30 Social Impact Startup Ideas for High School Students
If you’re a high school student who cares about social causes, working on a social impact startup might be a good idea. Building a social impact startup lets you practice solving real problems while learning business skills that will help you in any career.
What is social impact?
Creating social impact means working on things that address social challenges and bring a positive change in society. Social change includes various causes, such as the environment, sustainability, and helping the less fortunate.
Why work on a social impact startup in high school?
High school is where you figure out what you’re interested in, and working on something you are invested in is a great way to do that. Having work experience through internships is great, but working on a startup makes you stand out on college applications; it shows that you took the initiative to build something and solve a problem.
Working on a social impact venture is especially valuable since it solves important issues. This can include working on sustainable products or building a peer network to help your classmates with the college application process. Working on a startup also gives you practical experience and lets you wear many hats at once. It builds leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, and sometimes even lets you work on technical skills like coding or app building.
Why now?
High school is a great time to try out new things because the risks are low. Even if you fail at a startup, it gives you valuable experience that is going to help you later in life.
There’s been an explosion in the availability of AI tools. You have access to many free tools like AI chatbots for research and writing, plus no-code software that lets you build websites, apps, and marketing materials without programming skills. If you are concerned about the challenges of launching a startup, several high school incubator programs like the Young Founders Lab can provide the structure and mentorship to help you succeed.
If you’re looking to get started, we’ve curated a list of 30 startup ideas in social impact:
1. Peer Tutoring
Have you ever felt stuck with a concept, even after learning about it in class, but had a much easier time understanding it when a friend explained it to you? Peer tutoring is effective because peers are often more likely to understand the doubts we might have, as they’ve experienced them too. You can build a small in-person or online peer tutoring network where students can connect to tutors.
Skills needed: Networking, Project Management, and a good understanding of the subjects you want to tutor in
Tools needed: Initially, you can start by making a group on social networking platforms, and later move on to developing an app if the network expands
Initial costs: None
2. Art Exhibitions for Charities
Many students are passionate about creating art, and this idea combines art with social impact. You can organize art auctions and exhibitions where students get to create and showcase their art, and the funds raised can be donated to local charities.
Skills needed: Project management, communication, fundraising
Tools needed: Venue space, artwork, display stands
Initial costs: $150—$500
3. Local Fitness Groups
Gym Memberships are costly and aren’t always accessible to students. Community-based fitness activities are a great way to keep people motivated to stay healthy and also make new friends along the way. You can start a local fitness group, such as a run club, and charge a small membership fee.
Skills needed: Networking, organization, communication, passion for fitness
Tools needed: Free public spaces (parks, tracks), WhatsApp/social media group
Initial costs: None
4. Digital Literacy for Seniors
Smartphones and the internet have become an inevitable part of our lives, but they are still tricky for seniors to navigate. You can run programs at community centers to teach senior citizens about how to use social media, navigate different platforms, and use online tools that they might need.
Skills needed: Presentation skills, communication, and teaching
Tools needed: Laptop, slides
Initial costs: None
5. Eco-Friendly Stationery
Stationery supplies like pens and notebooks are essential for back to school. What would be better if these could be eco-friendly and good for the planet? Eco-friendly stationery can include recycled paper notebooks and plant-based pens, which you can sell to both your classmates and on a larger scale to other schools in your area.
Skills needed: Creativity, design skills, problem-solving
Tools needed: Recycled paper, design software, prototyping supplies
Initial costs: $100–1000
6. Local Media Platform
Media is a powerful tool for storytelling, and you can create a local social media page to raise awareness about certain topics, things happening in your city, and issues that need to be addressed. The page can be used to create awareness about socially relevant causes such as local protests, advocacy campaigns, and donation drives. You can pair up with organizations to help them spread the word on issues.
Skills needed: Storytelling, creativity, marketing, communication
Tools needed: Social media accounts, access to design software like Canva
Initial costs: None
7. Art Classes
Art can be a therapeutic hobby that allows you to explore new things, but the initial investment in learning a new form of art can be steep. Art classes bridge this gap by offering community-based classes where you don’t need to buy any supplies and can learn from someone experienced. You can host local art classes and teach different forms of art.
Skills needed: Art skills (if you want to teach classes yourself), communication, organization
Tools needed: Art supplies, Venue space, Tutors
Initial costs: $100–$300
8. Mental Health Support Group
Peer support is underrated when it comes to dealing with a challenging situation. A lot of times, talking it out with someone who’s been through the same thing can help us find ways to navigate difficult times. A lot of communities lack peer support mental groups, especially in-person groups that help people interact more closely.
