12 Startup Incubator Programs for High School Students
If you are a high schooler looking for mentorship, resources, and support for your startup idea, consider enrolling in a startup incubator program!
What are startup incubator programs? Why should I apply?
Startup incubators offer you opportunities to get some hands-on experience in building a real business and work alongside mentors, industry experts, and like-minded peers. These programs are ideally super focused and can span a few weeks or a few months. Most of them expect a basic knowledge of business and entrepreneurship, and focus mainly on launching your startup. From ideation and product development to pitching to real investors, these programs mirror an ideal entrepreneurial journey, helping you build practical skills that stand out on college applications and job resumes. Participating in a startup incubator can highlight your ability to take initiative, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and problem-solving skills—things that are highly valued by colleges and employers alike.
To help you get started, in this blog, we have rounded up 12 great startup incubator programs designed for high school students.
1. Young Founders Lab
Location: Online
Cost: $2,900 for the team-based program; $3,500 for the individual program | Financial aid is available
Program dates: June 9 – 29 (Summer Session 1); August 4 – 24 (Summer Session 2) | Individual program has flexible dates
Application deadline: May 11
Eligibility: High school students
Young Founders Lab is a startup incubator in which high school students get to collaborate in teams or individually to launch real, revenue-generating businesses. Over four weeks, you will cover all stages of creating a venture, from ideation to MVP creation. You will also pick up key skills in entrepreneurship, product development, marketing, and pitching under the mentorship of successful startup founders and industry leaders. Online readings, meetings, and assignments are also parts of the experience. The experience ends with Demo Day—an event where you get to pitch your venture to potential investors and industry experts. You will fully own the business you create and get the opportunity to continue growing it beyond the program.
3. INCubatoredu by Uncharted Learning
Location: Varies; program conducted in partnering high schools across the U.S. and abroad
Cost: The Licensing fee is paid by the school (not individual students). Students typically do not pay out of pocket unless the school charges additional course fees.
Program dates: Full academic year (generally August/September – May/June).
Application deadline: No direct-to-student applications; students enroll through their participating schools' course selections. Enrollment happens at the school or district level.
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 – 12 whose high school offers the INCubatoredu program
INCubatoredu offers high school students a full-year entrepreneurship experience. Here, you will be assigned a team, within which you will identify real-world problems and develop a startup to solve these issues. You will get to go through every stage of the startup journey, from idea validation and customer discovery to building business models and pitching a venture to secure real funding! The program is supported by mentorship from local entrepreneurs and industry experts, who will also offer direct insights into launching and running a business. Project-based learning is central to the experience, as it can help you build critical skills like leadership, innovation, and problem-solving. Once done with INCubatoredu, you have the opportunity to move on to ACCELeratoredu, a second-year program that focuses on scaling and growing the venture you created.
4. These Teens Mean Busine$$ Incubator – CEOs of Tomorrow
Location: Spark Building, Madison, WI
Cost: $160; partial need-based scholarships available
Program dates: Spring Session: February 8 – April 13 (on Saturdays)
Application deadline: Rolling registration until seats are filled (early registration recommended)
Eligibility: High school students
These Teens Mean Busine$$ Incubator offers high school students a nine-week, hands-on experience in building socially impactful businesses. During the program, you will work closely with mentors to design, validate, and launch ventures that address real-world community issues. This experience can help you learn about key business topics like market research, branding, customer engagement, and financial planning. Throughout the program, you will receive direct exposure to entrepreneurial thinking and real customer feedback as you bring their ideas to life. The experience concludes with the Teen Pitch & Launch Event, where you will pitch your businesses to a panel of judges and sell your products or services to the public. Top performers have the chance to win cash prizes and scholarships to support their future academic and entrepreneurial goals.
5. Athena Summer Innovation Institute @ Barnard College
Location: Barnard College, New York City, NY
Cost: Residential tuition: $10,171; Commuter tuition: $8,160 | Need-based financial aid is available.
Program dates: July 21 – August 8
Application deadline: Rolling applications
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, as well as gap year students
The Athena Summer Innovation Institute at Barnard College is a three-week incubator where high school students collaborate to design ventures that drive meaningful social change. As participants, you will engage in hands-on learning across key entrepreneurship areas, including ideation, market research, branding, startup finance, and pitching. Supported by Barnard’s Athena Center for Leadership, this program offers interactive workshops, site visits to New York City startups, and one-on-one mentorship from successful entrepreneurs. Public speaking training is also a key part of the program, so you will work with the members of Barnard’s prestigious Speaking Fellows Program to hone this skill. The program culminates in an event called Pitchfest, where you will pitch your ventures to peers and mentors.
6. Future Founders’ Be Your Own Boss Internship
Location: Virtual (with some optional in-person events in Chicago, IL)
Cost: Free to attend; participants may earn a cash stipend of up to $250, determined based on their attendance and participation.
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. Next cohort: April 1 – 24
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students who are 14 to 18 years old and attend public or charter schools in the U.S.
The Be Your Own Boss Internship, offered by Future Founders, is a paid, virtual entrepreneurship incubator designed for high school students. In this four-week program, you will work as part of a team to develop startup ideas, build basic app prototypes, and pitch your ventures at a final showcase. The program will offer you mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs, interactive workshops, and exposure to Chicago’s startup ecosystem. You will also get to work on your leadership skills, build strong professional networks, and earn a cash stipend for your participation. Open to public and charter school students nationwide, this program is designed to help young entrepreneurs think creatively and collaborate.
