As a high school student interested in entrepreneurship, you might already have ideas you want to turn into something real. Maybe it’s a small business, a startup concept, or simply curiosity about how successful companies are built. Entrepreneurship summer schools for high school students can help you explore these interests while learning the problem-solving, leadership, strategy, and decision-making skills behind turning ideas into action.

Imagine spending your summer working on a startup project, building a business plan, pitching your ideas to mentors, or learning directly from founders and industry professionals. These programmes give you the chance to experience how businesses grow while building confidence, practical skills, and a clearer sense of your future direction.

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

It can be difficult to know which program is actually worth your time. Some may feel too general, too focused on theory, and might not give you enough real-world exposure. Choosing the right program helps you find an experience that is both practical and genuinely useful for your future goals.

Many universities and organizations offer entrepreneurship summer schools that focus on hands-on learning, mentorship, and real business challenges. You might explore startup strategy, finance, marketing, innovation, leadership, or even venture capital. Some programs focus on building your own business idea, while others help you understand how entrepreneurship works in larger industries and organizations.

Of course, no matter which program you choose, building something meaningful takes effort. To help you decide, we’ve curated a list of the 15 Best Entrepreneurship Summer Schools for High School Students. These are selected for their strong academics, practical learning opportunities, and valuable mentorship experiences.

To understand what entrepreneurship looks like in a professional setting, you can consider entrepreneurship internship opportunities.

15 Entrepreneurship Summer Schools for High School Students

1. JP Morgan Chase & Co Work Experience Program

Location: London, Bournemouth, Glasgow, and Edinburgh
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: One Week
Application Deadline: Closed for now
Eligibility: Students in year 10-11 in England or S3-S4 in Scotland, aged 14 to 16 years old; Not open to international students 

The JPMorgan Chase & Co. Work Experience Program offers a two-week learning opportunity for high school students. You will work directly with the teams at JP Morgan and gain knowledge about providing a positive experience to clients, communities, and customers. You’ll participate in skill-building sessions, networking opportunities, and engage in interactive learning.

The program involves both virtual and in-person sessions. The virtual workshops will help you prepare for the in-person sessions. You’ll receive expert mentorship while also having the opportunity to explore career pathways in the field.

Why it stands out: You’ll work with JPMorgan teams, join workshops and networking sessions, and explore career paths.

2. Immerse Education’s Entrepreneurship Summer School

Location: UC Berkley, San Francisco
Cost/Stipend: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Dates: Multiple 2-week sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students ages 15-18; Open to students worldwide 

Immerse Education’s Entrepreneurship Summer School offers a two-week immersive learning experience to high school students. You’ll participate in interactive workshops, work on startup projects, and gain knowledge about business development and startup strategies.

You’ll explore a range of business-focused topics, including financial management, business planning, and analysing competitive markets. The program will help you develop valuable skills such as creative and strategic thinking and leadership. You’ll receive expert one-on-one mentorship and gain hands-on experience in developing and managing a business.

Why it stands out: You’ll gain hands-on experience working on real startup projects, analyze markets and finances, and get one-on-one feedback from mentors on your business plan.

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

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: July 6th – August 7th
Application Deadline: May 15th
Eligibility: Grade 9th-11th students who are residents of NYC 

NYU’s Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the Science of Smart Cities offers a four-five week summer learning opportunity to high school students. The program will focus on the link between entrepreneurship, science, and technology. You’ll engage in hands-on activities involving coding, circuit deployment, sensor integration, and microcontrollers.

You will receive entrepreneurship training and explore a range of concepts, including product development, pitch presentations, economic insights, and project management. The program will allow you to develop valuable skills in presentation, business, and entrepreneurship while also gaining knowledge about smart City technologies and electronics fundamentals.

Why it stands out: You’ll combine entrepreneurship, science, and technology by building smart city projects and developing and pitching your own solutions.

4. Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Entrepreneurship

Location: Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $8,299
Dates: Multiple sessions. More information here
Application Deadline: Priority: January 28th; Final: March 18th
Eligibility: High school students worldwide currently enrolled in grades 9th-11th

Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Entrepreneurship offers a two-week immersive learning experience to high school students. You’ll attend interactive lectures, engage in hands-on activities, and gain knowledge about the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. The program will help you develop clarity about a business idea based on your personal goals, passions, and market opportunities.

You’ll work on a startup concept in collaboration with your team members, and develop low-fidelity prototypes and mockups. You’ll engage in independent research by applying different tools such as Pew Research, Google Scholar, and more. As the program concludes, you’ll have the opportunity to share your startup ideas through a pitch competition, receive valuable feedback, and earn a Wharton Global Youth  Certificate of Completion.

Why it stands out: You’ll develop a startup idea, create prototypes, research market opportunities, and pitch your business concept in a final competition.

