15 Entrepreneur Camps for High School Students

TL;DR

This page covers entrepreneur camps for high school students, from university-run pitch camps to residential startup academies. Most run in person on US college campuses for a few days to two weeks, with 2026 costs ranging from free at Northern State to $4,860 at Utah’s Lassonde Startup Academy. You’ll find options for rising freshmen through seniors, and most camps end with a pitch, showcase, or Demo Day. Immerse Education's Academic Insights pathway in Business Management welcomes students aged 13 to 18 from around the world in Cambridge, Oxford, Singapore, Sydney, and Toronto.

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Becoming a successful entrepreneur requires you to acquire certain skills and participating in an entrepreneur camp can be a practical way to learn and practice them in a short period. You will explore the different ways you can think of an idea and turn it into a product, a service, or a startup. You will simultaneously develop creative problem-solving, strategic thinking, leadership, marketing, and financial planning skills needed to run a business by immersing yourself in business challenges, workshops and case studies.

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As a participant in these camps, you will gain practical experience applying the business concepts you have learned. Depending on the camp, you will develop an understanding of business models, financial strategies, digital tools, web technologies, or marketing techniques. Since many of these camps take place on university campuses, you will also get a closer look at college life. 

What can you actually expect to do during an entrepreneur camp?

In most camps, you will work with other participants to identify problems and develop creative business ideas to solve them. Along with that, you will also determine a business plan, marketing ideas and financial strategies for it while keeping your target audience in your mind. 

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Beyond developing your business idea, you will also get practice in pitching those ideas through Shark Tank-style competitions, mock deals, and final showcases. By doing so, you will also strengthen the communication skills needed to properly present and defend your ideas convincingly to prospective fundraisers and others. You will additionally learn how crucial teamwork, creativity, leadership, finance, and strategy are in a business.

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Here are 15 entrepreneur camps for high school students that can lead you to an entrepreneurship profession.

15 Entrepreneur Camps for High School Students 

1. Immerse Education's Business Summer School

Location: Cambridge, Oxford, Singapore, Sydney, and Toronto

Cost/Stipend: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; an average of 7 participants per class

Dates: 2 weeks during the summer

Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts with rolling admissions

Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 (ages vary by location); open to international students

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Immerse Education's Academic Insights pathway in Business Management lets you explore business management and take college-level classes at universities around the world. Throughout the program, you will participate in lectures, hands-on workshops, 1-on-1 tutoring sessions with expert mentors, and gain professional experience.

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You will develop professional skills, explore the key concepts of business like strategic management, marketing, and finance, and attend immersive activities. The program includes an independent study in business management led by expert mentors. By the end of the program, you will receive a certificate of achievement.

Why it stands out: You'll learn from world-class tutors in classes of around seven students, follow a practical case-study curriculum, and live in a real university residence as part of a global community of 20,000+ alumni.

2. Columbia Business School Youth About Business Camp

Location: Columbia Business School, New York, NY
Cost: Not listed on the Columbia page; scholarships available
Dates: July 6th to 10th or July 13th to 17th (2026 dates; 2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Applications run through Youth About Business; 2027 deadline not yet posted
Eligibility: Rising 9th to 12th graders aged 14 to 17; capacity limited to 50 students; international eligibility not specified

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This camp, led by Youth About Business at Columbia Business School, aims to give you an understanding of how businesses work by making you an executive for a five-day period. In your role as a business executive, you will find yourself presenting your startup idea to a panel of business professionals and finishing a mock business deal. 

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This will eventually strengthen your communication skills and your ability to confidently defend your ideas. You will have the chance to network with professionals who will introduce you to the various career opportunities available within the business industry, even those you may not be aware of. No school paperwork is required to apply.

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Why it stands out: You will explore how companies function with the help of various disciplines, including finance, law, marketing, tech, operations, and others.

3. Young Founders Lab

Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!

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The Young Founder’s Lab is a start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a complex problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.

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Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.

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Why it stands out: You work on building a startup with expert mentorship.

4. Drexel’s Fashion + Entrepreneurship Camp

Location: LeBow College of Business, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (commuter)
Cost: $500, including lunch and snacks (2026)
Dates: July 20th to 24th, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (2026 dates; 2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: June 30th (2026)
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 to 12; no prior fashion or business experience needed; international eligibility not specified

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Run by Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, this camp introduces you to the business of fashion. During your time in this camp, you will learn how some creative ideas become business concepts. You will also learn the work that goes into building a brand. The camp will immerse you in different activities to give you a practical understanding. 

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You will collaborate with other students with an interest in fashion entrepreneurship to discover style trends, come up with a fashion concept and ideate a story for your brand. Such activities will strengthen your teamwork skills, creativity and confidence. Moreover, you will get to share your ideas at the camp’s final showcase.

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Why it stands out: You will form a better understanding of the techniques that fashion companies use to market and sell their products.

