If you’re a high school student interested in starting your own business, developing innovative ideas, or understanding how companies grow, entrepreneurship may already be on your radar. But entrepreneurship goes far beyond a single idea: it requires strategic thinking, financial awareness, leadership, and the ability to turn concepts into practical ventures. One of the most exciting ways to explore this field is through a summer entrepreneurship program.

Imagine spending your summer collaborating with ambitious peers to develop startup ideas, analyse real companies, and pitch business concepts to mentors or industry professionals. Picture participating in workshops on topics like market research, branding, product development, and venture funding. Summer entrepreneurship programs for high school students combine structured learning with hands-on experience, offering insight into how businesses are created and scaled.

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

With many options available, it’s important to distinguish between programs that provide simple introductory activities and those that offer meaningful mentorship, project-based learning, and real-world insight. Some programs focus on startup simulations and business competitions, while others emphasise collaborative projects, mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, and presentations to panels or investors.

Across universities, business schools, and educational organizations, entrepreneurship programs often include case studies, group projects, and interactive workshops. You might work with a team to develop a business plan, build a prototype, conduct market analysis, or pitch your startup idea to judges in a final presentation.

You’ll learn from experienced instructors and entrepreneurs, collaborate with motivated peers, and strengthen essential skills such as creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication. Along the way, you’ll gain a clearer sense of what it takes to launch and manage a business in today’s rapidly changing global economy.

To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of 15 Summer Entrepreneurship Programs for High School Students.

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

15 Summer Entrepreneurship Programs for High School Students

1. Oxford Said Future Entrepreneurs Summer School

Location: London, UK
Cost/Stipend: Starting from GBP 8995. Optional add-ons are available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 2-15 August
Application Deadline: Not disclosed
Eligibility: Students aged 16-18 years old with at least an English language ability level B2 on the CEFR framework, worldwide high school students may apply

The Oxford Saïd Future Entrepreneurs Summer School is one of the most academically rigorous high school summer entrepreneurship programs for students who want to polish their business skills through a world-class university experience. This program gives you the opportunity to develop essential entrepreneurial skills, learn through engaging discussions, and collaborate with peers to tackle real-world challenges. You will also have fun and connect with your classmates through weekend activities and city explorations.

You will learn through hands-on workshops, project-based learning, and a pitch competition. You will study and stay in the heart of Oxford, allowing you a full immersion in Oxford student life. At the end of the summer school, you will receive a certificate of completion from the University of Oxford as proof that you have finished the course.

Why it stands out: You will have the unique opportunity to pitch your idea to existing startup founders, learn through educational visits, and give a TED-style talk.

2. Immerse Education’s Entrepreneurship Summer School

Location: UC Berkley, San Francisco
Cost/Stipend: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; an average of 7 participants per class
Dates: Multiple sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students worldwide aged 15 to 18 years old

High school students around the world with a knack for leadership and entrepreneurship can bring their skills to the next level with Immerse Education Entrepreneurship Summer School. In this summer school, learn how to build a mindset and confidence to bring your ideas to life through business ventures. You will gain these skills through group workshops, 1:1 tutoring, expert seminars, and by completing a personal project to showcase on your last day. You can choose to enrol in a virtual program or an in-person program in San Francisco, the world’s leading hub for tech and entrepreneurship. By the end of the program, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to take your first steps as a future entrepreneur.

Why it stands out: Students will get an entrepreneur mindset and be exposed to challenges through classes, mentorship, and seminars.

3. UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth Summer Bootcamp

Location: UC Berkeley
Cost/Stipend: USD 7950
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 14-27 June
Application Deadline: 8th February
Eligibility: High school students, grade not disclosed. International applicants may apply.

UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) offers one of the most college-style high school summer entrepreneurship programs for students who want to explore business or commerce more seriously.

For two intensive weeks, you get the chance to immerse yourself in the college life at Berkeley, build or iterate on your product feature, and participate in workshops conducted by industry leaders. At the end, you will get to present your growth in a final presentation. At the end of the bootcamp, you will receive a certificate of completion.