5. USC Exploring Entrepreneurship

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: $85 Application fee
Dates: June 23rd – July 17th
Application Deadline: For international students: March 13th; Domestic student deadline: May 8th
Eligibility: Students who have completed at least 10th grade; Open to international students 

USC Exploring Entrepreneurship introduces you to the world of business. You’ll have the opportunity to evaluate market and industry trends and work on developing pricing and business models. The program will allow you to explore a range of topics, including business plans, creativity and innovation, ethics, human resources, accounting and finance, personal branding, and more.

The program spans four weeks, with each focused on a specific concept, including ideation and innovation, finding product-market fit, financing and go-to-market strategy, and pitching and growing your venture. You’ll engage in a hands-on learning environment that combines theory and practice.

Why it stands out: You’ll develop a business idea step by step, analyzing markets, building a model, and pitching your venture.

6. Wake Forest University Summer Immersion Program – Entrepreneurship Institute

Location: NC – Wake Forest University Reynolda campus, Winston-Salem
Cost: $3,500; $60 non-refundable application fee
Dates: June 21-26; July 12-17
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Current 9th-12th grade students; Open to international students 

Wake Forest University Summer Immersion Program Entrepreneurship Institute offers a hands-on learning opportunity to high school students. You’ll gain knowledge about a range of topics, including financial modeling for entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial mindset, entrepreneurial ideation, marketing, vapor testing, concept development, and basic prototyping.

The program allows you to receive mentorship from industry leaders, founders, and entrepreneurs. You’ll participate in a startup competition, gain knowledge about creating a pitch deck, and go on tours to start-up companies, incubators, and accelerators.

Why it stands out: You’ll build and test a startup idea, create a pitch deck, and compete in a startup competition while learning from entrepreneurs.

7. Babson Summer Study

Location: New England Innovation Academy (NEIA) in Marlborough, MA(in-person or remote)
Cost/Stipend: Day Student: $9,295; Residential Student: $12,995
Dates: July 8-28
Application Deadline: Early Bird: February 13th; Final: March 13th
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; Open to international students who meet the specific requirements 

Babson Summer Study offers a three-week experiential learning experience to high school students. The program will allow you to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, work on solving real-world challenges, and interact with peers from around the world. You’ll explore a range of topics in entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, business communication, and leadership.

You’ll learn and receive mentorship from renowned faculty, and become a part of a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem. The program will allow you to develop practical skills like problem-solving and teamwork while also having the opportunity to earn college credits. 

Why it stands out: You’ll develop an entrepreneurial mindset by working on real-world business challenges while learning marketing, finance, and leadership.

8. Georgetown University: Entrepreneur Academy

Location: Georgetown University campus, Washington, D.C
Cost/Stipend: Residential: $6,465; Commuter: $5,075
Dates: Two weeks starting June 7th
Application Deadline: Early Bird: January 31st; Final: May 15th
Eligibility: Grade 8th-12th students; Open to international students 

Georgetown University: Entrepreneur Academy offers a two-week in-depth learning opportunity to high school students. You’ll interact with successful entrepreneurs from diverse industries, gain knowledge about the fundamentals of design thinking, and learn to convert your ideas into effective business plans.

The program offers a real-world hands-on learning experience where you’ll explore a range of topics, including social innovation, prototype testing, global business, market research, and managing your personal business. The program combines theory and practice to help you engage in personal growth and develop skills like communication, team-building, networking, and public speaking. The program concludes with a team-based final pitch competition.

Why it stands out: You’ll turn your ideas into business plans using design thinking, test prototypes, and learn from entrepreneurs across industries

9. Snider Enterprise and Leadership Fellows (SELF) Experience

Location: University of Maryland (in-person or remote)
Cost/Stipend: Campus: $1,791; Online: $1,420
Dates: July 12-31
Application Deadline: June 1st
Eligibility: Rising grade 10 to graduating grade 12 students; Open to international students 

Snider Enterprise and Leadership Fellows (SELF) Experience offers a three-week credit-based learning opportunity for high school students. You’ll develop entrepreneurial thinking through working in teams on real-world business problems. The program will help you explore topics such as market-based economics, strategy, personal finance, and marketing.

You’ll engage in testing creative concepts while receiving expert feedback. You’ll develop leadership skills, have the opportunity to make friends with similar interests, and participate in the presentation of a venture pitch as the program concludes.

Why it stands out: You’ll work in teams to solve real business problems, test ideas, and present a final venture pitch while building leadership skills.

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

Location: Providence, RI (in-person and remote options available)
Cost/Stipend: Varies. More information here
Dates: Online: June 22nd – July 17th; On-campus: June 22nd – July 2nd
Application Deadline: Not disclosed
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9th-12th; Open to international students 

Brown’s Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship offers a two-week immersive experience to high school students. You’ll gain knowledge about social enterprise and the challenges related to its different types, including non-profits, social purpose businesses, and revenue-generating enterprises. You’ll participate in discussions, watch pre-recorded presentations, and work on developing a unique business plan.