7. Get Girls Going Summer Incubator
Location: Get Girls Going sites in Boston and Worcester, MA
Cost: Free; students may be eligible for additional year-round support after the program.
Program dates: July 9 to August 16 (tentative, based on previous year’s dates)
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Black high school girls who are upcoming sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Get Girls Going runs a six-week summer incubator designed for Black high school girls interested in developing and launching social enterprises that address real-world challenges. You will work closely with mentors and advisors to ideate, build, and refine your startup while attending entrepreneurship, leadership, wellness, and professional development workshops. The experience culminates in a final pitch night where you get to present your ventures to an audience. In addition to the guidance offered during the summer program, you will receive ongoing support throughout the academic year to continue growing your business. This experience can help you develop leadership skills, an entrepreneurial mindset, and the ability to make a social impact.
8. HEX High Accelerator
Location: Online
Cost: AUD 990 ($634.3)
Program dates: Term 1: February 10 – March 23; Term 2: May 12 – June 22; Term 3: July 28 – September 7; Term 4: October 14 – November 22
Application deadline: Varies depending on the term | The next term’s applications are due mid-July
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 – 12 who are 15 to 18 years old
HEX High Accelerator is a six-week online innovation and entrepreneurship program designed for high school students worldwide. Through a mix of high-quality mini-video lessons, live masterclasses, and mentoring, you will explore startup fundamentals like design thinking, rapid prototyping, branding, pitching, and innovation funding models. You will complete the program with a polished startup concept, a strong entrepreneurial portfolio, and the option to earn academic credit from the University of Sydney. HEX focuses on real-world learning, helping you build sought-after skills that are applicable to future education or career opportunities. The program concludes with a final Pitch Day where you will present your venture idea to mentors, judges, and peers.
9. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY)
Location: UC Berkeley campus, Berkeley, CA
Cost: $6,292 for California residents; $7,332 for out-of-state residents
Program dates: Session I: July 5 – 19; Session II: July 19 – August 2
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students
At B-BAY, high school students go through two intensive weeks of entrepreneurship experience led by Berkeley professors and industry professionals. You will work in teams to develop a real business idea, conduct independent research, and create a comprehensive business plan, culminating in a final pitch presentation. The program also includes workshops on business communication, teamwork, and leadership, as well as college preparation sessions and campus activities like scavenger hunts and karaoke nights. Designed to simulate a real-world business environment, B-BAY can help you build skills in public speaking, business strategy, and teamwork. You can check out our deep dive on B-BAY before making a decision!
10. Allsup Entrepreneurship Academy @ Saint Louis University
Location: Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO
Cost: $695 (includes lunch, activities, and materials) | Need-based and merit scholarships available
Program dates: July 21 – 25
Application deadline: Rolling admissions accepted until the cohort is full
Eligibility: High school students
The Saint Louis University’s Allsup Entrepreneurship Academy is a week-long innovation incubator for high school students passionate about coming up with ventures. The program allows you to work collaboratively by engaging in innovation challenges, developing business ideas, receiving mentorship from successful entrepreneurs, and pitching ventures at a final competition. Throughout the week, you will work on developing an entrepreneurial mindset, learning core startup principles, and building leadership skills in a dynamic, hands-on environment. The program will also offer you a glimpse into real-world entrepreneurship.
11. Exploring Entrepreneurship @ Fordham University
Location: Fordham University (Rose Hill Campus and Lincoln Center Campus), New York City, NY
Cost: $1,800
Program dates: June 23 – 27
Application deadline: None; the program accepts rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Exploring Entrepreneurship program at Fordham University's Gabelli School of Business offers high school juniors and seniors a dynamic startup incubator experience over the course of a week. As a participant, you will collaborate in teams to ideate, design, and build business concepts, guided by entrepreneurs-in-residence and innovation professionals. You will develop a business-model canvas, create an MVP, learn about startup financing, and pitch your venture to a panel of industry experts. The program also includes a visit to a real startup incubator in New York City, offering firsthand exposure to entrepreneurial environments. With hands-on workshops, field trips, and mentorship, this program can help you pick up essential startup skills and add to your professional network.
13. Leangap® Summer Startup Incubator
Location: Online and in-person at UC Berkeley, San Francisco, CA
Cost: Online session: $6,450; San Francisco program: $9,950 | Financial aid is available.
Program dates: Online: June 16 – July 11 (+ two weeks worth of early prep); San Francisco: July 13 – August 9
Application deadline: Rolling admissions until seats are filled | You should apply early, as the program only accepts 40 applicants per cohort
Eligibility: High school students who are 13 to 18 years old
At Leangap®, you get to launch a real startup alongside a global team of high school students. You will work directly with mentors (typically successful startup founders), attend workshops led by industry leaders, and build a real venture that gains real users, sales, and traction. The program is a fast-paced and hands-on experience that is designed to guide you through all stages of the entrepreneurial journey, from ideation to market launch. As a program participant, you will engage in full-time classes, intensive team collaborations, and real-world startup building sessions. The experience ends with a Demo Day, where teams pitch their startups to real investors and get some feedback from Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.