5. The University of Toledo Regional Invitational Startup Experience (RISE) Summer Camp

Location: The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Cost: Not publicly available
Dates: Three days in the summer (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Not publicly available
Eligibility: High school students interested in business and entrepreneurship; international eligibility not specified

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This camp is aimed at students who are curious about learning how business people build a company from an idea and how such businesses operate on a regular basis. You will start the three-day enrichment camp by designing a custom T-shirt product with your team, defining your brand, and developing a marketing strategy for it. 

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On the next day, you will focus on pitching to suppliers, putting together a financial model and sales approach, and learning how technology supports a business. Then, on the final day, you will pitch your brand in Shark Tank style to UToledo faculty and local business professionals, competing to have your T-shirt printed and sold to fund a micro-scholarship. Overall, you will learn everything from starting a business to running it through this experience.

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Why it stands out: You will explore marketing, finance, accounting, and other core business skills, taught directly by UToledo faculty.

6. Cedarville University Entrepreneurship Camp

Location: Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH (residential)
Cost: $249, including meals, housing, field trips, activities, supplies, and a camp shirt
Dates: June 8th to 11th, 2027
Application Deadline: June 1st, 2027, with an early bird deadline of March 1st, 2027
Eligibility: Students aged 14 to 18; no prior training required; international eligibility not specified

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This camp is designed to equip you with the skills needed to become an entrepreneur and build your own business. You will first start by exploring how you can come up with business ideas, which is sure to enhance your creative problem-solving skills. You will then learn how to make a value proposition statement (VPS) and a minimum viable product (MVP) based on your business idea, before testing it in pitch competitions and a Shark Tank experience with prizes. 

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In the process, you will also get practice in formulating a plan for your business and building networking connections. It is worth noting that the camp is open to students with no prior knowledge in the field, so it can be suitable if you are just exploring your interest and want to make an informed decision about whether you will actually enjoy being an entrepreneur.

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Why it stands out: It gives you the opportunity to learn directly from experienced entrepreneurs with an excitement to transfer their skills to high schoolers like you.

7. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Entrepreneurs & Innovators NexGen Residential Summer Camp

Location: Greensboro, NC; the 2026 camp was held on the University of North Carolina at Greensboro campus
Cost: Not yet posted for 2027
Dates: Week-long residential camp each summer (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Not yet posted for 2027
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum GPA of 2.8; international eligibility not specified

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Part of North Carolina A&T State University’s Aggie Enrichment Summer Camps & Programs and led by its Center of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, this camp focuses on introducing you to innovation and entrepreneurship through interactive learning. During your time in this camp, you will learn to think like an entrepreneur who can quickly identify gaps and come up with innovative solutions for them. 

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You will additionally acquire the skills needed to think of solutions that meet market needs. The camp will place you in a group with other participants with whom you will create, improve and present a business idea. It will strengthen your teamwork skills, confidence, and creativity while preparing you for an entrepreneurship role.

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Why it stands out: Past camps have included field trips such as a visit to Forge Greensboro, a makerspace for inventors and entrepreneurs, along with panel discussions with entrepreneurs.

8. Fisher Summer Business Camp

Location: St. John Fisher University, Rochester, NY
Cost: $349 early bird rate by April 30th or $399 from May 1st, including daily lunch, a T-shirt, supplies, and a certificate (2026)
Dates: July 20th to 23rd, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (2026 dates; 2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Register by April 30th for the early bird rate; regular registration from May 1st (2026)
Eligibility: Rising 9th through 12th graders; international eligibility not specified

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St. John Fisher University organizes this camp for high schoolers interested in pursuing a career in business. As a result, the program will introduce you to the various careers available across entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and other business-related areas. The university’s professors will teach you business concepts and immerse you in workshops that allow you to apply what you have learned. 

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You will specifically have the opportunity to participate in a Shark Tank-style competition where you work in groups with other campers to come up with a business idea. By the end of the camp, you will feel more confident in your leadership, entrepreneurship, management, strategy, and other professional skills.

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Why it stands out: The camp will host guest speakers, including local industry leaders and college and graduate students, who will speak from their experience and give you an outlook on pursuing a degree and career in business.

9. Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship Summer Camp

Location: Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL (day camp; overnight accommodations arranged separately)
Cost: $125 non-refundable fee, covering guest entrepreneurs, field trips, a camp T-shirt, and daily lunches
Dates: June 8th to 12th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (2026 dates; 2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: 2027 applications open in February; spots are first-come, first-served and secured upon payment
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; limited to 35 campers; international eligibility not specified

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Inviting only a small group of high school juniors and seniors, this camp aims to teach you how business startups actually work. You will team up with other campers to think of new business ideas and put together a business model for it. 

