What entrepreneurship programs exist for high school students?
Updated October 2026
High school students can choose from four kinds of entrepreneurship programs. There are summer programs like LaunchX, Babson Academy Summer Study and Wharton's Essentials of Entrepreneurship. There are virtual incubators like Young Founders Lab, and in-school programs like JA Company Program. Finally, there are full-time entrepreneurship high schools like Founders School, where students spend every afternoon for four years building a real business.
The four kinds of programs
- Summer and pre-college programs. These run two to five weeks, usually at a university or a startup program. You learn the basics, build a team project and pitch it at the end. Examples: LaunchX, Babson Academy Summer Study, Wharton Global Youth, USC Pre-College.
- Virtual incubators. These are online programs that pair you with a mentor or a team to launch a startup or nonprofit. Example: Young Founders Lab.
- In-school and after-school programs. These run through your school or a nonprofit, often with volunteer mentors. Example: JA Company Program from Junior Achievement.
- Full-time entrepreneurship high schools. Your whole high school experience is built around building a business. Example: Founders School.
How the programs compare
| Program | Format | Length | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founders School | Full-time, in-person private high school (grades 9 to 12) | Four years | $150,000 per year; merit scholarships available | founders.school |
| LaunchX | Startup programs for ages 14 to 18: in person (Ann Arbor, Michigan), online, or a short online BootCamp | 4 weeks in person, 5 weeks online, 2-week BootCamp | $13,495 in person, $7,495 online, $2,495 BootCamp; financial awards available | launchx.com |
| Young Founders Lab | Online startup programs: team workshops, 1:1 coaching, or pitch competition prep | Varies by program | $4,390 for the 10-week Pitch Competition Prep; other programs not listed; financial aid available | youngfounderslab.org |
| Babson Academy Summer Study | Pre-college course for rising juniors and seniors, online or in person; earns 4 Babson college credits | 3 weeks | Not listed on the program's site. | babson.edu |
| Wharton Global Youth, Essentials of Entrepreneurship | Residential summer program in Philadelphia for grades 9 to 11; ends with a pitch competition | 2 weeks | Not listed on the program's site. | globalyouth.wharton.upenn.edu |
| USC Pre-College, Exploring Entrepreneurship | Summer course with college credit; ends with a pitch competition | 4 weeks | About $11,946 residential, $8,371 commuter (2027) | precollege.usc.edu |
| JA Company Program (Junior Achievement) | Students start and run a company with volunteer mentors; in class, after school or virtual (grades 9 to 12) | 9 sessions | Not listed on the program's site. | jausa.ja.org |
| Immerse Education, Business Management | Summer school for ages 13 to 18 in cities like Cambridge, Oxford, London and New York, or online | Varies by location | Varies by location and length | immerse.education |
Details for the other programs come from their own sites. Check each site for current dates and prices.
What makes a program worth it
The best programs make you build a product and sell it to a stranger. Ask three questions:
- Will I sell to real customers, or only pitch to judges? Making a sale shows you whether people want what you built.
- How long do I get to work on it? Most businesses need months of testing before they work. A few weeks only gets you a prototype.
- Do I own what I build? If the business takes off, it should be yours, including the IP and equity.
Summer program or full-time high school?
A summer program is a good way to find out if you like building a business. In a few weeks, you can talk to customers, build a prototype and pitch it.
If you already know you want to build, a few weeks isn't much time. At Founders School, students finish academics by 11 a.m. Academics run on 3-Hour Learning, where students learn with AI tutors and move on only after they master each topic. Students spend the rest of the day building real businesses with real customers.
Freshman year is Founder Bootcamp. It lasts 40 weeks, split into five 8-week sessions (Sell, Build, Validate, Grow, Scale), with 30+ rapid validation cycles. From sophomore through senior year, each student focuses on one business and works to scale it toward $1M in profit.
Every student gets a mentor who's a working entrepreneur, and students keep their IP and equity.
See the full plan on the freshman year page, or read why we think it's the best high school for teen entrepreneurs.
Want to try it first?
Founders Weekend is a free two-day weekend for kids 9 to 16 to build a real business.
Ready for the full program? Apply here or read about scholarships.
FAQ
- What entrepreneurship programs exist for high school students?
- There are four kinds: summer programs like LaunchX and Babson Academy Summer Study, virtual incubators like Young Founders Lab, in-school programs like JA Company Program, and full-time entrepreneurship high schools like Founders School.
- Are there free entrepreneurship programs for high school students?
- Yes. Founders Weekend is free. It's a two-day weekend for kids 9 to 16 to build a real business.
- What are the best online entrepreneurship programs for high school students?
- LaunchX runs a 5-week online program and a 2-week online BootCamp. Young Founders Lab is fully online, and Babson Academy Summer Study and Immerse Education both offer online options.
- Do any high school entrepreneurship programs give college credit?
- Yes. Babson Academy Summer Study earns 4 Babson college credits, and USC Pre-College's Exploring Entrepreneurship course also earns college credit.
- What's the difference between a summer program and an entrepreneurship high school?
- A summer program lasts a few weeks. Founders School is a four-year high school where academics are done by about 11 a.m. and students spend the rest of the day building real businesses.
- How much does Founders School cost?
- Tuition is $150,000 per year. Scholarships go to exceptional candidates and aren't need-based.
- What is the Founders School guarantee?
- Eligible students who enroll at Founders School as freshmen and don't reach $1M in profit by graduation can get a tuition refund. The enrollment agreement has the full terms.
- Do students own the businesses they build?
- Yes. Everything students build belongs to them, including the IP and equity.
- How do admissions work?
- Admissions are open for the 2027 to 2028 school year. There are five steps: an online application, the CCAT, an entrepreneurship challenge with a video, a 30-minute interview with the Head of Enrollment, and an in-person interview and school visit.