15 Best Startup Accelerator Programs That You Can Check Out in High School
If you're in high school and you've been thinking about starting your own business, an accelerator program can be a solid way to get things moving. These programs are built to help you work through your idea, learn how startups take shape, and figure out what it takes to turn something small into something real.
Many accelerators also offer access to mentorship, feedback, and real-world business challenges that help you think more clearly about how to grow your idea. Some include pitch competitions or demo days where you present your work to industry professionals, and a few offer funding or cash prizes.
Beyond the skills and experience, joining an accelerator program can add real weight to your resume. It shows that you’ve taken initiative, worked through real situations, and built something from scratch.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 startup accelerator programs you can check out while you’re still in high school.
15 Best Startup Accelerator Programs That You Can Check Out in High School
Young Founders Lab
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp 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.
Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more.The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: The total cost to attend the 4-week program is $2900. There is need-based financial aid.
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
INCubatoredu by Uncharted Learning
INCubatoredu is a year-long program that teaches you the real steps of building a business, from coming up with an idea to pitching it. You will explore market research, develop your product, and create a business plan while working with a team.
The program also includes visits to local businesses and talks with people who are out there running companies, so you get a true feel of what it is like in the startup world. At the end, you will pitch your business to a group of local entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Location: Various schools across the USA
Cost: Free through participating schools
Application Deadline: Varies by school
Dates: By the academic year.
Eligibility: High school students at participating schools
IU Indianapolis High School Entrepreneurship Bootcamp
The IU Indianapolis High School Entrepreneurship Bootcamp is a five-day summer program where you develop a business idea from start to finish. Over the week, you’ll go through stages like brainstorming, planning, and preparing a final pitch.
The program also helps you improve skills in teamwork, organization, and public speaking. At the end of the bootcamp, you will pitch your business idea, with the chance to be considered for a cash award.
Location: IU Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
Cost: Free. Participants are paid a weekly salary.
Application Deadline: Interested students should complete an application available through their school.
Dates: Variable
Eligibility: Open to students from all four IPS district high schools: George Washington, Crispus Attucks, Arsenal Tech, and Shortridge.
HEX High Accelerator
The HEX High Accelerator is a 6-week online program where you work with students from different countries to develop a startup idea. The program guides you through key steps like identifying a problem, researching the market, developing a product, and creating a brand.
Throughout the program, you’ll work on your startup while learning important skills and getting feedback. At the end, you’ll prepare a pitch to present your work during a virtual event. This final presentation is shared with an audience that may include investors and professionals from the startup world.
Location: Virtual
Cost: AUD 990
Application Deadline: April 30
Dates: Term 2: May 12 — June 22; Term 3: July 28 — September 7
Eligibility: Current high school students
LaunchX Entrepreneurship Bootcamp
LaunchX’s Online Entrepreneurship BootCamp is a two-week summer program where you team up with other high school students to build a startup idea from the ground up. You start by identifying a clear problem, then work on creating and testing a solution that could work in the real world.
The program focuses on practical steps like developing your idea, building a simple prototype, and collecting early feedback. You’ll get support from instructors and other students as you shape your project. It all wraps up with a Demo Day, where you present your startup and explain the thinking behind your solution.
Location: Online
Cost: $1,995
Application Deadline: August 13
Dates: Oct 6 — 17 (for the fall cohort)
Eligibility: Open to high school students around the world.
Camp BizSmart
Camp BizSmart is a 10-day program for students aged 11 to 15, hosted at places like Santa Clara University and Stanford University. You work in teams to solve real business challenges shared by company leaders. Using a clear set of tools, you create a business plan, design a product or service, and get ready to pitch your idea.
Throughout the program, you build skills in communication, design thinking, teamwork, and decision making. It ends with a pitch event where your team presents its solution to a panel that may include entrepreneurs and investors.
Location: Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Cost: $2,995 (includes tuition, lodging, meals, and materials). Costs may vary depending on location and lodging arrangements.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until full; priority by May 1 (based on historical trends)
Dates: July 13–July 18 (projected based on the previous year's dates; exact dates may vary slightly)
Eligibility: Open to students ages 13–18 (typically grades 8–12) with an interest in entrepreneurship; no prior experience required.
The High School Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge is a statewide competition organized by One Stone, a nonprofit based in Boise. It brings together high school students from across Idaho to develop and pitch business ideas.
You work in teams, conduct market research, build a pitch deck, and present your idea to a panel of judges. Mentors guide you throughout the process. The winning teams receive cash prizes to help launch their ideas.
Location: Boise State University, Boise, ID, with remote participation options
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February
Dates: April 15
Eligibility: Open to all Idaho high school students, confirmed by program descriptions.
UC San Diego High School: Startup Bootcamp
Startup Bootcamp: Build Your Big Idea is a 15-hour program that introduces you to the basics of starting a business. You learn how to find a problem worth solving, create a product or service, and understand who your customers might be.
