Few places are as closely associated with entrepreneurship as California. From Silicon Valley startups to global technology companies, the state has long been a place where new ideas become real businesses. Entrepreneurship summer schools in California for high school students can help you explore innovation, business, and technology in an environment shaped by startup culture and real-world problem-solving.

Imagine spending your summer working on a startup idea, collaborating with other students, meeting entrepreneurs, and learning how businesses are built from the ground up. You may conduct market research, develop business models, create presentations, or pitch ideas to mentors and industry professionals. These experiences can help you understand entrepreneurship in a way that goes far beyond reading about successful companies.

How do you choose the right entrepreneurship summer programs for high school students?

Not all entrepreneurship programs teach the subject in the same way. Some focus on launching startups, while others emphasize leadership, innovation, business strategy, marketing, finance, or social impact. The strongest fit usually depends on the skills you want to develop and the types of problems you’re interested in solving.

Another factor to consider is mentorship. Many of the best programs connect students with founders, investors, professors, or business professionals who can provide valuable feedback and guidance. Learning directly from people who have built companies often becomes one of the most valuable parts of the experience.

These programs can also provide strong material for future college applications. More importantly, they help students develop confidence, initiative, and problem-solving skills while gaining exposure to a field that continues to shape industries around the world.

With that, here are 15 entrepreneurship summer programs in California for high school students worth considering!

For related options, consider the online business program.

Key Takeaways

• Costs range from free, as with UC Irvine’s Future Leaders Initiative, to over $11,500 for USC Pre-College’s residential Introduction to Business course.
• Many programs are concentrated in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, with options at UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA, USC, and UC Irvine.
• Several programs are highly selective, including UC Berkeley’s Business Academy for Youth, which admits roughly 10% of applicants into cohorts of about 50 students.
• Program length varies from one week, as with Startup UCLA’s virtual AI-Enabled Entrepreneurship track, to four weeks, as with USC Pre-College’s Introduction to Business.
• Two notably accessible options exist for cost-conscious students: UC Irvine’s Future Leaders Initiative is free, and Santa Clara University’s My Own Business Institute is a free, self-paced course open worldwide.
• International students are accepted at most programs on this list, though some, like UC Irvine’s Future Leaders Initiative, do not specify international eligibility.
• Nearly every program culminates in a final pitch or presentation, often delivered to entrepreneurs, investors, or industry professionals.
• Immerse Education’s Entrepreneurship Summer School is one of the few options open to students worldwide aged 15 to 18, combining hands-on startup projects, mentorship from established entrepreneurs, and a recognized certificate upon completion.

15 Entrepreneurship Summer Programs in California for High School Students

1. UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY)

Location: UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
Cost: Approximately $7,450 for California residents and $7,950 for non-residents; limited need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 10% acceptance rate; summer cohorts typically enroll around 50 students per session
Program Dates: July 5th – July 18th, July 19th – August 1st
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in the fall and close in February; final application and recommendation deadline: February 13th
Eligibility: Open to rising 10th-12th grade students with an interest in business or entrepreneurship. International students are eligible to apply

UC Berkeley’s Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) gives entrepreneurship summer schools in California for high school students a rigorous business-school setting at Haas. Over two weeks, you’ll explore entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, leadership, and social impact through case studies, discussions, and team projects while building and refining a business idea through market research, testing, and problem-solving.

Berkeley faculty, staff, and industry professionals regularly challenge you to think like an entrepreneur rather than a student completing an assignment. Teamwork plays a major role because every idea improves through feedback and debate. The programme wraps up with a final business presentation based on the work you’ve developed throughout the session.

Why it stands out: You spend most of the programme building a business idea from the ground up instead of only learning business theory.

2. Immerse Education’s San Francisco Entrepreneurship Summer School

Location: University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco, California
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: 15-18-year-old students; open to international students

Joining the Immerse Education Entrepreneurship Summer School will expose you to business development and startup strategies. You’ll gain knowledge about a range of topics, including innovation, business planning, and financial management. You’ll participate in interactive workshops, work on startup projects, and gain insights into real-world case studies. The programme will allow you to gain a range of entrepreneurial skills, including strategic thinking and creativity required to launch successful businesses.

You’ll receive guidance from established entrepreneurs and explore different industries and business models. The program will prepare you for a future career in entrepreneurship through hands-on challenges and real-world experience. You’ll also earn a recognised certificate on the completion of the program.

Why it stands out: It will give you hands-on exposure to startup strategy through real projects, expert mentorship, and practical challenges, while also earning you a recognised certificate.