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This activity will specifically help you understand the importance of putting together a good team that will strategically improve your business. You will be presenting your ideas at an end-of-camp event, which will include families and friends. Moreover, this camp gives you the opportunity to learn from the college’s faculty, staff, and guest entrepreneurs plus go on field trips.

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Why it stands out: Each day, a different restaurant supplier hosts lunch, and the owners share how they launched and grew their businesses.

10. Penn State Teen Entrepreneur Challenge (TEC)

Location: Penn State Berks, Reading, PA (residential)
Cost: Not publicly available; financial assistance available
Dates: July 26th to August 1st (2026 dates; 2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Not publicly available; you submit an interest form and application, followed by a brief conversation with the team
Eligibility: Rising 9th through 12th graders; international eligibility not specified

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Penn State’s Teen Entrepreneur Challenge prepares you to become an entrepreneur by engaging you in different educational and project-based activities. As a participant, you will complete a collaborative project where you either come up with a product or a service-based business. As you develop your group’s business, you will also gain a better understanding of marketplace dynamics and financial strategies. 

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You will also build skills in marketing and communications, financial literacy, economics and ethics, and artificial intelligence. At the end of the program, the camp will host a pitch competition in which you and your group can present the team’s business idea and the strategies you have considered to develop it.

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Why it stands out: Penn State Lehigh Valley faculty lead the programming, which adds field trips and expert presentations that give you foundational knowledge of running a business.

11. Hofstra University You Can Be An Entrepreneur

Location: Hofstra University, Long Island, NY
Cost: $835 per week (early tuition)
Dates: Five-day summer program; see the registration page for current sessions
Application Deadline: Not listed; you enroll through Hofstra Continuing Education
Eligibility: Teens; international eligibility not specified

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In this five-day program, you will start by learning the definition of business and the different types, using which you will come up with a business idea and pitch it to others on day 1. You will then learn the fundamentals of starting a business as you establish your target group and put together a business plan. 

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Following this, you will delve into the marketing aspects and the techniques you can use to attract customers, which you will apply in a marketing campaign project consisting of logos and taglines for your business. You will then spend a day planning a basic budget and map out your business’s projected revenue as you develop an understanding of basic fundraising and managing the finances for your business.

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Why it stands out: The camp will additionally introduce you to the role of AI in the business sector and encourage you to think of ways you can implement it to improve your business.

12. Tech and Innovation Camp At Northern State University

Location: Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD (residential)
Cost: Free, including on-campus meals and lodging
Dates: June 21st to 25th (2026 dates; 2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: April 11th priority registration (2026)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 to 12; international eligibility not specified

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This is a unique camp by Northern State University that combines technology, coding and entrepreneurship. In it, you will be introduced to some of the latest advancements in the fields of technology and innovation. You will spend a significant amount of your time in the camp exploring topics across coding, entrepreneurship and business, digital content creation, and others. 

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You will get practical experience with core web technologies in a project-based environment, along with nightly activities and service learning sessions. The ultimate goal of the program is to encourage you to think of ways you can use technology to come up with innovative solutions that have a positive impact on society.

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Why it stands out: During your time in the program, you will have the opportunity to interact and learn directly from experts in the field.

13. UC Berkeley Global Social Entrepreneurship Pre-Collegiate Summer Program

Location: UC Berkeley campus, Berkeley, CA
Cost: Not listed on the Global Studies page; enrollment runs through Summer Discovery
Dates: July 11th to July 23rd, 2027
Application Deadline: Enrollment for 2027 is now open through Summer Discovery
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who have taken government, economics, world history, and social studies courses; past cohorts have included students from other countries

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In this program, you will learn about social impact ventures, with a particular focus on how they form, get funding, and develop within the global economy. You will specifically get skilled in spotting customer problems in developing countries, coming up with a budget-friendly solution and go-to-market strategy for it, and putting together a pitch for potential investors. 

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In the process, you will gain an introduction to some primary concepts across innovation, venture capital, startup strategy, and more. You will simultaneously explore the importance of teamwork, creativity, cross-cultural communication, social impact, and critical perspectives in it. The program ends with a Demo Day, where you present your social venture idea and receive feedback from judges.

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Why it stands out: Professor Crystal Chang, who spent several years in venture capital and the tech industry in Silicon Valley and Shanghai, developed the program from her popular Berkeley course on Silicon Valley and the global economy.

14. Lassonde Startup Academy

Location: Lassonde Studios, Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (residential)
Cost: $4,860, including a $200 non-refundable deposit, room and meals, makerspace supplies, and excursions; scholarships available (2026)
Dates: June 15th to 26th (2026); 2027 dates to be determined
Application Deadline: Scholarship deadlines were December 1st (early consideration) and February 1st (regular) for 2026; 2027 deadlines not yet posted
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 to 18; international eligibility not specified

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The University of Utah’s Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute welcomes high school students who dream of becoming entrepreneurs to join this academy. In it, you will participate in a range of activities that help you develop entrepreneurial skills. Precisely, you will immerse yourself in workshops, maker activities, mentor sessions, pitch events, and more. 