The program covers key topics like market research, building a business plan, simple financial planning, and presenting your idea. You also work on ways to reach and keep customers. It ends with a pitch to a simulated investor where you explain your idea and how it could work.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $175
Application Deadline: Unspecified
Dates: July 14–18
Eligibility: High school students can apply.
Exploring Entrepreneurship at Fordham University
This program gives high school students an introduction to entrepreneurship through a hands-on experience at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business. You take part in workshops, lectures, and team projects led by faculty and local business professionals.
With your team, you work on developing a business idea while learning about innovation, market research, and financial planning. The program ends with a pitch to a panel of judges. You also get to visit startup spaces around New York City to see how businesses operate in real-world settings.
Location: Fordham University, New York, NY
Cost: $1,800
Application Deadline: Deadline unspecified. Check here for updates.
Dates: June 23 — 27
Eligibility: Current high school students can apply.
Tufts University Entrepreneurship & Innovation Bootcamp
The Tufts Entrepreneurship and Innovation Bootcamp is a two-week summer program where you work in a team to build a venture idea that solves a specific problem. You plan how the idea could work and create a simple version of your product or service.
Tufts students and alumni guide you throughout the program by sharing their own experiences with starting projects. You also use campus resources while learning how different types of organizations, such as startups, small businesses, and nonprofits, are built and run.
Location: Tufts University, Medford, MA
Cost: $4,225 (Commuter) | $5,750 (Residential)
Application Deadline: May 1
Dates: July 6–18
Eligibility: Must be entering grades 10–12 or be a high school graduate.
Seeds of Fortune Girls Startup Business Accelerator
Seeds of Fortune’s Girls Start-Up Accelerator is a year-long program for high school students who identify as young women and want to build a business that creates social impact. You take part in online workshops led by professionals, work with mentors, and collaborate with peers as you develop your idea.
The program covers business planning, pitching, and learning about funding. You also explore college and career options connected to entrepreneurship. Some participants are selected to compete for up to $6,000 in funding and attend a fully covered pitch event in Miami. The program ends with Founders Day, where you present your project to a panel of judges.
Location: Virtual + in-person event in Miami, FL
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: May 5
Dates: May 15 — July 10
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors attending public or parochial schools with a combined household income of $125,000 or less, regardless of gender or background.
CEOs of Tomorrow Business Incubator
CEOs of Tomorrow runs a nine-week program for high school students in grades 9 through 12, where you build a real business that solves a problem in your community. You work through business topics like finance, marketing, branding, and logistics while creating your product or service.
You also get feedback from local entrepreneurs and improve practical skills like leadership, public speaking, and decision-making. The program ends with the Teen Pitch and Launch Event, where you present to professionals and sell to real customers. Top participants can win cash prizes or college scholarships.
Location: Madison, WI
Cost: $160
Application Deadline: Until slots are full
Dates: February 8 — April 13
Eligibility: Open to 9–12 grade students.
Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY)
The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) is a summer program held at UC Berkeley for high school students interested in business and entrepreneurship. You’ll work in teams to research, plan, and develop a business idea while gaining skills in marketing, finance, strategy, and business structure.
Faculty from the Berkeley Haas School of Business lead the instruction, and you’ll apply what you learn through hands-on projects and computer-based work. The program also offers college prep support, including personal statement workshops and the chance to connect with current Berkeley students and admissions staff. It ends with a team pitch presentation.
Location: University of California- Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Cost: California Resident — $6,292; Out of State Resident — $7,332 (Application fee: $80). Limited needs-based scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: July 5 — July 19; July 19 — August 2
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply.
In Person Summer Entrepreneurship Program with LaunchX
At LaunchX, you’ll join a summer entrepreneurship program at Boston University focused on building a startup through a structured team-based process. The program follows four key stages: Identification, Ideation, Iteration, and Implementation. You’ll attend workshops, get guidance from mentors, and network with Boston University alumni and industry professionals.
Working in a team, you’ll develop a startup idea and prepare to pitch it at Demo Day, where entrepreneurs, investors, and community members listen to your presentation. By the end of the program, you’ll understand what it takes to launch a business and have experience working to move an idea forward.
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: $9,995
Application Deadline: Accepted on a rolling basis until the cohort is filled
Dates: June 15 — July 12
Eligibility: High school students globally
Entrepreneurship at Georgetown University
Georgetown University’s pre-college online course, Becoming an Entrepreneur: An Inside Look at Innovation, offers a solid foundation in entrepreneurship. You’ll learn how to identify market needs, explore different business models, and understand how to pivot when things don’t go as planned.
The course also covers networking strategies for finding partners and funding, along with insights into college majors and careers in entrepreneurship. As part of the course, you’ll complete a Capstone Project where you present your business idea, covering key details like its value proposition, target customers, and revenue generation.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795
Dates: Multiple 1,2, or 4-week intensives. More information here.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines. More information here.
Eligibility: For students above the age of 13.