Why it stands out: It’s designed after college-level business curricula, giving you an idea of what studying business and related subjects at a university-level looks like.

4. JP Morgan Chase & Co Work Experience Program

Location: London, Bournemouth, Glasgow, and Edinburgh
Cost/Stipend: Not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: One week
Application Deadline: Application is now closed
Eligibility: Students in year 10-11 in England or S3-S4 in Scotland, aged 14 to 16 years old. International applicants are not eligible to apply

The JP Morgan Chase Work Experience Program is a one-week work experience in the UK for high school students that aims to develop core knowledge and transferable skills. During this week-long program, the company will guide you through sessions on practical expertise and the opportunity to practice these skills with JPMorgan staff. The program starts with a virtual session to prep you for the in-person program.

It will be followed by a two-day program at the JPMorgan office of your choice, where you will learn deeper through interactive learning, networking, and skill-building classes. After the in-person experience, you can apply your new skills in a further virtual workshop to fine-tune your professional portfolio.

Why it stands out: You’ll gain professional skills, mentorship, and insight into highly competitive career pathways like finance, technology, and business.

5. Wharton Global U Program: Essentials of Entrepreneurship

Location: Philadelphia, USA
Cost/Stipend: USD 8299
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: Diverse intakes from June to August
Application Deadline: 18th March
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 to 11 looking to advance their entrepreneurial mindset. International applicants are welcome.

The Wharton Global U program, especially the Essentials of Entrepreneurship program, is an on-campus program for high school students with an entrepreneurial mindset. The Essentials of Entrepreneurship is an introductory program designed for you who want to make a startup. You will explore topics such as Innovation and Opportunity, AB Testing, Customer Discovery, Social Entrepreneurship, and more, taught by prominent leaders in business and entrepreneurship.

Upon completion of the program, you will be able to pinpoint and gain important skills to make and launch a startup, as well as the Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion.

Why it stands out: Set inside one of the world’s most influential business schools, this program combines Wharton faculty instruction with startup-focused coursework that moves quickly from idea generation to real venture strategy.

6. University of Colorado Boulder Business Leadership Program

Location: Boulder, CO
Cost/Stipend: Free of charge
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 21-27 June
Application Deadline: 13th March
Eligibility: High school students in junior year, Colorado residents, or attending high school in Colorado. International applicants are not eligible

The University of Colorado Boulder Business Leadership Program is one of the more applied high school summer entrepreneurship programs, giving you a unique learning experience through a case competition built around a real-world marketing challenge. You’ll work toward the opportunity to earn a USD 1,000 scholarship to the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business while learning directly from faculty through hands-on classes that emphasise practical business thinking. You’ll also gain industry perspectives and career insights from leading business professionals.

Throughout the week, you’ll connect with peers, build professional networks, and experience daily life on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. The program is supported by corporate partners such as EY, Deloitte, KeyBank, and other regional and national organisations. Upon completion, you can reference their participation as a meaningful academic and leadership experience in their college applications.

Why it stands out: It stands out for combining a real-world case competition with direct faculty instruction and the chance to earn a university scholarship while engaging with major corporate partners.

7. Bank of America Student Leaders

Location: Local non-profit organisations that are selected by Bank of America
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: TBD
Application Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors in high school, legally authorised to work in the United States

The Bank of America Student Leaders® program offers a fully funded, paid leadership experience designed for you who are interested in community impact and workforce development. You will be paid for their eight-week internship at a local nonprofit, and all expenses for the national Student Leaders Summit in Washington, DC (July 21–26, 2025) are covered by Bank of America.

Internships are held locally in eligible U.S. communities, while the leadership summit takes place in Washington, DC. Through hands-on nonprofit work and national-level leadership training, you will gain professional skills, real-world experience, and a strong foundation for college and future careers.

Why it stands out: It uniquely combines paid nonprofit work with a national leadership summit, offering both local impact and national-level exposure in one structured program.

