7 Entrepreneurship Courses for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in entrepreneurship, these courses will provide you with a solid introduction to the fundamentals of starting and managing a business, equipping you with practical skills in financial literacy, strategic planning, and innovative thinking. By taking these courses, you not only enhance your college applications, demonstrate initiative and genuine passion, but you also begin to build a portfolio that reflects your business interests. These courses will also provide you with the knowledge and experience you need to launch your own business ventures!
Location: University of Pennsylvania
Cost: $7,599
Course dates: Two-week sessions in June-August depending on your chosen dates
Application deadline: April 3, 2024
Eligibility: High School students in grades 9-11 (check program specific eligibility here)
If you're a high school student with a passion for entrepreneurship, the Wharton Global Youth Business Programs' Essentials of Entrepreneurship course will provide you with the foundational knowledge you need to successfully launch your own venture. Over a two-week period, you will dive deep into the process of starting a successful startup through lectures, recitations, and hands-on activities. This program covers core techniques in user research, opportunity testing, developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), marketing, scaling, and exiting. You'll have the chance to collaborate with peers, engage in innovative thinking, and develop a pitch for an early-stage startup.
The course is designed not just for those planning to start their own company but also for anyone looking to innovate within established organizations. It encourages an entrepreneurial mindset applicable across various fields. During the summer, you'll attend lectures by notable Wharton faculty, lecturers, and PhD students, learn in teams, explore historic Philadelphia, and experience college life on Penn’s Ivy League campus. Completing the program earns you a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion.
Topics include Innovation and Opportunity, Idea Generation, Customer Discovery, Business Model Generation, AB Testing, Entrepreneurial Strategy and Financing, Tech Entrepreneurship, and Social Entrepreneurship. Additionally, the Wharton Global Youth Speaker Series offers insights into cutting-edge research and topics like Crisis Management, Finance, the Future of AI, Social Impact, Neuroeconomics, Marketing, Negotiation and Deception, and Financial Literacy, presented by distinguished Wharton faculty.
Location: Online via Edx
Cost: Free without certificate and $199 with certificate (financial aid available)
Course Dates: Self-Paced
Application Deadline: Rolling Basis
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to enroll in this course.
Entrepreneurship For All (Part I): The UC Berkeley Startup Guide for Students by Silicon Valley Insiders offered by BerkeleyX on edX is an invaluable resource for you if you are an aspiring entrepreneur looking to dive into the world of startups and entrepreneurship.
Taught by experienced Silicon Valley insiders, this course typically provides a comprehensive guide to the entire startup process, from idea conception to launch and scaling. You will gain insights into crucial aspects such as identifying market opportunities, developing business models, and crafting effective pitches. The course also typically covers real-world case studies and practical advice, drawing from the rich entrepreneurial ecosystem of Silicon Valley.
It's designed to be highly engaging, including video lectures, readings, hands-on projects, and peer collaboration, allowing you to apply what you learn in a dynamic and interactive manner.
Location: Online
Cost: Up to $1795
Course Dates: 1, 2, and 4 Week Sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and up
Enrolling in the Georgetown Pre College Online Program in Entrepreneurship is an excellent choice for you if you have a passion for entrepreneurship and a desire to kickstart your journey as a future business leader.
Through this program, you will gain the foundational knowledge and explore the history of entrepreneurship, learn how to identify a need in the marketplace, discover what it means to “fail forward” by adapting to market changes, and develop a fluency in thinking and speaking about how businesses work. You will also learn how to build partnerships and funding sources through networking, develop a timeline and plan to launch your business, and determine if entrepreneurship is something you’d like to pursue in college and beyond.
The course culminates with a special Capstone Project that shares your business idea and explains why the world can’t live without it.
Location: Online
Cost: $3000-$5000 (2-4 weeks)
Course Dates: 2 weeks or 4 weeks in July
Application Deadline: January
Eligibility: 16-18 year old high school sophomore or junior
This course will help you understand how social entrepreneurs drive innovation and transformation in fields such as health, education, and the environment while considering community needs.
