In high school, it’s natural to focus on academics, grades, and plans. But learning doesn’t have to be limited to classrooms and textbooks. Some of the most valuable lessons are learnt through hands-on activities, testing ideas, solving problems, and seeing how things work in real professional settings. Entrepreneurship internships for high school students allow you to enter that world early, helping you build practical skills while exploring your interests. 

Imagine working with a startup team, contributing to a real project, or learning how businesses make decisions under pressure. You might assist with market research, help in shaping a product idea, or observe how founders become confident in turning challenges into opportunities. Entrepreneurship internships are not just about starting a business; they also give you knowledge and understanding of innovation, initiative, and how ideas move from concept to execution.

Even if you don’t see yourself as an entrepreneur yet, an internship experience can still be useful. You’ll develop transferable skills like communication, adaptability, problem-solving, and teamwork, skills that matter across industries. 

What kinds of entrepreneurship internships are available for high school students?

Finding internships that offer meaningful learning is not easy. Some roles focus on routine tasks, while others lack structure or guidance. That’s why choosing the right opportunity is important; not every internship provides real exposure or skill-building.

Many reputable universities, startups, nonprofits, and corporate programs offer entrepreneurship internships designed specifically for high school students. These programs combine hands-on work with mentorship, workshops, and professional development. You may collaborate on business projects, attend training sessions, and work alongside motivated peers and professionals.

To make the search easier, we have made a list of 15 entrepreneurship internships for high school students. They’ve been selected for their real-world experience, learning outcomes, mentorship, and credibility.

In addition to entrepreneurship, you can also consider business programs for high school students. For a global exposure, you can look at business programs in Europe.

15 Entrepreneurship Internships for High School Students

1. Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP)

Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Cost/Stipend: Free; $12 – $14/hour stipend is paid + $2,500 scholarship upon completion
Dates: Session 1: June 2-27; Session 2: July 7th – August 1st
Application Deadline: February 1st
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from the Kansas City metro area

The Young Entrepreneurs Program is one of the most practical entrepreneurship internships for high school students, giving you the opportunity to make a difference in your community through real startup experience. You’ll be matched with a company based on your talent and interests, gain exposure to challenging business environments, and receive support and encouragement to explore a future in business.

The program partners with 15 fast-growing startups in the Kansas City Area and also offers hourly compensation. You’ll collaborate with startup founders, work around 30 hours every week, and gain valuable insights into everyday work and challenges faced by growing companies. On the conclusion of the program, you’ll be awarded a scholarship for your work and efforts. 

Why it stands out: You’ll work directly with fast-growing startups, collaborate with founders, and gain paid, hands-on experience while making a real impact in your local community.

2. Immerse Education Entrepreneurship Summer School

Location: UC Berkeley, San Francisco
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through their bursary programme
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: 15-18-year-old students around the world 

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. The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship

Location: Multiple
Cost/Stipend:  Free; Paid Internship
Dates:  May – June
Application Deadline: Early January
Eligibility: High school senior or undergraduate college student. More information here 

The Emma Brown Foundation Summer Internship offers you a paid summer opportunity to pursue careers in media, entertainment and technology. You’ll gain access to support, resources and guidance from EBF, participate in professional development workshops, and receive one-on-one career coaching and mentorship.

In this eight-week-long internship, you’ll interact and gain exposure to leading professionals and industry executives, and also have the opportunity to attend an annual conference. Whether you’re interested in a career as a business executive, a sales representative, an engineer, a journalist, or a web developer, the program is a great opportunity to learn from experts and be a part of a supportive community of EBF alumni, professionals, peers, and partners.

Why it stands out: You’ll get a paid internship with direct mentorship and real exposure to media, entertainment, and tech careers.

