Youakim to Receive Entrepreneur of Year Award

Charlie Youakim will receive the University of Minnesota’s 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year at this year’s Founders Day celebration on May 14.  The annual award recognizes one University alumnus who is an active leader in the entrepreneurial community, has founded and continues to run an enduring business, has given back to the University community and has served as a role model for students and fellow alumni.

“Charlie has founded and developed an innovative global fintech leader that is disrupting the way consumers pay online,” noted John Stavig, managing director of the Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. “It’s amazing to see how far they’ve come and their economic impact since competing in MN Cup back in 2016 – where they received their first external capital investment.”

Charlie co-founded his first startup immediately after graduating with his MBA from the Carlson School in 2010.  Operating out of his Minneapolis basement, Passport Parking brought much-needed technology innovation to payment processing for the parking industry and continues to operate in more than 800 cities across North America.

Sezzle was founded in 2016 and has been on a rapid growth track since going public in Australia in 2019 and on the NASDAQ in 2023.  Last year’s revenue more than doubled to more than $100 million while earnings grew tenfold.  Sezzle enhances consumers' purchasing power by offering point-of-sale financing options and digital payment services. Their interest-free installment plans increase sales and conversions for merchants while giving consumers access to manageable credit. Sezzle is a certified B Corporation and is committed to assisting young consumers to shop responsibly and build their credit.

A two-time graduate from the University of Minnesota with degrees in mechanical engineering and an MBA, Charlie has created opportunities for fellow University grads.  “Charlie and his Carlson School MBA classmate and co-founder Paul Paradis were extremely active in our E-ternship program,” noted Stavig, “they frequently came back to campus during Sezzle’s formative years, offering dozens of students the opportunity to gain experience in a fast-paced startup.”  Headquartered in downtown Minneapolis, Sezzle has created more than 400 jobs and provided a scholarship for a University undergraduate student.

"I’m incredibly honored to receive this award,” noted Youakim. “Building Sezzle alongside a team of passionate, driven individuals — many of whom are fellow U of M graduates — has been an incredible experience. This award is not just a personal milestone but a testament to the power of innovation and the thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem here in Minnesota. I’m grateful to the University for its continued support and excited to keep paying it forward to the next generation of leaders.”

Register now for the 13th annual Founders Day event in Walter Library and the Toaster Innovation Hub.