The program will help you explore careers in the field, learn the application of business models in addressing practical social issues, and work in collaboration with your peers. The program concludes as you deliver an elevator pitch.

Why it stands out: You’ll build a social enterprise idea, develop a business plan, and deliver an elevator pitch while exploring how businesses solve social issues.

11. UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth Summer Bootcamp

Location: UC Berkeley
Cost/Stipend: $7,950
Dates: June 14-27
Application Deadline: February 22nd
Eligibility: High school students worldwide 

UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth Summer Bootcamp introduces you to the world of business and entrepreneurship. You’ll experience life as a college student at UC Berkeley, attend workshops, and learn from experienced leaders in the industry. You’ll gain knowledge through college-level coursework and engage in team-based experiential learning.

You’ll learn to evaluate revenue outcomes and user growth while solving real customer issues by applying business frameworks. The program is a great opportunity to receive mentorship and build a like-minded community of peers and professionals.

Why it stands out: You’ll solve real customer problems using business frameworks, analyze revenue and growth, and learn through team-based projects and workshops.

12. University of Colorado Boulder Business Leadership Program

Location: Boulder, CO
Cost: Free
Dates: June 21-27
Application Deadline: March 13th
Eligibility: Junior year high school students; Must be Colorado residents, or attending high school in Colorado. International applicants are not eligible

The University of Colorado Boulder Business Leadership Program offers a free, one-week learning experience to high school students. You’ll interact with faculty and staff at the Leeds School of Business, and participate in a case competition. You’ll engage in teamwork to develop and implement a marketing campaign for the corporate partners of the program.

The program will help you form meaningful friendships through interactions with like-minded peers, improve your college applications by including hands-on learning experiences, and listen to real success stories from business professionals.

Why it stands out: You’ll work in teams to create a marketing campaign for real companies while learning from business professionals.

13. 1435 Capital Management Internship

Location: Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students ages 16-18; Must be US citizens

1435 Capital Management Internship offers a hands-on learning opportunity to high school students. You’ll work in a specialized venture capital firm, learn through engagement with startups, and gain knowledge about investment strategies.

The program will help you gain knowledge about a range of concepts, including financial decision-making, investment strategies, and startup evaluation and analysis. If you’re interested in gaining practical knowledge about startup environments, this program could be a good option to consider.

Why it stands out: You’ll work with a venture capital firm, evaluate startups, and learn investment strategies through real-world exposure.

14. Think Like an Entrepreneur Summer Academy

Location: Glassboro, NJ
Cost: Free
Dates: July 6-9
Application Deadline: Not disclosed
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; Eligibility for international students is not specified

Think Like an Entrepreneur Summer Academy offers a credit-based educational learning experience to high school students. You’ll work in teams and engage with real-world problems faced by entrepreneurs while starting and managing new businesses.

You’ll participate in solving one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, while gaining knowledge about design thinking, prototyping, storytelling, financial analysis, resources, and the business model canvas. The program concludes with pitch presentations where you’ll share your ideas in teams and receive feedback from a panel of industry professionals.

Why it stands out: You’ll work in teams to solve real business problems, use design thinking and prototyping, and pitch your startup idea to industry professionals.

15. Howard University High School Enrichment: Pre-Business Program

Location: Washington DC
Cost/Stipend:
Dates: July 18-24; July 25-31
Application Deadline: Early: March 16th; Regular: April 3rd
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors; Open to international students with a valid visa

Howard University High School Enrichment: Pre-Business Program offers a two-week residential learning experience to high school students. You’ll have the opportunity to choose one from six tracks offered by the program, including entrepreneurship, accounting (has two tracks), music business, actuarial science, finance, and information systems.

The entrepreneurship track will help you explore a range of concepts, including business model development, feasibility analysis,  business planning, financial resource mobilization, and more. You’ll attend workshops, participate in professional development activities, and learn from experienced faculty and professionals. Along with academic learning, the program also offers site visits and cultural excursions, and networking opportunities with peers and industry leaders. 

Why it stands out: You’ll choose a business track like entrepreneurship or finance, learn through workshops and projects, and explore real business planning and strategy.

From Business Pitches to Future Pathways

A strong entrepreneurship programme should show you what happens after an idea appears: customer research, financial choices, teamwork, and difficult trade-offs.

These 15 entrepreneurship summer schools for high school students cover startup building, smart cities, social enterprise, venture capital, business leadership, and pre-business study.

That range can help you see whether you’re drawn to founding companies, advising startups, analysing markets, managing teams, or solving social problems.

To explore where those interests could lead, visit our Career Exploration blogs for career pathways, key skills, industry insights, and study route guidance.