Skills needed: Facilitation, Active Listening, Basic Mental Health Awareness
Tools needed: Online groups, venue spaces (optional for in-person sessions)
Initial costs: None (starting with online groups)
9. Job Network App for Teens
Finding a part-time job for the first time as a teenager can be tricky, especially when you don't know where to begin and what kind of job you should be taking up. You can build a job network app that will have resources on what jobs users can go for based on their interests and skills. An added section for mentors for interviews, career advice, and another section for local jobs in the area will help your users apply what they've learned.
Skills needed: Networking, Marketing, App Development
Tools needed: Laptop, coding software, hosting service
Initial costs: $500–$2,000
10. Upcycled fashion
Thrifting has always been in fashion, but many donated clothes still end up in landfills due to wear and damage. A great way to save these pieces is to upcycle them into new garments. This can include things like patchwork, making a new design, or even upcycling clothes into things like tote bags and cushion covers. You can then sell these items through platforms like Etsy and Depop or even locally through pop-up shops.
Skills needed: Design, creativity, marketing, sewing
Tools needed: Sewing machine, clothes
Initial costs: $50—$200
11. Food Rescue Network
Food wastage is a significant problem in the restaurant industry, where perfectly edible food is often discarded. Restaurants usually don’t have the resources to distribute this food and end up throwing it out. A food rescue network will ensure excess food at restaurants is picked up and distributed at soup kitchens and shelter homes.
Skills needed: Networking, outreach, logistics
Tools needed: Communication groups, storage, transport
Initial costs: $300–$1,000
12. Youth Climate Action Club
Many teens are passionate about the climate and making a change, but don’t know what steps they can take. Making a climate action club will help provide a roadmap and help teens take actionable steps.
Skills needed: Leadership, teamwork, event planning, advocacy
Tools needed: Social media page, meeting space
Initial costs: None
13. Carbon Tracking App
There are many greener swaps we can do, like taking public transit, to reduce our carbon footprint. You can build an app where carbon footprint tracking becomes easier, and the user earns points for making improvements. The app can partner with sustainable brands to offer discounts in exchange for points.
Skills needed: Sustainability knowledge, data analysis, coding
Tools needed: Laptop, hosting service, APIs for carbon data
Initial costs: $500–$2,000
14. Compost distribution
Compost is a boon to plants, but is often overlooked because it is time-intensive. It also addresses food waste by turning it into important nutrients, helping with plant growth. You can collect food scraps and waste to build a compost and sell it to gardening enthusiasts in your neighborhood or nearby plant nurseries.
Skills needed: Sustainability, waste management, operations
Tools needed: Compost bins, collection tools, biodegradable bags
Initial costs: $50-$150
15. First Aid App
First Aid knowledge is essential to have in case of emergencies, but workshops and courses are not always accessible. You can build an app where people can learn essential first aid by partnering up with certified paramedics and healthcare professionals. Short and accessible courses will not replace actual training, but can help in urgent situations.
Skills needed: Medical knowledge, app development, coordination, networking
Tools needed: Laptop, coding software, medical content
Initial costs: $400–$1,500
16. Pet Adoption Platform
Many communities lack pet shelters, or these shelters lack the resources needed to run properly. A locally run pet adoption platform will ensure that stray pets are paired with a loving home that will take care of them.
Skills needed: Networking, digital marketing, app development
Tools needed: App, database of pets, social media pages.
Initial costs: $200–$800
17. Green Delivery Service
Delivery apps are a growing market, and many people use them to get takeouts and groceries delivered. You can provide a greener delivery service where people making deliveries will use bicycles. This can work for nearby deliveries within a certain area, and it can hire students looking to work part-time.
Skills needed: Logistics, networking, basic management
Tools needed: Bicycles, delivery bags, a simple app, or WhatsApp/social media group
Initial costs: $0–$700
18. Language Exchange App
Learning a new language can be a rewarding experience, but practicing what you’ve learnt is just as important. You can build an app where people are connected with speakers of their target language. The app can also include pairing together people learning the same language around you so you can practice with them.
Skills needed: Community development, app development
Tools needed: Laptop, hosting, database
Initial costs: $500–$1,500
19. Biodegradable Packaging
Packaging has become a major pollutant and needs healthier swaps. Businesses shy away from sustainable options due to the higher costs associated with raw materials and transport. You can experiment with making different kinds of packaging, such as starch and bamboo, to create a sustainable alternative to sell to businesses.