3. Innovation and Startup Culture – Wharton Global Youth

Location: San Francisco, California
Cost: $8,959 tuition; limited need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly reported
Program Dates: July 5th – July 17th or July 19th – July 31st
Application Deadline: Applications open in the fall; priority deadline January 28th, final deadline March 18th
Eligibility: Open to international high school students in grades 9-11. Applicants should have strong academic records; successful applicants typically have a 3.3+ unweighted GPA or equivalent

Wharton’s Innovation and Startup Culture programme focuses on one question that entrepreneurs constantly face: is this idea actually worth building? You’ll explore startup creation through market analysis, business model design, innovation frameworks, and social entrepreneurship case studies. Working in teams, you’ll evaluate opportunities, test ideas, and think through the challenges that early-stage companies face.

Faculty and industry professionals introduce concepts used in real startup ecosystems while encouraging students to apply them to their own projects. Discussions often move beyond theory and into questions about execution, growth, and product-market fit. The programme concludes with a startup-focused presentation built around your team’s work.

Why it stands out: The curriculum focuses heavily on startup creation and venture-building instead of broader business education.

4. Startup UCLA Summer Institute

Location: Primarily virtual (online). Residential sessions take place on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles, California
Cost: Summer: AI-Enabled Entrepreneurship (Virtual, 1 week): $1,500 | Social Entrepreneurship Summer Institute (Virtual, 2 weeks): $2,000 | Social Entrepreneurship Summer Institute (Residential, 2 weeks): $6,000
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Program Duration: July 6-17 and July 20-31
Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. No final application deadline is published
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 10-12. Residential participants must be at least 17 years old by the program start date. International students are eligible

If you want entrepreneurship summer schools in California for high school students that focus on turning ideas into pitches, Startup UCLA Summer Institute is a strong fit. Whether you’re exploring AI-enabled entrepreneurship or social entrepreneurship, you’ll research problems, develop solutions, refine a venture with mentor support, and learn customer discovery, business models, market validation, and clear communication.

Team projects keep the learning grounded in practical work rather than theory. Throughout the programme, mentors provide feedback that forces you to rethink assumptions and improve your approach. Everything leads toward a final pitch where you’ll present your venture to entrepreneurs and industry professionals.

Why it stands out: The entire programme is structured around building and pitching a venture, so every workshop directly contributes to a final outcome.

5. Berkeley M.E.T. Innovation Academy

Location: In-person at University of California, Berkeley
Cost: $10,499; need-based scholarships are available for selected students
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; Approximately 50-65 student
Program Dates: July 7th – July 18th
Application Deadline: Typically in February
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors with a strong aptitude for mathematics and science; international student eligibility not specified

Berkeley M.E.T. Innovation Academy brings a technical, product-focused angle to entrepreneurship summer schools in California for high school students. Sitting at the intersection of engineering and entrepreneurship, the programme explores how technical ideas become companies through faculty sessions, founder talks, engineering perspectives, and challenges that require both product and business thinking.

Team projects often begin with a real-world problem and evolve into a prototype or venture concept over the course of the programme. Current Berkeley students and alumni regularly share how they approach innovation in their own careers. The experience ends with a capstone project and startup pitch based on your team’s work.

Why it stands out: Very few high school programmes combine engineering, product design, and entrepreneurship in the same way Berkeley’s M.E.T. programme does.

6. USC Exploring Entrepreneurship

Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Cost: Tuition varies by the format; $85 application fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Program Dates: June 8th – July 6th
Application Deadline: June 3rd
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 14 years old and currently enrolled in a high school or secondary school program. International students may apply if they demonstrate English proficiency

USC’s Exploring Entrepreneurship course introduces you to the process of building and evaluating a business idea through a series of case studies, assignments, and real-world examples. You’ll explore business models, customer value, fundraising, market analysis, venture development, and startup leadership while examining how entrepreneurs identify opportunities.

Instruction comes from USC faculty and professionals who draw on examples from startups and established businesses. Assignments encourage you to think critically about why some ventures succeed while others struggle. By the end, you’ll have a much stronger understanding of how entrepreneurs test and refine ideas before launching them.

Why it stands out: The course focuses heavily on how real startups make decisions, giving you a practical understanding of entrepreneurship beyond business buzzwords.

7. Summer Discovery at UCLA

Location: UCLA, Los Angeles
Cost: Tuition ranges from approximately $4,499-$15,999 depending on program format and duration. No stipend is provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Program Dates: 2 to 6 week sessions, mainly June through August
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in the fall and remain open on a rolling basis until programs reach capacity
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9-12. International students are eligible to apply. No formal prerequisites are listed, though students should have an interest in business, entrepreneurship, leadership, media, or related fields

UCLA’s Summer Discovery programme uses entrepreneurship as a lens for understanding leadership, strategy, innovation, and decision-making. Depending on the track you choose, you may explore business leadership, sports business, entertainment entrepreneurship, or digital marketing through case studies and collaborative projects. Much of the learning happens through discussions about real organizations and the choices they face.