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More importantly, you will get practice in brainstorming creative ideas and turning them into a business, ending with a Demo Day showcase open to family and community. This will, in turn, give you insight into the core elements you need to start a business. It will also teach you to think like an entrepreneur. You will additionally benefit from mentorship and the chance to earn college credit, though restrictions apply.

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Why it stands out: You will live upstairs at Lassonde Studios and build prototypes in its makerspace, using tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and sewing machines.

15. Northwood University Learning About Business (LAB) Week

Location: Northwood University, Midland, MI (residential and commuter options)
Cost: Valued at $1,500, with private donors reducing the cost to students; $500 scholarships available (2026)
Dates: June 14th to 19th (2026 dates; 2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: April 10th (2026)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 to 12 who are under 18; international eligibility not specified

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Northwood University’s LAB Week program aims to equip you with essential business skills by immersing you in a project-based learning environment. You will participate in group activities and workshops, guided by current Northwood students and faculty, that will help you grow your team-building, leadership, and management skills. 

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You will particularly develop the skills needed to create and run a business that thrives in a global, free-enterprise setting. You will learn the work that goes into launching a successful business and the marketing techniques these businesses use to reach their target audience. The program will ensure that you leave the program with the ability to think like an entrepreneur.

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Why it stands out: Each year features a signature challenge, such as 2025’s Food Truck Challenge, where teams designed and pitched their own food truck concepts.

Frequently asked questions: Entrepreneur Camps for High School Students

What is entrepreneurship for high school students?

Entrepreneurship for high school students means learning how to spot a problem, design a product or service that solves it, and build a plan to bring it to customers. At camps like Cedarville’s, you practice this by creating a value proposition statement and a minimum viable product, then pitching your idea. Other programs, such as UC Berkeley’s Global Social Entrepreneurship course, focus on ventures that create social impact. You can explore it through camps, school clubs, or a small project of your own.

How do I get business experience in high school?

You can get business experience in high school by joining a camp, competing in a pitch event, or taking on an internship. Camps like Penn State’s Teen Entrepreneur Challenge and Fisher’s Summer Business Camp have you build a business idea in a team and pitch it to judges. Immerse Education’s Career Insights pathway in Business Management adds industry visits in London, New York, or Tokyo, with small classes averaging 7 participants. You can also look at entrepreneurship internships for high school students to work inside an actual company.

What is a good business to start in high school?

A good business to start in high school is one you can test cheaply with customers you already know, such as a simple product, service, or online brand. Many camps use exactly these kinds of projects: the University of Toledo’s RISE camp has teams build a custom T-shirt brand, and Northwood’s LAB Week ran a Food Truck Challenge in 2025. Drexel’s camp focuses on creating a fashion brand story. Working through one of these camp projects lets you practice pricing, marketing, and pitching before you invest your own money.

Are there free or low-cost entrepreneur camps for high school students?

Yes, several entrepreneur camps cost little or nothing. Northern State University’s Tech and Innovation Camp was free in 2026, including meals and lodging, while Florida State’s Jim Moran College camp charged $125. Cedarville University’s camp costs $249 and covers housing, meals, and field trips, and Columbia’s Youth About Business camp offers scholarships. If travel costs are a barrier, you can also explore online entrepreneurship programs for high school students.

Can entrepreneur camps earn you college credit?

Some can, though most entrepreneur camps are non-credit enrichment programs. Utah’s Lassonde Startup Academy lets eligible participants earn college credit, though restrictions apply. Immerse Education’s Career Insights pathway lets you opt in to earn 8 UCAS points or 3 US college credits from age 14. Even without credit, the pitch decks, business plans, and certificates you leave with give you concrete work to discuss when you start choosing a business management degree.

When should you apply to entrepreneur camps?

You should start looking in the fall or winter before the summer you want to attend, since some deadlines fall early in the year. Lassonde’s 2026 scholarship deadlines were December 1st and February 1st, and Florida State’s applications open in February and fill on a first-come basis. Northwood’s LAB Week deadline was April 10th in 2026, while Cedarville’s early bird deadline for 2027 is March 1st. Applying early also gives you a better shot at scholarships and limited spots.

From pitch day to a business career

Standing up to pitch your business idea teaches you more about yourself than any textbook, because you quickly see how you handle pressure and feedback.

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The best entrepreneur camps for high school students pair that moment with mentors, faculty, and founders who can explain what a business career really involves.

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Whether you leave wanting to launch a startup or study finance instead, you’ll have a much clearer picture of exactly where your own strengths fit.

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For more guidance on turning that picture into a plan, explore our Career Exploration blogs covering business, finance, marketing, and many other career paths.