8. Babson Summer Study for High School Students

Location: In-person in Marlborough, MA and online
Cost/Stipend: Starting from USD 6295, financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 8-28 July
Application Deadline: 13th February (Early Bird), 13th March (Standard Application)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and senior and be at least 15 years old by the start date of the program. International students may apply.

The Babson Summer Study is a 3-week experimental program for rising juniors and seniors in high school to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and become changemakers in their communities. Whether you take the in-person or online program, you will be introduced to the program by taking the EPS 1110 Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience class from 8-11 AM Eastern Time, followed by an additional five hours a day of working on assignments.

Besides attending classes and working on assignments, you will also get the chance to mingle with other students by joining group activities, a tour of Babson College, and local sightseeing. Once you graduate from this program, you get to earn 4 college credits that you can transfer to your university of choice.

Why it stands out: Few pre-college programs let students earn transferable college credit while studying entrepreneurship at Babson, a university globally recognised for its leadership in entrepreneurial education.

9. Georgetown University Entrepreneurship Academy

Location: Washington DC
Cost/Stipend: USD 6465 (residential), USD 5075 (commuting)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 7-19 June
Application Deadline: 15th April
Eligibility: High school students from grade 8 to grade 12 prior to the summer academy date, with at least a 2.0 GPA; international students may apply

Georgetown University’s two-week Entrepreneurship Academy is a special program for high school students worldwide to explore the ups and downs of starting a business. In this program, you will learn the basics of design thinking and brainstorming, how to make a business proposal, and eventually participate in a final pitch competition.

You will attend a daily academic program from 9 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays, and in the evenings, you can join optional events, free time, and activities until curfew. Topics to be discussed include leadership, ethical business, risk management, diversity in leadership, and more. Once you graduate from the program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.

Why it stands out: From design thinking workshops to a final pitch competition, this academy walks students through the entire entrepreneurial journey inside the policy-driven environment of Washington, DC.

10. Stanford e-Entrepreneurship US

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students only
Dates: 6th June – 3rd October
Application Deadline: 1st April
Eligibility: High school sophomores to seniors across the USA; “gap year” students can be considered. Not open for international students, but if you have a valid green card or residence permit, you may apply.

This highly selective program (enrolling only 20 students!) is designed to help students develop the skills to craft original solutions to pressing global and local challenges. All classes are online, and you must attend classes on Saturdays from 5 to 7 PM Pacific time and allocate at least 4 hours per week to prepare for class, complete assignments, and participate in group work.

In virtual classes, you will engage in discussions with other students and scholars from Stanford University, Silicon Valley, and beyond. Classes are based on human-centred active learning, and you will be guided to take ownership of your journey. Once you complete the program, you will receive Stanford Continuing Studies credit and a Certificate of Completion.

Why it stands out: With a tiny cohort of just 20 students and mentorship from scholars connected to Stanford and Silicon Valley, this program offers unusually close access to high-level innovation thinking.

11. 1435 Capital Management Internship

Location: Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admission
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18 entering junior and senior year who are US citizens, no international students

The Venture Analyst Internship at 1435 Capital Management offers you a hands-on introduction to the world of venture capital through real exposure to investment research, startup analysis, and financial decision-making. It is held in a hybrid format, with in-person attendance required in Princeton, New Jersey, alongside remote work components.

Throughout the internship, you will work alongside professionals in a specialised venture capital firm, gaining insight into real-world financial processes.

Why it stands out: This internship provides rare, early exposure to venture capital in a professional setting, a field that is typically inaccessible to high school students.

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

Location: Washington DC
Cost/Stipend: USD 2000; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Maximum 50 students
Dates: 18-24 July and 25-31 July
Application Deadline: 16th March (early decision), 3rd April (regular decision)
Eligibility: Motivated high school sophomores and juniors with strong academic potential and an interest in pursuing a degree in business at Howard University; international students with a valid visa may apply

The Pre-Business Program is a two-week program at Howard University’s School of Business for high school sophomores and juniors with an entrepreneurial mindset and an interest in studying at Howard. You may choose one out of six tracks: Accounting, Information Systems, Actuarial Science, Music Business, Finance, or Entrepreneurship.