Students work in teams to analyze challenges, develop recommendations, and present solutions backed by research. Faculty and instructors encourage you to think like a consultant, founder, or strategist rather than simply memorize concepts. The final project brings together the different ideas explored throughout the programme.

Why it stands out: The programme uses real business challenges as the starting point for learning, which makes entrepreneurship feel much more concrete and less theoretical.

8. Loyola Marymount University Intro to Entrepreneurship

Location: Los Angeles, California (On-Campus Residential Program)
Cost: $6,500, plus a $65 application fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Program Dates: June 21st – July 3rd
Application Deadline: Applications opened during the fall admissions cycle; final application deadline was March 15th
Eligibility: Open to rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. International students may apply and must submit TOEFL scores if English is not their primary language

Loyola Marymount University’s Intro to Entrepreneurship programme takes you through the early stages of creating a business idea and turning it into something more structured. Faculty from LMU’s College of Business Administration lead sessions on innovation, leadership, teamwork, and venture development while guiding students through hands-on projects. You’ll work independently and in teams to identify opportunities, evaluate ideas, and refine business concepts through feedback.

Workshops and discussions are designed to mirror the way entrepreneurs think through challenges when launching something new. As the programme progresses, you’ll develop a venture proposal and learn how to communicate it effectively. The experience ends with presentations to entrepreneurial leaders and business professionals.

Why it stands out: Presenting your venture to people from the startup community adds a level of realism that many classroom-based programmes lack.

9. UC Davis Emerging Leaders in Business

Location: UC Davis campus, California
Cost: $5,995 (residential) or $4,995 (commuter), plus a $100 application fee. No stipend is provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Program Duration: 10 days (July 8-17,, with orientation on July 7th)
Application Deadline: May 15-16
Eligibility: Open to high school students ages 16-18. International students may apply

UC Davis Emerging Leaders in Business introduces entrepreneurship through the broader lens of innovation, strategy, and business decision-making. You’ll examine topics such as startup development, market analysis, finance, business models, and emerging technologies while working through case studies and collaborative projects. Faculty-led workshops encourage students to think carefully about how businesses grow and adapt to changing conditions.

Team activities require you to apply concepts to real-world situations rather than simply discuss them. Mentors and industry professionals provide feedback throughout the programme, helping students strengthen both ideas and reasoning. The curriculum is designed to show how entrepreneurial thinking connects with leadership and problem-solving.

Why it stands out: The programme balances startup thinking with broader business strategy, giving you a stronger foundation than programmes focused only on pitching ideas.

10. Future Leaders Initiative – UC Irvine (UCI) Paul Merage School of Business

Location: UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business, Irvine, California
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 150 students are accepted each year
Program Dates: July 27th – August 1st
Application Deadline: Early April
Eligibility: Open to incoming high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; international student eligibility not specified

UC Irvine’s Future Leaders Initiative introduces you to entrepreneurship through a mix of business strategy, leadership, innovation, and industry exploration. Faculty-led sessions cover topics ranging from digital transformation and healthcare management to wealth management and entrepreneurship. Alongside the academic content, you’ll hear from professionals working in technology and business sectors, giving you a clearer sense of how these ideas are applied in practice.

Group activities and discussions encourage students to evaluate problems from different angles and think strategically about solutions. Networking opportunities are built into the programme, making it easy to connect with both professionals and peers. The overall experience feels more like an introduction to the business world than a traditional classroom course.

Why it stands out: The combination of faculty teaching, industry speakers, and mentorship creates a surprisingly broad introduction to modern business and innovation.

11. USC Pre-College: Introduction to Business

Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Cost: $11,570 for residential students; $8,130 for commuter students
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly reported
Program Dates: June 22nd – July 17th
Application Deadline: March 13th (International); May 8th (Domestic)
Eligibility: Open to domestic and international high school students who have completed at least 9th grade by the start of the program

The USC Pre-College Introduction to Business program introduces high school students to university-level business studies through an intensive, credit-bearing summer curriculum. You will explore the foundational principles of organizational success, spanning marketing, finance, operations, business ethics, and leadership under the guidance of USC Marshall School of Business faculty and industry experts.

The four-week course blends interactive lectures with collaborative teamwork, case-based analysis, and academic field trips that leverage Los Angeles’s dynamic economic landscape. Throughout the program, you will develop strategic thinking, data-driven reasoning, and communication skills as they analyze how companies create value and compete in global markets. The curriculum ends with a Capstone Case Competition, where teams analyze a real company, design strategic solutions, and deliver professional business pitches to a panel of experts.  

