lessen the strain" of decoration. 

Recognizing the equestrian world's love for personalization, she sees an untapped market. "Branded treats is something that hasn't really been explored yet, and I think it would be a hit for big barns."

Jill Lamkin, president and CEO of the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce, watched the finals on YouTube and said, "It was so great to hear her name called! This is so exciting for everyone!" Rachel Thomas, the program's instructor, added, "I'm so happy for her and not at all surprised. Calista's business combines her passion for horses with her joy of baking, and like all good entrepreneurs, she saw a need in the market and filled it. And all before her senior year in high school!"

Manhattan Beach students have consistently placed in the top six of the competition almost every year since the program launched locally in 2015. In 2023, Lila Mokhtari placed 1st with Maji Soap, and in 2022, then-6th-grader Dallas Nurre placed 3rd with Reptile Rovers.

Founded in 2004 in partnership with Chambers of Commerce nationwide, YEA! is open to students in grades 6-12. The South Bay classes are held at Mira Costa High School in the evenings, taught by Rachel Thomas and Program Manager Ro Schreiner.

For more information on applying, volunteering, or sponsoring the YEA! program in Manhattan Beach, visit the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce website at https://www.manhattanbeachchamber.com/yea-young-entrepreneurs-academy/.