4. Girls Who Start Impact Internship 

Location: Virtual
Cost: Not specified
Dates: February 24th – April 30th
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students worldwide

Girls Who Start Impact Internship offers you an opportunity to work directly with University startups. You’ll gain knowledge about social entrepreneurship, engage in brainstorming and pitching a new business idea, and receive guidance for your college essays. You’ll attend live webinars, develop professional skills and an entrepreneurial mindset, and build your resume.

The program allows you to participate in simulations and learn to work both individually and in teams. You’ll explore the right college major, build skills in college counselling, and also contribute to school community service. If you’re a high school student interested in developing leadership and entrepreneurship skills in a professional and supportive environment, then this program could be a good option to consider.

Why it stands out: You’ll work with real university startups while building leadership and social entrepreneurship skills, with support for pitching ideas, college essays, and career readiness.

5. University of Kansas – Summer Venture in Business (SVB)

Location: Lawrence, Kansas (University of Kansas Campus)
Cost: Free
Dates: July 19-24
Application Deadline: February 13th
Eligibility: All rising 11th–12th grade students

If you join the University of Kansas- Summer Venture in Business (SVB), you’ll gain familiarity with different business concepts. You’ll attend academic sessions led by KU School of Business faculty, participate in workshops with campus partners, and go on industry tours with SVB corporate sponsors. You’ll gain access to differentiated resources and opportunities at KU, and gain the knowledge and tools to prepare strong college applications.

The program will also include panel discussions with current KU students and alumni, campus tours, and evening activities led by SVB mentors. You’ll live on the KU campus during the duration of the program and will be paired with a roommate of the same gender as you. 

Why it stands out: You’ll learn directly from KU business faculty, explore industries through tours, and experience residential college life while strengthening your college applications.

6. Meta Summer Academy 

Location: Meta headquarters, CA
Cost: Free; Paid opportunity
Dates: June 15th – July 24th
Application Deadline: February 14th
Eligibility: 10th-grade students; Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA; Must be full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, or Redwood City. 

Joining the Meta Summer Academy program will allow you to explore the everyday work of a leading social media network. You’ll explore careers, learn to code and develop a range of soft skills, including reflection and networking, that are required for a successful career.

The program aims to help you achieve economic success, mobility and stability through developing skills and exploring careers in the tech industry. You’ll get to interact with Meta employees and executives and learn about different career pathways from them. You’ll have the opportunity to attend technical workshops, seminars, work for 30 hours/week, and develop a close understanding of workplace dynamics.

Why it stands out: You’ll gain hands-on exposure to tech careers by learning to code, building workplace skills, and working closely with Meta professionals in a real-world environment.

7. NYU’s Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the Science of Smart Cities

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: ieSoSC I: July 6th – August 7th; ieSoSC II: July 13th – August 7th
Application Deadline: May 15th
Eligibility: 9th-11th graders from NYC

NYU’s Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC) offers a comprehensive entrepreneurship experience. You’ll learn the skills required for innovation and understand product development. You’ll learn about a range of topics, including project management, economics, pitch presentations and navigation of copyrights and patenting.

You’ll work on hands-on technology projects, understand company branding through entrepreneurship training, and participate in theatre-based communication workshops to improve your pitching and communication skills. The program combines technology, entrepreneurship and smart City innovation and is a great learning opportunity for high school students.

Why it stands out: You’ll combine entrepreneurship with technology and smart city innovation while building strong pitching, product development, and communication skills at NYU.

8. Kaiser Permanente LAUNCH High School Internship

Location: Northern California (various Kaiser Permanente Medical Centres and offices)
Cost/Stipend: Free; $24/hour stipend
Dates: Eight weeks in summer
Application Deadline: January 9th (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students ages 16-19; Residents of Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area, and are legally allowed to work in the U.S.

Kaiser Permanente Launch High School Internship offers you an eight-week direct work experience. You’ll participate in professional and personal development workshops, receive mentorship and networking opportunities, and learn from senior leaders in your area of interest. The program aims to encourage participation from young adults coming from underrepresented backgrounds in health care careers.