Why it stands out: The program allows high schoolers to earn transferable college credit from the top-ranked USC Marshall School of Business while building a strong network of Trojan faculty, industry mentors, and peers. 

12. UC San Diego (UCSD) Extended Studies – Business Management Cohort

Location: Online
Cost: $500 per course
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly reported
Program Dates: June 8th – June 28th
Application Deadline: Applications typically open several months before the course start date; final deadlines vary by session and remain open until available seats are filled
Eligibility: Open to high school students, generally grades 9-12. Domestic and international students may apply

UC San Diego’s Business Management Cohort focuses on the decision-making side of entrepreneurship and management. Through case studies and business scenarios, you’ll examine how organizations respond to challenges, evaluate opportunities, and make strategic choices. Coursework explores leadership, business analysis, teamwork, and problem-solving while encouraging students to think through multiple possible solutions.

Rather than concentrating only on startups, the programme looks at how entrepreneurial thinking can be applied across different types of organizations. Discussions and assignments regularly draw from real business situations, making the concepts easier to connect to the outside world. The programme provides a useful introduction to how business reasoning works at the university level.

Why it stands out: Its emphasis on case-based analysis helps you develop the same kind of decision-making skills used in many business schools.

13. Santa Clara University – My Own Business Institute (MOBI)

Location: Online
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment; no published acceptance rate or cohort size
Program Duration: Self-paced; students may begin at any time and complete coursework on their own schedule
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment throughout the year; no fixed application deadline
Eligibility: Open to learners worldwide, including high school students and international participants. There are no stated age restrictions, prerequisites, or prior business experience requirements

For students who need flexibility, Santa Clara University’s My Own Business Institute (MOBI) offers a self-paced route within the many entrepreneurship summer schools in California for high school students. You can explore business planning, marketing, finance, accounting, operations, leadership, and e-commerce through online lessons, practical exercises, templates, worksheets, quizzes, and case studies.

The programme is designed for people who want to understand how businesses actually function rather than just study entrepreneurship in theory. Since there are no deadlines or cohort restrictions, you can spend more time on the topics that interest you most. Students who complete the coursework can earn a certificate from Santa Clara University.

Why it stands out: It’s one of the few university-backed entrepreneurship programmes that is completely free and available to anyone worldwide.

14. Stanford Summer Session: Business & Entrepreneurship

Location: Virtual
Cost: Tuition varies based on course selection and enrollment units
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Program Dates: June 20th – August 16th
Application Deadline: Application opens November 3rd; Regular Decision deadline January 20th for high school students, with a Late Application deadline of March 2nd
Eligibility: High school students may apply to Stanford Summer Session through the high school application process. International students are eligible to apply

Stanford Summer Session lets you approach entrepreneurship through actual Stanford courses rather than a separate summer curriculum. Depending on the classes you choose, you might explore technology entrepreneurship, design thinking, innovation, organizational management, or startup finance. Coursework feels much closer to college than high school, with readings, case studies, presentations, and projects forming a major part of the experience.

You’ll discuss ideas with students from different countries and academic backgrounds while learning how entrepreneurship connects with technology, data, and innovation. The flexibility of the programme means you can shape the experience around your interests instead of following a single entrepreneurship track. By the end, you’ll have experienced the pace and expectations of university-level learning.

Why it stands out: You can mix entrepreneurship with subjects like technology, innovation, or sustainability through Stanford’s regular academic offerings.

15. NFTE Business & Entrepreneurship Academy at UC Berkeley

Location: UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Cost: Included in Summer Discovery residential package ($4,399-$10,499)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: July 12-24
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; Round 1 deadline January 27th
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12; open to international students

This two-week academy runs within Summer Discovery’s residential program at UC Berkeley and uses NFTE’s award-winning curriculum to take you from entrepreneurial idea to investor pitch. You’ll identify a real-world business opportunity, conduct primary and secondary market research, define your target customer, and build a full business model using the Lean Canvas framework. The program incorporates financial planning, marketing strategy, and multiple rounds of pitch practice, including a guest speaker from the startup world and collaborative peer feedback sessions.

The program culminates in a classroom showcase where you deliver a professional business pitch to a panel of judges. Instruction is led by an NFTE Certified Entrepreneurship Instructor and Harvard doctoral candidate with a background as a school principal in Chicago and Houston. You’ll leave with a course completion certificate and a letter of recognition from Summer Discovery.