The Entrepreneurship program offers lessons such as the entrepreneurial process, SWOT analysis, business model development, business planning, and financial mobilisation. The program combines traditional classes with case studies and site visits. Once you graduate, you will get more confidence with your practical skills and a deeper understanding of how business works.

Why it stands out: Students explore entrepreneurship alongside specialised business tracks while gaining exposure to Howard’s dynamic School of Business and its emphasis on leadership and economic empowerment.

13. Think Like an Entrepreneur Summer Academy

Location: Glassboro, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed, only says “limited space”
Dates: 6-9 July
Application Deadline: Not disclosed
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors. Not sure whether international students may apply.

The Think Like an Entrepreneur Academy (TLEA) is a non-residential program for rising juniors and seniors in high school interested in entrepreneurship. The main goal of this program is to teach the entrepreneurial mindset by introducing you to the challenges entrepreneurs face when starting new businesses. Each day of the camp focuses on topics such as problem-solving, customer discovery, design thinking, prototyping, storytelling, and pitching your business.

This program offers 3 college credits, equivalent to 1 college course, that you can use at Rowan University or as transfer credit at another university. The Academy concludes on the final day, where you and your teams present an idea in front of panel judges.

Why it stands out: By combining daily startup-building exercises with transferable college credit, this academy transforms entrepreneurial theory into a structured, credit-bearing learning experience.

14. ESADE Business School International Business Experience

Location: Barcelona, Spain
Cost/Stipend: EUR 3200 for students from Barcelona, EUR 6227 for students from elsewhere in Spain and international students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 29th June – 17th July
Application Deadline: To be posted
Eligibility: Pre-university students worldwide aged 15 to 17

If you want to spend the summer in Spain, ESADE’s programme is one of the most internationally immersive high school summer entrepreneurship programs you can choose. In this summer school, you create a business project from scratch, build essential skills, and develop a new entrepreneurial skill set. You study four core areas and choose electives based on your interests. In week 1, you explore and refine your idea while getting to know your market. In week 2, you publicise your business and learn how to stay relevant.

In week 3, you count the costs of your business and learn how to make it feasible. The experience ends in week 4, when you pitch your idea and convince investors in your company. Not only do you study and work on your program, but you also freely explore Barcelona with your friends on weekends, like visiting museums or the beach.

Why it stands out: Four weeks in Barcelona turn entrepreneurship into an immersive international project, culminating in an investor-style pitch after building a venture from scratch.

15. Entrepreneurship Summer Academy

Location: Tucson, AZ
Cost/Stipend: USD 500, USD 50 for registration fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 7-12 June
Application Deadline: Not disclosed
Eligibility: High school students from grades 9 to 12, only for residents of Arizona, international students are not eligible

Arizona residents can take advantage of the University of Arizona’s Entrepreneurship Summer Academy, a one-week residential program where you gain hands-on experience in making and running a business. This program aims to introduce you to entrepreneurship concepts, expose you to real-world business cases, and help you develop skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication.

During the program, you participate in classes taught by policymakers and Arizona entrepreneurs, receive mentorship from undergraduate students at the university, and visit local businesses and the Arizona State Capitol. This program is open only to students living in Arizona. At the end of the academy, you compete in a Shark Tank-like pitch competition, with awards given to top-performing teams.

Why it stands out: Blending mentorship, government exposure, and a Shark Tank-style competition, this residential program introduces Arizona students to entrepreneurship through real local business ecosystems.

From Business Ideas to Bigger Career Questions

The best summers do more than fill your time. They help you test ideas, build confidence, and see what kind of future genuinely excites you.

The high school summer entrepreneurship programs in this guide show how creativity, strategy, and resilience come together when you turn ambition into something practical and real.

That matters because these experiences do not just teach business. They also reveal the skills, industries, and pathways that might shape your next decisions clearly.

Do not let this momentum fade: read our Career Exploration blogs now to uncover the careers, industries, and opportunities where entrepreneurial thinking thrives.