You will examine the opportunities and challenges associated with a variety of types of social enterprises, including social purpose businesses, nonprofits, and revenue-generating enterprises. Innovative guest speakers will give you a unique opportunity to engage with individuals and organizations that exemplify mission-driven values.
The course will also include readings, recorded presentations, and discussions. You will develop a business plan and an elevator pitch for your own idea for a non-profit or for-profit social enterprise as their capstone project.
Finally, you will explore the various types of careers available in “do well and do good” fields and the required education and skills to thrive in these exciting areas. This course will particularly benefit you if you are eager to apply business models to social issues and needs and enjoy the creative process, learning from others and developing their own leadership abilities.
Location: Online
Cost: $3050
Course Dates: July 10 - July 2, 2024
Application Deadline: March 2024
Eligibility: 9-12th graders
Enrolling in the Stanford Pre College Innovation and Entrepreneurship program is an extraordinary opportunity for you to dive deep into the world of innovation and entrepreneurship.
This program is thoughtfully designed to provide high school students like you with a comprehensive understanding of the key principles and practices that drive innovation and successful entrepreneurial ventures. Taught by renowned faculty and experienced entrepreneurs, you will explore a wide range of topics, including idea generation, market analysis, product development, and the art of launching and scaling a startup.
Through a combination of dynamic lectures, interactive workshops, real-world case studies, and collaborative projects, you will not only gain a solid theoretical foundation but also develop the critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills necessary to thrive in the competitive landscape of innovation and entrepreneurship.
You will explore a wide range of fundamental business concepts and Silicon Valley companies. The class uses various learning materials, fun exercises, and a team startup final project to bring entrepreneurship to life.
Location: Georgetown University
Cost: $5,775
Program Dates: June 16 - June 28, 2024
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Be a current or rising high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior during the academic year prior to your summer program and show evidence of good academic standing, with at least a 2.0 GPA
The Georgetown University's Entrepreneurship Academy is a two-week intensive program that provides a comprehensive exploration of entrepreneurship, including choosing a start-up, prototype testing, market research, social innovation, and the nuances of global business operations. The curriculum is designed to bridge theory with practical application, teaching you the essentials of design thinking and brainstorming to transform your ideas into viable, promising business plans. You will work in teams to prepare for a final pitch competition, simulating real-world business planning and presentation scenarios.
By participating in the Entrepreneurship Academy, you'll benefit from guest lectures, develop a business plan and pitch presentation in small groups, and engage in discussions, case studies, and interactive activities that cover a wide range of business topics. Additionally, hands-on exercises will help you improve your critical thinking and team-building abilities. Academic programming runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, supplemented by optional co-curricular events, free time, and residential living activities in the evenings. Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a Certificate of Participation.
Location: Online
Cost: $6,295
Program Dates: July 8 - July 29, 2024
Application Deadline: March 15, 2024
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible
The Babson College Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience summer study program emphasizes exploring social, economic, and environmental challenges aligned with the U.N. Global Goals, providing you with a broad understanding of entrepreneurship, leadership, marketing, finance, and business communication.
The program boasts a global network, allowing you to connect with a diverse cohort of students passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation. Learning from world-class Babson faculty, who are both educators and experienced entrepreneurs, you will be able to access mentorship from Babson graduate and undergraduate students, who will guide you throughout your journey in the program.
The entrepreneurial ecosystem at Babson will allow you to hear from leaders within Babson’s entrepreneurial network, engage with faculty, alumni, and students through panels and presentations, and participate in both live and asynchronous academic coursework. The course schedule includes live sessions lasting approximately 3 hours daily, with an expectation of up to 5 additional hours each day for out-of-class assignments.
Bonus - Young Founder's Lab
If you’re looking for an incubator program that helps you establish a developed startup in high school, consider the Young Founders Lab!
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up bootcamp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
You can access the application link here!
One other option - Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you would like to further enhance your applications by doing research in business and related fields, you should also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
Jessica attends Harvard University where she studies Neuroscience and Computer Science as a Coca-Cola, Elks, and Albert Shankar Scholar. She is passionate about educational equity and hopes to one day combine this with her academic interests via social entrepreneurship. Outside of academics, she enjoys taking walks, listening to music, and running her jewelry business!
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