10 Entrepreneurship Programs for Middle School Students
If you are a middle school student interested in entrepreneurship and business administration, consider opting for an entrepreneurship program! Such programs provide a solid introduction to the fundamentals of starting and managing a business and you'll gain practical skills in financial literacy, strategic planning, and innovative thinking.
Moreover, an entrepreneurship program will help build your student portfolio by demonstrating sustained interest in a subject, proving your passion for the discipline. This can help you get into your desired college!
Here, we’ve compiled a list of 10 programs that will equip you with the knowledge and experience needed to launch your business ventures, or simply learn more about the field:
Prequel Explore is an eight-month-long program for middle school students that offers weekly, virtual 90-minute workshops focusing on business and leadership. There are four courses, each lasting two months. You can opt for a single course or all four. Each course is structured around a hands-on project:
Entrepreneurship: you must build a business that makes $100 in profit. Students have set up pop-up stalls, sold items via Etsy, and launched apparel businesses.
Communication: interview someone you look up to. Program alumni have used this module to launch newsletters and write for their school magazines
Leadership & Teamwork: Beat Harvard Business School’s teamwork simulation. Prequel Explore students completed HBS’ Everest Simulation.
Resourcefulness & Grit: Build a video game using AI. This module teaches students problem-solving techniques and overcoming obstacles.
The program is virtual, and all middle school students globally can apply! Program alumni have gone on to start small-scale businesses like using AI to create coloring books, board games, and apparel for canines.
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Starts October 1, 2025
Cost: $425 per month (one course, two months); $2,975 (all courses, eight months). Financial aid is available.
Eligibility: Middle school students aged 9-13
Application Deadline: Rolling
UC San Diego's Extended Studies division runs Middle School: Entrepreneurship for Young Innovators, a week-long, in-person program to teach middle schoolers about business and entrepreneurship. Here, you’ll learn how to refine business ideas, create business plans, and gain practical experience by running mini-businesses. The program aims to impart creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork skills among students. You will present a project by the end of the program.
The course is taught by Bhargavi Vijayakumar, a venture capitalist and finance educator who has helped launch over 28 startups.
Location: UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Program Dates: One week in July (2025 dates TBD)
Cost: $275
Eligibility: Middle school students
Application Deadline: Unavailable
Girls Crushing It is an empowerment program for girls aged 8-18, focusing on entrepreneurship and leadership development. It aims to address the drop in confidence seen in elementary and middle school girls compared to their male counterparts, which affects their career choices and contributes to the gender wage gap.
The program provides various resources and opportunities, including partnerships with organizations like the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center to improve business acumen among girls. Women entrepreneurs like Sephora VP Cindy Deily meet and inspire young girls through the program. Jack Dorsey, the former Twitter (X) CEO, also supports Girls Crushing It.
Location: Bay Area, CA
Program Dates: Rolling
Cost: Depends on the offering. A recent start-up olympiad cost $195 to register
Eligibility: Girls aged 8-18
Application Deadline: Unspecified. Apply here
Girls With Impact (GWI) offers an online business and leadership “mini MBA” program tailored for young women. The program runs for 10 weeks and you will attend online classes that teach entrepreneurship, innovation, and effective leadership strategies.
Program alumni have launched businesses like Crown Kits for Black Hair and created resources like In Case of Deportation to help communities. They have won full-ride scholarships worth thousands of dollars to Babson College, Howard University, and Charleston College.
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Two sessions, 10 weeks each, beginning September 9 and October 7
Cost: $995. Financial aid available
Eligibility: Girls aged 12 to 18
Application Deadline: Unspecified. Apply here
Loveworks Leadership’s Afterschool Program is for students in grades 6-8, offering classes and guided sessions on personal growth, entrepreneurial leadership skills, and community involvement. The curriculum includes hands-on projects, mentorship opportunities, and interactive workshops involving the local community and artists. Organizers recommend you attend twice a week for a semester to experience “Leadership Days,” focusing on leadership skills, socio-emotional skills, and teamwork, and “Discovery Days,” where you explore passion projects.
Location: Loveworks Leadership, Norman, OK
Program Dates: 1-2 times per week for a single semester commitment
Cost: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8 living in Norman or nearby districts
Application Deadline: Unspecified deadline. Apply here
The Kid Business Camp introduces students aged 8 to 14 to entrepreneurship fundamentals. Through three hour-long Zoom sessions daily, you'll learn essential business skills like marketing, finance, and product development. You will work in teams to create business ideas and pitch them to a panel of judges, improving your creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking.
Throughout the camp, you'll interact with successful entrepreneurs who will provide inspiration and real-world insights. You’ll also be assigned a mentor. By the end of the camp, you'll have a solid understanding of what it takes to start and run a business, which will help you in future entrepreneurial endeavors!
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Two sessions in 2024: July 29 – Aug 2 and August 5-9. 2025 dates TBD
Cost: $425
Eligibility: Students aged 8-14
Application Deadline: None specified. Register here
Discover Business Academy is a two-week course for students aged 12-14, introducing them to fundamental concepts in economics and business. Taught by Gerard H. Dericks, PhD, from the London School of Economics, the course curriculum covers effective study strategies, business and economics principles, finance and investing fundamentals, macroeconomics, marketing, business law, leadership, and a business start-up challenge. Here, you will explore the different types of businesses, their roles in the global economy, and how the law affects business through practical examples.
The program aims to help students master foundational business principles, understand marketing and branding, and develop leadership skills. You will attend interactive lessons and undertake practical activities, such as creating advertisements and debating leadership theories.
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Two weeks in summer 2025 (dates TBD)
Cost: $2,795
Eligibility: Middle school students aged 12-14
Application Deadline: Applications are currently open for Summer 2025, no deadline is mentioned
Middle School C.E.O. is a semester-long course introducing middle schoolers to business and entrepreneurship. The course takes students through idea generation, planning, and execution, providing a comprehensive understanding of business concepts. Students work in teams to create detailed business plans, covering essential topics such as market research, financial planning, marketing strategies, and product development, tailored to their academic level.
You can email dquast@projectecho.org for more information on the program.
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Semester-long program. Exact dates not mentioned
Cost: $650
Eligibility: Middle school students
Application Deadline: Not specified. Register
One more option - The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure!
To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Partnerships, Maya, at maya.novak-herzog@lumiere.education or go to our website.
Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines for 2024, you can refer to this page!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
In the competitive world of business, understanding and addressing consumer issues is crucial for success. Companies must prioritize resolving concerns such as product quality, pricing transparency, and customer service to build trust and loyalty. By actively engaging with consumers and addressing their issues promptly, businesses can enhance their reputation and foster long-term relationships. Furthermore, addressing consumer issues can provide valuable insights into market trends and preferences, guiding strategic decisions and innovation. Ultimately, businesses that excel in managing consumer issues are better positioned to thrive in the marketplace and achieve sustainable growth.