Why it stands out: The Lean Canvas framework and iterative pitch practice mirror the process used in real startup accelerators, giving you tools and presentation experience that apply directly to college entrepreneurship courses and early-stage venture competitions.

Frequently Asked Questions: Entrepreneurship Summer Schools in California for High School Students

What is an entrepreneurship summer program for high school students?

An entrepreneurship summer program is a structured experience that introduces high school students to how businesses and startups are built, often before college. These programs typically cover business models, market research, leadership, and pitching through case studies, workshops, and team projects. Many are hosted by universities like Berkeley, Stanford, or USC, while others run online or as self-paced courses. Most conclude with a final presentation or pitch to mentors, investors, or industry professionals.

Do I need a business idea before applying?

No, most entrepreneurship programs are designed to help students develop an idea from scratch rather than require one in advance. Programs like UC Berkeley’s Business Academy for Youth and Startup UCLA Summer Institute guide students through market research and idea validation as part of the curriculum. Immerse Education’s Entrepreneurship Summer School follows a similar approach, introducing business planning and strategic thinking from the ground up with mentorship from established entrepreneurs. A genuine interest in business matters more than arriving with a polished concept.

How much do entrepreneurship programs in California cost?

Costs range from free to over $11,500, depending on the program’s length and format. Free options include UC Irvine’s Future Leaders Initiative and Santa Clara University’s My Own Business Institute, while residential programs like Berkeley M.E.T. Innovation Academy and USC Pre-College’s Introduction to Business charge $10,000 or more. Mid-range options include Immerse Education’s Entrepreneurship Summer School, which offers financial aid, and UC Davis’s Emerging Leaders in Business at around $5,000 to $6,000. It’s worth checking each program’s website directly, since fees and aid can change between sessions.

Can international students attend these programs?

Yes, most programs on this list accept international students. UC Berkeley’s Business Academy for Youth, Wharton’s Innovation and Startup Culture, and Immerse Education’s Entrepreneurship Summer School are all open to applicants from outside the US. A few programs, including UC Irvine’s Future Leaders Initiative and the Berkeley M.E.T. Innovation Academy, do not specify international eligibility, so it’s worth confirming directly with the program. Programs based at private institutions tend to have clearer international application pathways than free, locally run options.

What age do I need to be to apply?

Age and grade requirements vary by program, generally falling between 14 and 18 years old. Immerse Education’s Entrepreneurship Summer School accepts students aged 15 to 18 from anywhere in the world, while USC’s Exploring Entrepreneurship course accepts students as young as 14. Most university programs, including UC Berkeley’s Business Academy for Youth and Wharton’s Innovation and Startup Culture, target rising 10th through 12th graders. It’s best to confirm exact eligibility on each program’s official page before applying.

Will I actually build or pitch a business idea?

Yes, nearly every program on this list ends with students presenting a business idea or venture pitch. Startup UCLA Summer Institute and the NFTE Business & Entrepreneurship Academy at UC Berkeley are both built entirely around taking an idea from concept to final pitch using frameworks like the Lean Canvas. Immerse Education’s Entrepreneurship Summer School follows the same model, having students work on real startup projects and present their ideas after receiving guidance from established entrepreneurs.

How do entrepreneurship programs help with college applications?

Participating in an entrepreneurship program shows admissions officers initiative, leadership, and engagement with real-world problem solving. Programs like Immerse Education’s Entrepreneurship Summer School provide a recognized certificate of completion, while university programs such as USC Pre-College’s Introduction to Business offer transferable college credit. A final pitch or capstone project also gives students a concrete example to reference in personal statements and interviews.

What’s the difference between university-run and free or self-paced programs?

University-run programs, such as those at Berkeley, Stanford, and USC, typically include faculty instruction, structured cohorts, and in-person access to campus facilities and mentors. Free or self-paced options, like Santa Clara University’s My Own Business Institute, offer more flexibility but less direct mentorship and feedback. Paid programs in between, including Immerse Education’s Entrepreneurship Summer School, combine structured curriculum and mentorship with smaller cohorts. The right fit depends on whether you value flexibility or a more guided, hands-on experience.

From Summer Pitches to Future Pathways

A summer pitch can become more than a presentation when it helps you understand customers, problems, markets, and the kind of work energises you most.

These 15 entrepreneurship summer schools in California for high school students can introduce startup strategy, business models, market research, pitching, mentorship, and real founder-style decision-making early.

As you compare programmes, notice which experiences point toward entrepreneurship, consulting, marketing, finance, technology, social impact, or leadership paths you might pursue at university later.

Ready to connect summer learning with future careers? Read our Career Exploration blogs for pathways, skills, industry insights, and study routes before deciding next steps.