The program will give you valuable experience in corporate and community leadership. You’ll also develop a range of professional skills, including communication and team-work and participate in community service projects in a well-structured learning environment.

Why it stands out: It will give you paid, real-world work experience in healthcare, along with mentorship, leadership training, and strong professional skill development.

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

Location: University of California- Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Cost: California residents : $6,292; Out-of-state residents : $7,332 + $80 application fee; limited needs-based scholarships are available
Dates: 2 weeks in July
Application Deadline: March 1st (Typically)
Eligibility: All high school students 

UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) offers three progressive programs for high school students. The High School Summer Bootcamp allows you to identify growth opportunities, learn idea validation in a fast-paced environment and present your innovation skills. You’ll learn important business vocabulary, gain insights into fundamental concepts and frameworks needed for a successful venture, and develop problem-solving skills.

You’ll learn to pitch your ideas with confidence and develop a deeper understanding of the basic components of a business model. The third program is the High School Academy Year, which offers a two-semester virtual learning experience through business model validation, customer discovery, and development of financial and operational models.

Why it stands out: You’ll get flexible learning options, from short bootcamps to year-long programs, while building strong foundations in pitching, business models, and venture creation at UC Berkeley.

10. University of Colorado Boulder – Business Leadership Program (BLP)

Location: Boulder, Colorado (University of Colorado Boulder Campus)
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,000 scholarship awarded to the winning team
Dates: June 21-27
Application Deadline: March 13th
Eligibility: Current high school juniors attending a Colorado high school

University of Colorado Boulder- Business Leadership Program (BLP) offers a free, high-impact learning experience to high school students. You’ll gain hands-on experience through working on a case-challenge based on real-world business problems. You’ll work in teams and develop and implement a marketing campaign for the corporate partners of the program.

You’ll receive guidance from top business professionals, develop real business and leadership skills, and connect with fellow participants to form meaningful friendships. The program not only gives you insights into the business world but also allows you to experience college life by exploring CU Boulder’s beautiful campus. The team that comes up with the best solution for the marketing campaign will win a $1,000 scholarship.

Why it stands out: It will let you solve real business challenges, work with corporate partners, and compete for a scholarship while experiencing college life at CU Boulder.

11. Babson Summer Study For High School Students

Location: Fully online or in-person at England Innovation Academy (NEIA), MA
Cost: Online: $6,295; In-Person Day: $9,295; In-Person Residential: $12,995 + $95 application fee; full and partial need-based scholarships are available
Dates: July 8-28
Application Deadline: March 13th
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors all around the world

Babson Summer Study offers you a three-week experiential learning experience. You’ll participate in solving real-world challenges, work with fellow students from all around the world, and develop a leadership mindset. The EPS1110: Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience course allows you to develop a range of skills to apply in business, non-profit, government and other areas of your career.

You’ll gain knowledge about a range of concepts, including entrepreneurship, business communication, leadership, finance, marketing and other related disciplines that play a role in creating a successful venture. If you’re a high school student interested in learning from world-class faculty and mentors while being in an entrepreneurial ecosystem, then this program could be beneficial for you.

Why it stands out: It lets you learn entrepreneurship from world-class Babson faculty while solving real-world challenges in a global, startup-focused environment.

12. Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Entrepreneurship

Location: Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $8,299
Dates: June 7-19; June 21st – July 3rd; July 12-25; July 26th – Aug 8th
Application Deadline: Priority: January 28th; Final: March 18th
Eligibility: Domestic and international high school students currently enrolled in grades 9 to 11

Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Entrepreneurship introduces you to the foundations of startup launch. You’ll participate in interactive lectures, engage in hands-on activities, and develop a range of skills in innovation, marketing and venture creation. You’ll work in teams on co-creating a startup concept, conduct independent research with different tools such as Google Scholar, Pew Research, and design, as well as test a Minimum Viable Product.

