Shifting Gears A Web site that helps workers under 35 become entrepreneurs

Remember that limbo-land between college and the time youdecided to become an entrepreneur? The frustrating job searches?The meaningless office tasks? The long days alone in your cubicle,pondering the question "What the hell am I doinghere?"

Peter M. Hess, the 31-year-old founder of Young AdultProfessional Associates Inc. (YAPA), remembered those days withsuch vivid alarm that he was moved to create an organization tohelp under-35 workers gain a foothold in the world. Youngprofessionals can check out www.yapa.com to look for a new job,network with employers and other young professionals and buycareer-aiding products such as the YAPA Career Success Kit.

Hess, who worked as an insurance agent for several years aftercollege, started the 125,000-member organization as a nonprofit in1995, after he hosted a smash-hit cocktail party for local youngprofessionals.

After researching the market, building a Web site and creating abusiness plan, Hess quit his job in 1997 to run the no-longernonprofit, now Syracuse, New York-based YAPA full time. He startedthe business with a $14,000 bank loan and $35,000 in credit carddebt. He quickly erased that, though, and has grown theorganization by networking with wealthy businesspeople, who haveinvested $6 million in one year. Hess plans to raise $20 millionthrough a private placement round of financing next summer and hasoffices in Philadelphia and New York City.

Pamela Rohland, a writer from Bernville, Pennsylvania,completes stories for Business Start-Ups and other nationalpublications with assistance from her four cats.