Skills needed: Product design, material science, and sustainability
Tools needed: Raw eco-materials, molds/tools, testing supplies
Initial costs: $500–$2,000
20. Micro Plastic Tracker
Microplastics pose major health risks to us and the environment, but what products might cause pollutants is hard to detect. You can build an app where users take a picture of certain products, such as plastic tupperware or clothes labels with synthetic fabric, and explain the risks that they pose. The app then rates the risk score and suggests better alternatives.
Skills needed: Research, coding
Tools needed: Laptop, database, image-recognition API, hosting
Initial costs: $400–$1,200
21. Cybersecurity Training Workshops
The internet has become an indispensable part of our lives, but so have the risks that come with cyberattacks and growing privacy concerns. People want to know how to protect themselves online, and cybersecurity training workshops can help educate people on how to do that.
Skills needed: Cybersecurity basics, teaching, and communication
Tools needed: Laptop, slides
Initial costs: None
22. Social Media Marketing for NGOs
Social Media Marketing is essential for every business, but marketing for NGOs is often overlooked. Starting social media marketing for NGOs can help you explore marketing while still working on causes that you are passionate about.
Skills needed: Social media strategy, content creation, writing
Tools needed: Laptop, Canva, social media accounts
Initial costs: None
23. Renewable Energy Kits
Renewable Energy has been a growing focus, but many people are unaware of the personal changes they can make to switch over. Renewable Energy Kits for schools and homes can help raise awareness and pair people up with easy solutions to switch over to renewable options.
Skills needed: Sustainability knowledge, DIY assembly, sales
Tools needed: Solar panels, kit packaging
Initial costs: $300–$500
24. Personal Finance Learning Platform
Personal finance and investing are essential to learn, but can often feel intimidating to get started with. A platform that gamifies personal finance lessons by turning them into fun challenges with levels will reach many people.
Skills needed: Finance basics, gamification, app design
Tools needed: Laptop, coding tools, hosting, and content library
Initial costs: $300–$1,200
25. Used Tech Marketplace
Tech is expensive to buy, and there are always people looking to sell their old tech products. You can build a platform where the condition of the tech is verified, and sellers can connect with potential buyers. This can also run on a local scale, such as within schools or colleges.
Skills needed: Networking, platform building, verification
Tools needed: Website/app, database, secure payment setup
Initial costs: $300–$1,000
26. AI Study Partner
A lot of students struggle with scheduling study time, especially during exams. An AI app can help students manage study time, prioritize what's important, and help cover everything in their curriculum before exams.
Skills needed: AI integration, coding, UX design
Tools needed: Laptop, APIs, hosting, study database
Initial costs: $500–$2,000
27. Solar-Powered Charging Station
Everyone’s familiar with the anxiety of having your phone battery running low and not having a charger nearby to connect to. You can solve this problem by setting up solar-powered charging stations at places like the school cafeteria or college library, and charge institutions for providing this service.
Skills needed: Basic engineering, sustainability, operations
Tools needed: Solar panels, charging ports, installation kit
Initial costs: $400–$1,200
28. Plastic Free Event Service
Event planners take the fuss out of planning a big event, but also end up causing a lot of waste that comes in the form of decorations and food packaging. You could set up an event planning service that uses sustainable items and minimizes plastic waste.
Skills needed: Event planning, creativity, and sustainability
Tools needed: Eco-friendly decor, reusable cutlery, booking system
Initial costs: $200–$800
29. College Applications Mentorship Network
The college application process can be tricky to navigate, especially when different colleges have different requirements. This is where a mentorship network can help, where students can get advice from people who have cleared the process. You can also include pre-recorded videos and resources that help, while offering services like 1:1 mentorship.
Skills needed: Mentorship, content creation, networking
Tools needed: Video call platform, resource library, app (optional)
Initial costs: None
30. Recycling Rewards App
Recycling takes effort, and sometimes you need a boost to go to the recycling center. You can build an app where users can get info on nearby recycling centers and recycling programs at various stores. Users collect points and can redeem them for discounts.
Skills needed: App development, UI/UX, community engagement
Tools needed: Laptop, coding software, reward system, hosting
Initial costs: $400–$1,200
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 Founders Lab is a 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 practical 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!
Krishnapriya, or KP, is the Head of Partnerships at the YFL and an LSE graduate. She is super passionate about the environment (especially nonhumans with 3+ limbs) and considers walking her dogs as the most important part of her day!