The program helps learn how to craft a brand identity and apply defined selection criteria, including frequency, urgency, market size, and severity. At the conclusion of the program, you’ll participate in a final pitch competition where you’ll present your startup idea and receive real-time feedback.

Why it stands out: It will take you through the full startup journey, from idea validation and MVP testing to branding and a final pitch with real-time Wharton feedback.

13. Brown’s Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship

Location: Providence, RI (in-person and remote options available)
Cost: Varies with program type. More information here
Dates: On-campus: June 22nd – July 2nd; Online: June 22nd – July 17th
Application Deadline: May 8th
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9-12 who will be 14 to 18 years of age  by June 15th; international students are welcome to apply

Brown’s Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship allows you to understand the entrepreneurial mindset. You’ll learn about social enterprise and its growth in recent years, learn to assess and identify innovation opportunities, and make legal structure recommendations. You’ll collaborate in group discussions and develop a deeper understanding of social entrepreneurship theory, process and practice.

You’ll also develop a comprehensive social enterprise business plan and learn to prepare and develop a strong elevator pitch. The program offers a great opportunity to expand your understanding of leadership and develop a range of skills, including public speaking, teamwork and active listening. You’ll also understand the relationship that leadership has with identity, power, privilege, and social justice.

Why it stands out: You’ll explore social entrepreneurship in depth while building a real business plan, sharpening your pitch, and understanding leadership through the lens of social impact and justice.

14. USC Exploring Entrepreneurship

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $11,570 (residential) or $8,130 (commuter)
Dates: June 22nd – July 17th
Application Deadline: International students: March 13th; Domestic Students: May 8th
Eligibility: Students worldwide who have completed at least 10th grade

USC Exploring Entrepreneurship introduces you to the challenges and rewards associated with building a business. You’ll learn about a range of topics, including marketing, human resources, business plans, ethics, personal branding, building your network, accounting and finance and more. You’ll develop a problem-solving approach, value propositions, pricing models and business models. You’ll put your learnings into action through creating your own business, managing assignments and doing teamwork.

The program will allow you to sharpen your public speaking skills and allow you to share your ideas with an audience with confidence. You’ll not only gain professional and academic knowledge but also learn through engaging field trips. If you’re a self- motivated and independent high school student interested in entrepreneurship, this program could be a good option to consider. 

Why it stands out: It lets you build your own business from scratch while developing strong problem-solving, public speaking, and real-world entrepreneurial skills at USC.

15. Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI)

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Cost/Stipend: Free; A stipend is paid
Dates: Six weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: March 31st
Eligibility: High school sophomore or junior; Must be a Chicago resident, have a family income below $80,000, and have a GPA of “B” or 3.0+

Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI) is one of the most structured entrepreneurship internships for high school students interested in business and finance. You’ll be introduced to the financial services sector through paid internships, participate in interactive workshops, work on tasks assigned by the host organisation, and develop professional skills in communication and leadership.

You’ll learn from guest speakers, go on corporate office tours, and witness the life of a business professional from up close. The program will allow you to develop workplace readiness and gain improved self-confidence. If you’re a high school student interested in exploring a business career, then this program could be a good option to consider.

Why it stands out: You’ll gain paid, hands-on experience in the financial services industry while building workplace skills and confidence through real corporate exposure.

From Startup Curiosity to Market Insight Mastery

Entrepreneurship begins with curiosity, but it grows through action. Real-world exposure helps you understand how ideas evolve, how risks are evaluated, and how innovation becomes impact.

Entrepreneurship Internships for High School Students give you more than résumé value. They develop resilience, initiative, communication skills, and the confidence to contribute meaningfully inside fast-moving teams.

As you assist with projects, analyse competitors, and observe customer behaviour, you begin thinking strategically. You learn that strong ventures are built not only on creativity, but on research, insight, and informed decision-making.

Ready to turn experience into an advantage? Read our Careers in Research: Getting Started with Market Research guide and discover how to master the skill every successful founder depends on.